Convair 240
The Convair 240 was an airliner produced by Consolidated Vultee from 1947 to 1956. The design began life in a production requirement by American Airlines for a pressurized airliner to replace the classic Douglas DC-3. Convair's original design had two engines and 40 seats, and thus it was designated the CV-240. The first 240 flew on March 16, 1947, and production aircraft were first delivered to American on February 28, 1948. Seventy-five were delivered to American, with another fifty going to Western Airlines, Continental Airlines, Pan American Airways, KLM, and Trans-Australia Airlines.
The CV-240 was used by the United States Air Force for medical evacuation and VIP transport and was designated as C-131 Samaritan, the Strategic Air Command had them in service until 1975.
The U.S. Navy used the Samaritan as the R4Y. The C-131 was eventually replaced by the C-9 Nightingale. It was also designated as the T-29 and used by the Air Force and the Navy as a navigator trainer. The T-29 was evenually replaced by the T-43. A planned bomber training version of the T-29 (designated T-32) was never built.
A CV-240 was the first private aircraft used in a United States presidential campaign. In 1960, John F. Kennedy used a CV-240 dubbed Caroline during his campaign. This aircraft is now preserved in the National Air and Space Museum.
The CV-340, built for United Airlines, was lengthened to hold an additional four seats. The wings were also enlarged for better performance at higher altitudes. The CV-340 replaced the DC-3 for United. They flew 52 340s for 16 years without a fatality. An example of United's 340 was N73111. They were called "Mainliners" as other aircraft were also and N73111 was also called "Mainliner Salt Lake City" (which appeared on the nose)
The CV-440 Metropolitan had improved soundproofing and an option of weather radar.
The Convair 580 is a conversion from a Convair 340 aircraft with the original piston engines replaced with two Allison 501 D13D/H turboprop engines.
The Convair 600 is a conversion from a Convair 240 aircraft with the original piston engines replaced with Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines. The CV-600 first flew with Central Airlines on 30 November 1965. The CV-600 aircraft that flew with Air Metro Airways was configured as a forty passenger airliner. In August 2006 a total of 1 Convair 600 aircraft remains in airline service, with Rhoades Aviation.[1]
The Convair 640 is a conversion from either a Convair 340 or 440 with the original piston engines replaced with Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines. In August 2006 a total of 9 Convair 640 aircraft remain in airline service, with Rhoades Aviation (3) and C&M Airways (6).[1]
Ten CL-66 aircraft were build by Canadair in Canada, they were a version of the Convair 440 with Napier Eland turbo-props. In Canadian service they were known as the CC-109 Cosmopolitan.
The Convair 5800 is a conversion from a Convair 580 by Kelowna Flightcraft in Canada. The 5800 is a 580 stretched by 14ft 3in with the 440's original tail unit. These conversions also have a new freight door, digital avionics with EFIS and Allison 501-D22 engines.
Trivia
Three members of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd were killed when a 1947 Convair 240 they were aboard crashed near a forest in McComb, Mississippi on October 20th, 1977. The probable cause of the crash was fuel exhaustion and total loss of power from both engines. The pilot, co-pilot and the band's assistant road manager were killed also. Some 20 other passengers survived.
Specifications
General characteristics
- Powerplants: (2) Pratt & Whitney R-2800 "Double Wasp" 18 cylinder air cooled radial engines
- Wingspan: 91 ft 9 in (28.0 m)
- Length: 74 ft 8 in (22.8 m)
- Height: 26 ft 11 in (8.20 m)
- Wing area: 817 ft² (75.9 m²)
Weights
- Empty weight: 25,445 lb (11,540 kg)
- Maximum gross weight: 42,500 lb (19,280 kg)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 315 mph (507 km/h)
- Cruise: 280 mph (451 km/h)
- Ceiling: 16,000 ft (4,880 m)
- Range: 1,200 mi (1930 km)
- Climb rate: 1,520 ft/min (463 m/min)
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