The Convair CV-240 is an American
airliner
An airliner is a type of aircraft for transporting passengers and air cargo. Such aircraft are most often operated by airlines. Although the definition of an airliner can vary from country to country, an airliner is typically defined as an ...
that
Convair
Convair, previously Consolidated Vultee, was an American aircraft manufacturing company that later expanded into rockets and spacecraft. The company was formed in 1943 by the merger of Consolidated Aircraft and Vultee Aircraft. In 1953, it ...
manufactured from 1947 to 1954, initially as a possible replacement for the ubiquitous
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is a propeller-driven airliner
manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company, which had a lasting effect on the airline industry in the 1930s to 1940s and World War II.
It was developed as a larger, improved 14-bed sleeper version ...
. Featuring a more modern design with
cabin pressurization
Cabin pressurization is a process in which conditioned air is pumped into the cabin of an aircraft or spacecraft in order to create a safe and comfortable environment for passengers and crew flying at high altitudes. For aircraft, this air is ...
, the 240 series made some inroads as a commercial airliner, and had a long development cycle that produced various civil and military variants. Though reduced in numbers by attrition, various forms of the "Convairliners" continue to fly in the 21st century.
Design and development
The design began with a requirement by
American Airlines
American Airlines is a major airlines of the United States, major US-based airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is the Largest airlines in the world, largest airline in the world when measured ...
for an airliner to replace its
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is a propeller-driven airliner
manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company, which had a lasting effect on the airline industry in the 1930s to 1940s and World War II.
It was developed as a larger, improved 14-bed sleeper version ...
s. Convair's original design, the unpressurised Model 110, was a twin-engine, low-wing
monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes.
A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...
of all-metal construction, with 30 seats. It was powered by
Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp
The Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp is an American twin-row, 18-cylinder, air-cooled radial aircraft engine with a displacement of , and is part of the long-lived Wasp family of engines.
The R-2800 saw widespread use in many important A ...
radial engine
The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. It resembles a stylized star when viewed from the front, and is ca ...
s. It had a
tricycle landing gear
Tricycle gear is a type of aircraft undercarriage, or ''landing gear'', arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has a single nose wheel in the front, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity. Tricycle g ...
, and a ventral
airstair
An airstair is a set of steps built into an aircraft so that passengers may board and alight the aircraft. The stairs are often built into a clamshell-style door on the aircraft. Airstairs eliminate the need for passengers to use a mobile st ...
for passenger boarding.
The prototype Model 110,
registration
Register or registration may refer to:
Arts entertainment, and media Music
* Register (music), the relative "height" or range of a note, melody, part, instrument, etc.
* ''Register'', a 2017 album by Travis Miller
* Registration (organ), th ...
NX90653, first flew on July 8, 1946.
By this time, American Airlines had changed the requirements to include
pressurization
{{Wiktionary
Pressurization or pressurisation is the application of pressure in a given situation or environment.
Industrial
Industrial equipment is often maintained at pressures above or below atmospheric.
Atmospheric
This is the process by ...
and deemed the design too small. Convair used the first prototype for 240 series development work before it had the plane broken up in 1947.
[Gradidge 1997, p. 10.]
![Convair 240 HB-IRV Swiss Air Lines Ringway 25](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Convair_240_HB-IRV_Swiss_Air_Lines_Ringway_25.03.50.jpg)
To meet the requirements of airlines for a pressurized airliner, Convair produced a revised design—the Model 240. This had a longer but thinner fuselage than the Model 110, accommodating 40 passengers in the first pressurized, twin-engined airliner.
[Wegg 1990, pp. 187–188.] The 240 first flew on March 16, 1947.
[Wegg 1990, p. 188.]
The Model 240 was followed by the Model 340, which had a longer fuselage, longer-span wings, and more powerful engines. The 340 first flew on October 5, 1951.
[Wegg 1990, pp. 188–189.] In 1954, in an attempt to compete with
turboprop
A turboprop is a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller.
A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction gearbox, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propelling nozzle. Air enters the intake and is compressed by the compressor. Fuel ...
-powered airliners such as the
Vickers Viscount
The Vickers Viscount is a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs. A design requirement from the Brabazon Committee, it entered service in 1953 and was the first turboprop-powered airliner.
The Visc ...
, Convair produced the Model 440 Metropolitan, with more streamlined cowlings, new engine exhausts, and better cabin soundproofing.
[Wegg 1990, p. 192.] As the "Super 240" evolved into the CV-340 and CV-440, the design reached the limit of piston-engine performance, and future development centered on conversion to turboprop power.
Operational history
Convair delivered the first production Convairliner to American on February 29, 1948.
They delivered a total of 75 to American—and another 50 to
Western Airlines
Western Airlines was a major airline based in California, operating in the Western United States including Alaska and Hawaii, and western Canada, as well as to New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Miami and to Mexico City, London and N ...
,
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines, simply known as Continental, was a major United States airline founded in 1934 and eventually headquartered in Houston, Texas. It had ownership interests and brand partnerships with several carriers.
Continental started o ...
,
Pan American Airways
Pan American World Airways, originally founded as Pan American Airways and commonly known as Pan Am, was an American airline that was the principal and largest international air carrier and unofficial overseas flag carrier of the United States ...
,
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG (), commonly shortened to Lufthansa, is the flag carrier of Germany. When combined with its subsidiaries, it is the second- largest airline in Europe in terms of passengers carried. Lufthansa is one of the five founding m ...
,
KLM
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, legally ''Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V.'' (literal translation: Royal Aviation Company Plc.), is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands. KLM is headquartered in Amstelveen, with its hub at nearby Amste ...
,
Swissair
Swissair AG/ S.A. (German: Schweizerische Luftverkehr-AG; French: S.A. Suisse pour la Navigation Aérienne) was the national airline of Switzerland between its founding in 1931 and bankruptcy in 2002.
It was formed from a merger between Bal ...
,
Sabena
The ''Societé anonyme belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation aérienne'' (French; ), better known by the acronym Sabena or SABENA, was the national airline of Belgium from 1923 to 2001, with its base at Brussels National Airport. After its ba ...
, and
Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines (TAA), renamed Australian Airlines in 1986, was one of the two major Australian domestic airlines between its inception in 1946 and its merger with Qantas in September 1992. As a result of the "COBRA" (or Common Brand ...
.
[Gradidge 1997, pp. 10–11.]
![Convair 580 N5818 Aspen Aws DEN Stapleton 20](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Convair_580_N5818_Aspen_Aws_DEN_Stapleton_20.07.86_edited-3.jpg)
A CV-240 was the first private aircraft used in a United States presidential campaign. In 1960,
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...
used a CV-240 named ''Caroline'' (after his daughter) during his campaign. This aircraft is now preserved in the
National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, also called the Air and Space Museum, is a museum in Washington, D.C., in the United States.
Established in 1946 as the National Air Museum, it opened its main building on the Nat ...
.
After aborted negotiations with TWA and Eastern for "Super 240" orders, Convair temporarily halted 240 series production. In response to a United inquiry, Convair redesigned the Super 240, calling it the CV-340. United ordered 55, and more US orders came from Braniff, Continental, Delta, Northeast, and National. Other orders came from abroad, and the CV-340 was popular in South America. The CV-340 earned a reputation for reliability and profitability, and was developed into the CV-440 Metropolitan, the final piston-engined variant of the Convairliners.
Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter
Kelowna ( ) is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. It serves as the head office of the Regional District of Central Okanagan. The name Kelowna derives from the Okanagan word ''ki ...
, the major remaining operator of this model, currently holds the
type certificate
A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular category of aircraft, according to its manufacturing design (''type design''). It confirms that the aircraft of a new type intended for serial production, is in compliance with applica ...
for this aircraft.
Used price for a Convair 240 in 1960 was around £40,000.
[''Flight'' November 18, 1960, p. 794.]
Variants
''Data from:'' General Dynamics Aircraft and their predecessors
Civil variants
![Convair 640 N866TA Kitty Hawk Willow Run 19](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Convair_640_N866TA_Kitty_Hawk_Willow_Run_19.07.92R_edited-2.jpg)
;Convair Model 110
:Unpressurized prototype with seats for 30 passengers. 89 ft (27.13 m) wingspan, 71 ft (21.64 m) length, powered by two 2,100 hp (1,567 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800-SC13G engines. One built.
[Wegg 1990, p. 183.]
;Convair CV-240
:Initial production version, with seats for 40 passengers in a pressurised fuselage. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines.
[Wegg 1990, pp. 188, 199.] 176 built (excluding military derivatives).
[Wegg 1990, p. 189.]
;;Convair CV-240-21 Turboliner
:
Turboprop
A turboprop is a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller.
A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction gearbox, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propelling nozzle. Air enters the intake and is compressed by the compressor. Fuel ...
-powered conversion fitted with
Allison T38
The Allison T38 (company Model 501) was an early turboprop engine developed by Allison Engine Company during the late 1940s. The T38 became the basis for the very successful family of Allison T56 turboprop engine.
Design and development
Develop ...
engines. It became the first turboprop airliner to fly in the United States (on December 29, 1950), but problems with the engines resulted in development being terminated. Used as a test bed before being converted back to piston power.
[Wegg 1990, p. 194.]
;Convair CV-300
: A conversion from a Convair CV-240 with two R-2800 CB-17 engines and nacelles as used on the CV-340.
;
:Built for
United Airlines
United Airlines, Inc. (commonly referred to as United), is a major American airline headquartered at the Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois. and other operators including
KLM
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, legally ''Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V.'' (literal translation: Royal Aviation Company Plc.), is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands. KLM is headquartered in Amstelveen, with its hub at nearby Amste ...
, the CV-340 was a CV-240 lengthened to hold an additional four seats. The wingspan was extended for better performance at higher altitudes. The CV-340 replaced the DC-3 in United service. The airline flew 52 340s for 16 years without a fatality. KLM operated the type from early 1953 until mid-1963. Many CV-340 aircraft were converted to CV-440 standard.
[Gradidge 1997, p. 13]
;
:CV-340 with improved soundproofing and an option for weather radar. Maximum weight rose to 49,700 lbs. An optional increase from 44 to 52 passengers was facilitated by the replacement of the carry-on luggage area with two more rows of seats, marked by the addition of an extra cabin window. This option was taken up by several airlines including
Swissair
Swissair AG/ S.A. (German: Schweizerische Luftverkehr-AG; French: S.A. Suisse pour la Navigation Aérienne) was the national airline of Switzerland between its founding in 1931 and bankruptcy in 2002.
It was formed from a merger between Bal ...
,
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG (), commonly shortened to Lufthansa, is the flag carrier of Germany. When combined with its subsidiaries, it is the second- largest airline in Europe in terms of passengers carried. Lufthansa is one of the five founding m ...
and
SAS.
Finnair
Finnair ( fi, Finnair Oyj, sv, Finnair Abp) is the flag carrier and largest airline of Finland, with its headquarters in Vantaa on the grounds of Helsinki Airport, its hub. Finnair and its subsidiaries dominate both domestic and internationa ...
operated the type from 1953 until 1980.
;Convair CV-540
:Conversion from a Convair CV-340 aircraft with two
Napier Eland
The Napier Eland was a British turboshaft or turboprop gas-turbine engine built by Napier & Son in the early 1950s. Production of the Eland ceased in 1961 when the Napier company was taken over by Rolls-Royce.
Design and development
The Eland ...
turboprop engines in place of the piston engines. Six aircraft were converted by
Napier for
Allegheny Airlines
Allegheny Airlines was a regional airline that operated out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1952 to 1979 with routes primarily located in the eastern U.S. It was the forerunner of USAir that was subsequently renamed US Airways, which itself me ...
.
[Frawley 1997, p. 86.] Cost for the conversions was £160,000 per-aircraft. 12 built as new-builds by Canadair for
RCAF
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environme ...
as
CC-109 in 1960 for £436,000 per-aircraft. First flight February 9, 1955. When Rolls-Royce purchased Napier, the Eland program was terminated, and the Allegheny aircraft were converted back to piston power, but were later converted to Convair 580s with Allison turbo props.
;
:Conversion from Convair CV-340 (Allison Prop-Jet Convair 340) or CV-440 aircraft with two
Allison 501
The Allison T56 is an American single-shaft, modular design military turboprop with a 14-stage axial flow compressor driven by a four-stage turbine. It was originally developed by the Allison Engine Company for the Lockheed C-130 Hercules tran ...
D13D/H turboprop engines with four-blade propellers, in place of piston engines with three-blade propellers, an enlarged vertical fin and modified horizontal stabilizers. The conversions were performed by
Pacific Airmotive
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation is an American aircraft company and a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics.
Gulfstream designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and services business jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 2,000 ...
on behalf of the
Allison Engine Company
The Allison Engine Company was an American aircraft engine manufacturer. Shortly after the death of James A. Allison, James Allison in 1929 the company was purchased by the Fisher Body, Fisher brothers. Fisher sold the company to General Motors, ...
.
Cost of the conversions was around £175,000 per aircraft and took 60 days.
The CV-580 served with the original
Frontier Airlines (1950-1986)
Frontier Airlines is a major ultra-low-cost U.S. airline headquartered in Denver, Colorado. It operates flights to over 100 destinations throughout the United States and 31 international destinations, and employs more than 3,000 staff. The ca ...
, Allegheny Airlines, and
North Central Airlines
North Central Airlines was a regional airline in the Midwestern United States. Founded as Wisconsin Central Airlines in 1944 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, the company moved to Madison in 1947. This is also when the "Herman the duck" logo was bor ...
for many years and was also the first aircraft type operated by
American Eagle
The bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (''Haliaeetus albicilla''), which occupies the same niche as ...
on behalf of
American Airlines
American Airlines is a major airlines of the United States, major US-based airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is the Largest airlines in the world, largest airline in the world when measured ...
in
code sharing
In communications and information processing, code is a system of rules to convert information—such as a letter, word, sound, image, or gesture—into another form, sometimes shortened or secret, for communication through a communication ...
feeder service.
General Motors Air Transport
The General Motors Air Transport Section (GMATS) was a corporate air service operated by General Motors to provide fast transportation for employees that needed to travel between various GM locations. Originally named the "Air Transport Section o ...
(GMATs) also used CV-580's on their internal air shuttle operation which ran between Detroit Metro Airport, Dayton,OH, Anderson, IN and other locations as needed.
;Convair CV-580 Airtanker
: Firefighting
airtanker conversions with retardant tanks and dropping systems.
;Convair CV-600
:Conversion from a Convair 240 aircraft with
Rolls-Royce Dart
The Rolls-Royce RB.53 Dart is a turboprop engine designed and manufactured by Rolls-Royce Limited. First run in 1946, it powered the Vickers Viscount on its maiden flight in 1948. A flight on July 29 of that year, which carried 14 paying passe ...
turboprop engines with four-blade propellers, in place of piston engines with three-blade propellers. CV-600 conversions were performed by Convair.
The CV-600 first flew with
Central Airlines
Central Airlines was a passenger airline (the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) called it a "local service" air carrier) in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas from 1949 to 1967. It was founded by Keith Kahle in 1944 to oper ...
on 30 November 1965 and also served with
Trans-Texas Airways Trans-Texas may refer to:
* Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC), a transportation network in the planning and early construction stages in the U.S. state of Texas
* Trans-Texas Airways, a former a United States airline, known as Texas International
Texa ...
(TTa) and successor
Texas International Airlines
Texas International Airlines Inc. was a United States airline, known from 1940 until 1947 as Aviation Enterprises, until 1969 as Trans-Texas Airways (TTa), and as Texas International Airlines until 1982, when it merged with Continental Airlines. ...
for many years. The CV-600 aircraft that flew with Air Metro Airways was configured as a 40-passenger airliner. In 2012 the last Convair CV-600 (Rhoades Aviation) went out of service.
['']Flight International
''Flight International'' is a monthly magazine focused on aerospace. Published in the United Kingdom and founded in 1909 as "A Journal devoted to the Interests, Practice, and Progress of Aerial Locomotion and Transport", it is the world's oldes ...
'', October 3–9, 2006.
;Convair CV-640
:Conversion from a Convair CV-340 or -440 with Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines with four-blade propellers, in place of piston engines with three-blade propellers. The conversions were performed by Convair.
In 2012, a total of seven Convair CV-640 aircraft remained in airline service, with Rhoades Aviation (one) and
C&M Airways (six).
;Convair CV-5800
![KFCargoConvairCV5800C-GKFSYYJAugust2018](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/KFCargoConvairCV5800C-GKFSYYJAugust2018.jpg)
A stretched Convair CV-5800 of IFL Group with this aircraft being developed by Kelowna Flightcraft (now
KF Aerospace
KF Aerospace is an approved maintenance organization (AMO) which operates two maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities in Canada, one at Kelowna International Airport in British Columbia and the other at Hamilton International Airport i ...
) in Canada
:Conversion from former
US Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage of ...
C-131F Samaritans by Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd. (KF Aerospace since 2015) in Canada. The CV-5800 is a C-131F Samaritan stretched by 16 ft 7 in (4,98 m) with the Samaritan's original
tail unit rather than the enlarged tail of the CV-580. These conversions also have a new freight door, digital
avionics
Avionics (a blend word, blend of ''aviation'' and ''electronics'') are the Electronics, electronic systems used on aircraft. Avionic systems include communications, Air navigation, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems, ...
with
EFIS and
Allison 501
The Allison T56 is an American single-shaft, modular design military turboprop with a 14-stage axial flow compressor driven by a four-stage turbine. It was originally developed by the Allison Engine Company for the Lockheed C-130 Hercules tran ...
-D22G engines in place of the original R-2800 engines. The prototype of this conversion first flew on February 11, 1992; the
type certificate
A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular category of aircraft, according to its manufacturing design (''type design''). It confirms that the aircraft of a new type intended for serial production, is in compliance with applica ...
was issued on December 11, 1993.
[Gradidge 1997, p. 39.] A total of six aircraft were converted (construction numbers 276 to 279, 309, 343) and mostly used by
Contract Air Cargo (later IFL Group); one aircraft later operated by
Air Freight NZ
Air Freight NZ was a cargo airline based in Auckland, New Zealand. It operated scheduled overnight cargo services on behalf of owner Freightways, and is supported by sister company Fieldair holdings. Domestic charter services are also operated. ...
was then returned to KF Aerospace for operation in their own fleet.
;Allison Turbine ATF 580S Turbo Flagship
:Stretched Convairliner conversion.
Military variants
;
Convair C-131 Samaritan
The Convair C-131 Samaritan is an American twin-engined military transport produced from 1954 to 1956 by Convair. It is the military version of the Convair CV-240 family of airliners.Gradidge 1997, p. 20–21.
Design and development
The design ...
:The CV-240/340/440 series was used by the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
for
medical evacuation
Medical evacuation, often shortened to medevac or medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to wounded being evacuated from a battlefield, to injured patients being evacuated from the scene of a ...
and
VIP
A very important person or personage (VIP or V.I.P.) is a person who is accorded special privileges due to their high social status, influence or importance. The term was not common until sometime after World War 2 by RAF pilots.
Examples inc ...
under this designation
;
Convair T-29 trainer
:A trainer model of the C-131 was used to instruct navigators and radio operators
;
Convair R4Y Samaritan
:The
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
used the Samaritan under this designation
;
Canadair CC-109 Cosmopolitan
The Canadair CL-66 was a turboprop version of the civilian Convair CV-440 Metropolitan. The CC-109 Cosmopolitan or "Cosmo" in RCAF service became the standard VIP aircraft as well as replacing the Douglas Dakota and the North American B-25 Mit ...
:Conversion from CV-440, with
Napier Eland
The Napier Eland was a British turboshaft or turboprop gas-turbine engine built by Napier & Son in the early 1950s. Production of the Eland ceased in 1961 when the Napier company was taken over by Rolls-Royce.
Design and development
The Eland ...
turboprops in place of the piston engines. The conversions were performed in
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
by
Canadair
Canadair Ltd. was a civil and military aircraft manufacturer in Canada. In 1986, its assets were acquired by Bombardier Aerospace, the aviation division of Canadian transport conglomerate Bombardier Inc.
Canadair's origins lie in the establishm ...
. In
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
and later in Canadian Armed Forces service they were known as the CC-109 Cosmopolitan. All were re-engined in 1966 with Allison 501-D13 engines.
;
Canadair CL-66
The Canadair CL-66 was a turboprop version of the civilian Convair CV-440 Metropolitan. The CC-109 Cosmopolitan or "Cosmo" in RCAF service became the standard VIP aircraft as well as replacing the Douglas Dakota and the North American B-25 Mitc ...
:Company designation for the CC-109 Eland powered variant
Operators
Civil operators
Africa
*
Air Algerie
The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing f ...
– CV-640
*
Ethiopian Air Lines
Ethiopian Airlines (commonly referred to as Ethiopian; am, የኢትዮጵያ አየር መንገድ, translit=Ye-Ītyōṗṗyā āyer menged), formerly ''Ethiopian Air Lines'' (EAL), is the flag carrier of Ethiopia, and is wholly owned by t ...
– CV-240
*
Kardair (Libya) – CV-440
*
Titan Helicopter Group
Titan most often refers to:
* Titan (moon), the largest moon of Saturn
* Titans, a race of deities in Greek mythology
Titan or Titans may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Fictional entities
Fictional locations
* Titan in fiction, fictiona ...
(South Africa) – 3 CV-580
*
Regional Air (South Africa – 2 CV-580)
*
Rovos Air (South Africa – CV-340)
Asia
*
Air Jordan
Air Jordan is an American brand of basketball shoes produced by American corporation Nike. The first Air Jordan shoe was produced for Hall of Fame former basketball player Michael Jordan during his time with the Chicago Bulls in late 1984 and ...
– CV-240
[''Flight'' April 8, 1960, p. 491.]
*
Air Maldives – CV-440
*
All Nippon Airways
, also known as ANA (''Ē-enu-ē'') or is an airline in Japan. Its headquarters are located in Shiodome City Center in the Shiodome area of Minato ward of Tokyo. It operates services to both domestic and international destinations and had mo ...
– CV-440
*
Ariana Afghan Airlines
Ariana Afghan Airlines Co. Ltd. ( ps, د آريانا افغان هوايي شرکت; prs, هواپیمایی آریانا), also known simply as Ariana, is the flag carrier and largest airline of Afghanistan. Founded in 1955, Ariana is the olde ...
– CV-340
[Wragg 1969, p. 7.]
* (CATC), - 6 CV-240
*
Garuda Indonesia
Garuda Indonesia is the flag carrier of Indonesia, headquartered at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport. A successor of KLM Interinsulair Bedrijf, it is a member of SkyTeam and the second-largest airline of Indonesia after Lion Air, operat ...
– CV-240,
[Bridgman 1955, p. 21] CV-340
& CV-440
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, p. 58]
*
Iran Air
The National Airline of Iran ( fa, هواپیمايی ملی ایران, Havâpeymâyi-ye Melli-ye Irân), branded as Iran Air, is the flag carrier of Iran, which is headquartered at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran. As of 2018, it operates scheduled ...
– CV-240
*
Japan Domestic Airlines
was the predecessor of Japan Air System.
On April 15, 1964, , , and merged to form Japan Domestic Airlines. On May 15, 1971, the airline merged with Toa Airways to form Toa Domestic Airlines; on April 1, 1988 the merged airline renamed itself ...
– CV-240
*
Orient Airways
Orient Airways Ltd. ( ur, ) was an airline established in 1946 with its base in Calcutta, Bengal, British India. The airline shifted operations to the newly independent state of Pakistan in 1947, and was rechristened as Pakistan International A ...
CV-240
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 59–60]
*
Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines ( ur, ; abbreviated PIA, ur, ) is an international airline that serves as the national flag carrier of Pakistan under the administrative control of the Secretary to the Government of Pakistan for Aviation. It ...
– CV-240
*
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines (PAL), a trade name of PAL Holdings, Inc. ( PSEPAL (Philippine Air Lines until 1970), is the flag carrier airline of the Philippines. Headquartered at the PNB Financial Center in Pasay, the airline was founded in 1941 and i ...
– CV-340
[Bridgman 1955, p. 26]
*
Royal Air Cambodge – CV-440
*
Saudi Arabian Airlines
Saudia ( ar, السعودية '), formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines (), is the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, based in Jeddah. The airline's main operational base is at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. King Khalid Internati ...
– CV-340
[Bridgman 1955, p. 27]
*
Seulawah Air Services – CV-640
*
South East Asia Air Transport – CV-340
*
Toa Airways
was a Japanese airline and the predecessor of Japan Air System. Founded on November 30, 1953, it merged with Japan Domestic Airlines on May 15, 1971, to form Toa Domestic Airlines, which went on to become Japan Air System.
Oceania
*
Air Chathams
Air Chathams Limited is an airline based in the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. It was established in 1984 and operates scheduled passenger services between the Chatham Islands and mainland New Zealand along with routes between Auckland a ...
– CV-580
*
Air Fiji
Air Fiji was an airline based in Nausori, Fiji. It operated inter-island services to destinations within the Fijian Islands. Its main base was Nausori International Airport, Suva, with a base at Nadi International Airport.Flight International 27 ...
– CV-580
*
Air Freight NZ
Air Freight NZ was a cargo airline based in Auckland, New Zealand. It operated scheduled overnight cargo services on behalf of owner Freightways, and is supported by sister company Fieldair holdings. Domestic charter services are also operated. ...
– CV-580 & CV-5800
*
Airlines of New South Wales
Airlines of New South Wales (also known as Air New South Wales, Ansett NSW and Ansett Express) callsign "NEWSOUTH" was an Australian domestic regional airline that operated from 1959 until its merger into Ansett in 1993. It was formed by Reg A ...
– CV-440
*
Airlines of South Australia
Airlines of South Australia refers to
*A subsidiary of Ansett Airlines that operated from 1959 until 1986, and
*An independent airline that operated between 1987 and 2005.
History
Ansett subsidiary (1960-1986)
The original Airlines of S ...
– CV-440
*
Ansett Airlines – CV-340,
[Bridgman 1955, p. 14] CV-440 (some were formerly operated by Braniff International Airways)
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 57–558]
*
Chathams Pacific
Air Chathams Limited is an airline based in the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. It was established in 1984 and operates scheduled passenger services between the Chatham Islands and mainland New Zealand along with routes between Auckland a ...
– CV-580
*
Pionair – CV-580
*
Real Tonga
Real Tonga, stylised as "REALtonga", was an airline that operated domestic flights within Tonga. It commenced operations in March 2013, becoming the twelfth airline to operate domestic flights in Tonga since air services began. In 2020 the airlin ...
– CV-580
*
Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines (TAA), renamed Australian Airlines in 1986, was one of the two major Australian domestic airlines between its inception in 1946 and its merger with Qantas in September 1992. As a result of the "COBRA" (or Common Brand ...
– CV-240
[Bridgman 1955, p. 15]
Europe
![Karair Convair Metropolitan OH-VKN](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Karair_Convair_Metropolitan_OH-VKN.png)
*
Aviaco – CV-440
[''Flight'' April 8, 1960, p. 493.]
*
Alitalia – Linee Aeree Italiane
Alitalia - Società Aerea Italiana S.p.A., operating as Alitalia (), was an Italian airline which was once the flag carrier and largest airline of Italy. The company had its head office in Fiumicino, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital. The ai ...
– , CV-340 & CV-440
[''Flight'' April 8, 1960, p. 492.]
*
Condor
Condor is the common name for two species of New World vultures, each in a monotypic genus. The name derives from the Quechua ''kuntur''. They are the largest flying land birds in the Western Hemisphere.
They are:
* The Andean condor (''Vult ...
(& predecessor Deutsche Flugdienst) – & CV-440
*
Delta Air Transport
Delta Air Transport (abbreviated DAT) was a Belgian regional airline headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, operating scheduled and chartered flights, mostly on short-haul routes. It served a multitude of regional European destinations on behalf o ...
– CV-440
*
European Air Transport
European Air Transport N.V./S.A. (EAT) was a cargo airline headquartered in Brussels Airport (Building 4-5) and in Zaventem, Belgium. The airline was owned by Deutsche Post and operated the group's DHL-branded parcel and express services in Euro ...
– CV-580
[7>Lambert 1993, p. 7]
*
Finnair
Finnair ( fi, Finnair Oyj, sv, Finnair Abp) is the flag carrier and largest airline of Finland, with its headquarters in Vantaa on the grounds of Helsinki Airport, its hub. Finnair and its subsidiaries dominate both domestic and internationa ...
– CV-340
[''Flight'' April 8, 1960, p. 489.] & CV-440
*
Fred Olsen Air Transport – CV-340
*
General Air
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
(Germany) – CV-440
*
Iberia Airlines
Iberia (), legally incorporated as ''Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A. Operadora, Sociedad Unipersonal'', is the flag carrier airline of Spain. Founded in 1927 and based in Madrid, it operates an international network of services from i ...
– Convair CV-440
[''Flight'' April 8, 1960, p. 497.]
*
JAT Yugoslav Airlines – CV-340 & CV-440
*
Kar-Air
Karair was an airline from Finland. Initially having offered scheduled passenger flights, the company became a subsidiary of Finnair, mainly operating on holiday charter routes.
History
Originally called Karhumäki Airways, the company was fo ...
CV-440
[Wragg 1969, pp. 34–35.]
*
KLM
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, legally ''Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V.'' (literal translation: Royal Aviation Company Plc.), is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands. KLM is headquartered in Amstelveen, with its hub at nearby Amste ...
– CV-240
[Bridgman 1955, p. 25] & CV-340
*
Linjeflyg
Linjeflyg was a Swedish domestic airline, formed in 1957 as a domestic subsidiary by Scandinavian Airlines System and Airtaco as well as by newspaper publishers Dagens Nyheter AB and Stockholms-Tidningen AB.
History
Airtaco (founded in August ...
– CV-340 & CV-440
*
LOT Polish Airlines
LOT Polish Airlines, legally incorporated as Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT S.A. (, ''flight''), is the flag carrier of Poland. Established in 1928, LOT was a founding member of IATA and remains one of the world's oldest airlines in operation. Wit ...
– CV-240 (5 in 1957–1966)
*
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG (), commonly shortened to Lufthansa, is the flag carrier of Germany. When combined with its subsidiaries, it is the second- largest airline in Europe in terms of passengers carried. Lufthansa is one of the five founding m ...
– CV-340
[Bridgman 1955, p. 20] & CV-440
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, p. 55]
*
Martinair
Martinair (legally ''Martinair Holland N.V.'') is a Dutch cargo airline headquartered and based at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and a subsidiary of Air France–KLM. The airline was founded in 1958 by Martin Schröder. Since 2011, Martinair has op ...
– CV-640
*
Mey-Air
Mey-Air Transport A/S, trading as Mey-Air, was a Norwegian charter airline which operated from 1970 to 1974. Owned by shipping owner Hans Otto Meyer, the company flew both smaller ''ad hoc'' charter as well as inclusive tour (IT). Initially opera ...
– CV-240
*
Nor-Fly Charter – CV-440 & CV-580
*
Pan Adria Airways CV-440
*
Partnair
Partnair A/S was a Norwegian charter airline which operated from 1971 to 1989. During the later 1980s it was Norway's fifth-largest airline by revenue, operating a fleet of three Convair CV-580 and six Beechcraft Super King Air. The airline was b ...
– CV-580
* – CV-240
*
SABENA
The ''Societé anonyme belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation aérienne'' (French; ), better known by the acronym Sabena or SABENA, was the national airline of Belgium from 1923 to 2001, with its base at Brussels National Airport. After its ba ...
– CV-240
& CV-440
*
SAS – CV-440
*
SATA, SA de Transport Aérien – CV-440 & CV-640
*
Stellar Airfreighter (Norway) – CV-440
*
Swiftair – CV-580
*
Swissair
Swissair AG/ S.A. (German: Schweizerische Luftverkehr-AG; French: S.A. Suisse pour la Navigation Aérienne) was the national airline of Switzerland between its founding in 1931 and bankruptcy in 2002.
It was formed from a merger between Bal ...
– CV-240 & CV-440
*
Tellair – CV-440
United States and Canada
*
Air Mid-America
The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...
– CV-600
*
Air New England – CV-580
*
Air Ontario
Air Ontario Inc. was a regional Canada, Canadian airline headquartered in Sarnia, Ontario, Sarnia then London, Ontario, London, Ontario. In 2002, Air Ontario became Air Canada Jazz.
History
Great Lakes Airlines (Canada), Great Lakes Airlines w ...
– CV-580
*
Air Rajneesh Air Rajneesh was a carrier based at Big Muddy Ranch Airport from 1981 to 1985.
There is very little known about the operations of Air Rajneesh except that its primary purpose was to bring cargo and new recruits to the Rajneeshee commune. The Dir ...
– CV-440
*
Air Resorts – CV-440
*
Air Tahoma
Air Tahoma was an American cargo airline (Part 121) based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It was established and started operations in 1996 in San Diego then later moved to Indianapolis in 1998 and to its last location at Rickenbacker Interna ...
– CV-240 & CV-580
*
Allegheny Airlines
Allegheny Airlines was a regional airline that operated out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1952 to 1979 with routes primarily located in the eastern U.S. It was the forerunner of USAir that was subsequently renamed US Airways, which itself me ...
- , CV-540
& CV-580
*
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is a major American airline headquartered in SeaTac, Washington, within the Seattle metropolitan area. It is the sixth largest airline in North America when measured by fleet size, scheduled passengers carried, and the numb ...
– CV-240
*
American Airlines
American Airlines is a major airlines of the United States, major US-based airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is the Largest airlines in the world, largest airline in the world when measured ...
– CV-240
*
American Eagle
The bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (''Haliaeetus albicilla''), which occupies the same niche as ...
– See
Metro Airlines
Metro Airlines, originally Houston Metro Airlines, was a commuter airline that was originally headquartered in Houston, Texas, United States,. Metro subsequently moved its headquarters to north Texas. The airline had an operational base located ...
* American Inter-Island – CV-440 (wholly owned subsidiary of
American Airlines
American Airlines is a major airlines of the United States, major US-based airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is the Largest airlines in the world, largest airline in the world when measured ...
, which operated flights between San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Croix in the Caribbean)
*
Aspen Airways
Aspen Airways was an airline carrier and regional affiliate of United Express and based in Hangar 5 in Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado. Aspen ceased operations on April 1, 1990, when separate portions of the airline were acqu ...
– CV-240, CV-440 & CV-580
*
Atlantic Gulf Airlines
Atlantic Gulf Airlines was a regional airline founded by Tom Tepper and Kerry Broaddus in Florida that began operations in October 1983.
History
Service started with two British-manufactured Vickers Viscount four engine turboprop airliners. Atl ...
– CV-580
*
Bar Harbor Airlines
Bar Harbor Airlines was a United States commuter airline headquartered at Bar Harbor Airport in Trenton, Maine, and later in Houston, Texas.
History
The company was founded by brothers Thomas and Joseph Caruso, as Bar Harbor Airways. They be ...
– CV-600
*
Braniff International Airways
Braniff Airways, Inc., operated as Braniff International Airways from 1948 until 1965, and then Braniff International from 1965 until air operations ceased, was an airline in the United States that once flew air carrier operations from 1928 un ...
– CV-340 & CV-440
*
Buffalo Airways – CV-240 bought for its engines, not put in service
*
Cal Sierra Airlines
Cal Sierra Airlines was a start-up airline based in San Diego, California. The airline was the brainchild of former Pan Am Captain Ed Perry.
History
The airline started in 1980 with a route between San Diego and South Lake Tahoe, California, ...
– CV-580
*
Canadian Pacific Airlines
Canadian Pacific Air Lines was a Canadian airline that operated from 1942 to 1987. It operated under the name CP Air from 1968 to 1986. Headquartered at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, it served domestic Canadian a ...
– CV-240
[''Flight'' April 8, 1960, p. 495.]
*
Caribair (Puerto Rico)
Caribair was a Puerto Rican airline based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that served over a dozen destinations in the Caribbean as well as Miami. In 1970, the air carrier was serving 16 destinations on 14 Caribbean islands, plus Miami. The airline ...
– CV-340, CV-440 & CV-640
*
Central Airlines
Central Airlines was a passenger airline (the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) called it a "local service" air carrier) in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas from 1949 to 1967. It was founded by Keith Kahle in 1944 to oper ...
– CV-240 & CV-600
* Charter Airlines – CV-580
*
Cochise Airlines
Cochise Airlines was a commuter airline which was founded in 1971 in Tucson, Arizona. It operated until the early 1980s. Cochise linked small cities in Arizona with Phoenix, Arizona and Tucson, Arizona and also served southern California and Ne ...
– CV-440
*
Conair Group
Conair Group Inc. of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, formerly known as Conair Aviation, is a company specializing in retrofitting Wildfire suppression, firefighting aircraft, maintaining customer and company ...
– CV-580
*
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines, simply known as Continental, was a major United States airline founded in 1934 and eventually headquartered in Houston, Texas. It had ownership interests and brand partnerships with several carriers.
Continental started o ...
– CV-240, CV-340 & CV-440
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 44–45]
*
Continental Express
Continental Express was the operating brand name used by a number of independently owned regional airlines providing commuter airliner and regional jet feeder service under agreement with Continental Airlines. In 2012 at the time of the merger be ...
– CV-580 (operated by
Trans-Colorado Airlines
Trans-Colorado Airlines was a United States airline based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It operated from August 1980 until July 1988. The airline operated flights for Continental Airlines under the Continental Express banner beginning in 1986.
...
)
* Cordova Airlines – CV-240 (acquired by and merged into
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is a major American airline headquartered in SeaTac, Washington, within the Seattle metropolitan area. It is the sixth largest airline in North America when measured by fleet size, scheduled passengers carried, and the numb ...
)
*
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc., typically referred to as Delta, is one of the major airlines of the United States and a legacy carrier. One of the List of airlines by foundation date, world's oldest airlines in operation, Delta is headquartered in Atla ...
– CV-340 & CV-440
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, p. 45]
*
Desert Air – CV-240
*
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines, also colloquially known as Eastern, was a major United States airline from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution, it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in an unincorporated area of Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Ea ...
– CV-440
*
Era Aviation
Era Aviation was a fixed wing airline as well as a commercial helicopter operation based in Anchorage, Alaska, United States. It operated a network of scheduled fixed wing passenger services from Anchorage as well as from Bethel, AK on behalf of ...
– CV-580
*
Executive Airlines
Executive Airlines, Inc. was a Puerto Rican regional airline headquartered at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the main airport for the United States territory, near the capitol of San Juan. The airline was a ...
– CV-440
*
Freedom Airlines
Freedom Airlines, Inc. was an American FAA Part 121 certificated air carrier operating under air carrier certificate number FDKA087K issued on April 1, 2002. The Nevada Corporation was headquartered in Irving, Texas and a subsidiary of Mesa Air ...
– CV-580
*
Frontier Airlines (1950–1986)
Frontier Airlines was a United States airline formed by a merger of Arizona Airways, Challenger Airlines, and Monarch Airlines on June 1, 1950. Headquartered at the now-closed Stapleton Airport in Denver, Colorado, the airline ceased operation ...
– CV-240, CV-340, CV-440, CV-580 & CV-600 (CV-600 aircraft formerly operated by
Central Airlines
Central Airlines was a passenger airline (the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) called it a "local service" air carrier) in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas from 1949 to 1967. It was founded by Keith Kahle in 1944 to oper ...
)
* Great Lakes Airlines (Canada) – CV-440 & CV-580
*
Gulf Air Transport
Gulf Air Transport was a small charter airline headquartered at the Acadiana Regional Airport (ARA), a former U.S. Navy military airbase located in New Iberia, Louisiana, United States. The company flew piston, turboprop and jet aircraft ty ...
– CV-340, CV-440 & CV-580 (U.S. charter air carrier. CV-580 aircraft were formerly operated by North Central and Republic.)
*
Harrison Airways
Harrison may refer to:
People
* Harrison (name)
* Harrison family of Virginia, United States
Places
In Australia:
* Harrison, Australian Capital Territory, suburb in the Canberra district of Gungahlin
In Canada:
* Inukjuak, Quebec, or "Po ...
(Canada) – CV-440
*
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines ( haw, Hui Mokulele o Hawaiʻi ) is the largest operator of commercial flights to and from the U.S. state of Hawaii. It is the tenth-largest commercial airline in the United States, and is based at Honolulu, Hawaii. The airl ...
– CV-340,
CV-440 & CV-640
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 45–46, 80]
*
IFL Group
IFL Group Inc. is a cargo airline based in Waterford, Michigan, United States. It operates ad hoc cargo services as well as contract charters for FedEx and UPS.
History
The airline was established and started operations as Contract Air Cargo i ...
– CV-580 & CV-5800
*
Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter
Kelowna ( ) is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. It serves as the head office of the Regional District of Central Okanagan. The name Kelowna derives from the Okanagan word ''ki ...
(KF Aerospace) – CV-580 & CV-5800
*
Kitty Hawk Aircargo
''For the Dallas, Texas, based airline that flew in 1978, see Kitty Hawk Airways.''
Kitty Hawk Aircargo was an American cargo airline based on the grounds of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and in Grapevine, Texas, U.S. It operated domes ...
– Convair CV-240, CV-340, CV-440, CV-600 and CV-640
*
L&J Company of Addison, Texas – CV-240 (aircraft tragically crashed with the band
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd ( ) is an American rock music, rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. The group originally formed as My Backyard in 1964 and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (lead vocalist), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Ju ...
on board)
*
Lake Central Airlines
Lake Central Airlines was an airline that served points in the midwestern and eastern United States from 1950 to 1968, when it merged into Allegheny Airlines. In 1979 Allegheny became USAir. In 1997 USAir became US Airways. In 2015 US Airways was ...
– CV-340 & CV-580
* Laredo Air – CV-580
*
Mackey Airlines
Mackey Airlines, Inc., later known as Mackey International Airlines, was a United States airline that primarily served Florida and The Bahamas. At one point, the airline also operated Douglas DC-8 jetliners in scheduled passenger service betwee ...
(also known as Mackey International) – CV-440 & CV-580
*
Metro Airlines
Metro Airlines, originally Houston Metro Airlines, was a commuter airline that was originally headquartered in Houston, Texas, United States,. Metro subsequently moved its headquarters to north Texas. The airline had an operational base located ...
(via its wholly owned Metroflight division) – CV-580 (former Frontier Airlines aircraft that were operated for American Eagle via agreement with American Airlines)
*
Miami Air Lease
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a coastal metropolis and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at t ...
– CV-440
*
Midwest Air Charter
Airborne Express was an express delivery company and cargo airline. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, its hub was in Wilmington, Ohio.
Airborne was founded as the Airborne Flower Traffic Association of California in 1946 to fly flowers fr ...
/
Airborne Express
Airborne Express was an express delivery company and cargo airline. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, its hub was in Wilmington, Ohio.
Airborne was founded as the Airborne Flower Traffic Association of California in 1946 to fly flowers fr ...
– CV-600
*
Mohawk Airlines
Mohawk Airlines was a regional passenger airline operating in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, mainly in New York and Pennsylvania, from the mid-1940s until its acquisition by Allegheny Airlines in 1972. At its height, it employe ...
– CV-240 & CV-440
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, p. 46]
*
National Airlines – CV-340 & CV-440
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, p. 47]
*
Nolinor Aviation
Les Investissements Nolinor Inc., trading as Nolinor Aviation, is a charter airline based in Mirabel, a suburb of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It operates passenger charter and cargo services within Canada and to the U.S. Its main base is Montréal ...
– CV-580
*
Norcanair
Norcanair was the name of a Canadian airline that existed from 1947 to 1987, and again briefly in the early 1990s and from 2001 to 2005.
History
Norcanair traces its history back to M&C Aviation, founded in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in 1930 by ...
– CV-580 & CV-640
*
Nordair
Nordair was a Quebec-based airline in Canada founded in 1947 from the merger of Boreal Airways and Mont Laurier Aviation.
History
The airline operated from the 1940s to the 1980s. Initially, most of its business was international and transatla ...
(Nordair Metro division) – CV-580
*
North Central Airlines
North Central Airlines was a regional airline in the Midwestern United States. Founded as Wisconsin Central Airlines in 1944 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, the company moved to Madison in 1947. This is also when the "Herman the duck" logo was bor ...
– CV-580
*
Northeast Airlines
Northeast Airlines was an American airline based in Boston, Massachusetts that chiefly operated in the northeastern United States, and later to Canada, Florida, the Bahamas, Los Angeles and other cities. It was acquired by and merged into Del ...
– CV-240
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 47–48]
*
Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines Corp. (NWA) was a major American airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines, Inc. by a merger. The merger, approved on October 29, 2008, made Delta the largest airline in the world until the American Airlines ...
– CV-580 (former Republic Airlines aircraft that were previously operated by North Central Airlines)
*
Pacific Western Airlines
Pacific Western Airlines Ltd (PWA) was an airline that operated scheduled flights throughout western Canada and charter services around the world from the 1950s through the 1980s.
It was headquartered at Vancouver International Airport in Ri ...
– CV-640
*
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, originally founded as Pan American Airways and commonly known as Pan Am, was an American airline that was the principal and largest international air carrier and unofficial overseas flag carrier of the United States ...
(Pan Am) – CV-240 & CV-340
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, p. 48]
*
Powell Air – CV-440
*
Quebecair
Quebecair was a Canadian airline that operated from 1947 until 1986. Quebecair was headquartered in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, now a part of Montreal.
History
Early years
Quebecair began as Rimouski Airlines in 1947 and flew under that name un ...
– CV-540 (CL-66)
*
Renown Aviation
Renown may refer to:
* Celebrity, fame and broad public recognition
Companies
* Renown (company), a Japanese clothing brand
* Renown Health, a healthcare network in Nevada, US
* Renown Pictures, a British film company
Transport Ships
* ''Renown ...
– CV-440 & CV-580
*
Republic Airlines
Republic Airlines was an American airline formed by the merger of North Central Airlines and Southern Airways on July 1, 1979. Their headquarters were at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, in what is now Fort Snelling, Minnesota, Fort ...
– CV-580 (formerly operated by North Central Airlines)
*
Resort Air Commuter
A resort (North American English) is a self-contained commercial establishment that tries to provide most of a vacationer's wants, such as food, drink, swimming, lodging, sports, entertainment, and shopping, on the premises. The term ''resort' ...
– CV-580
*
Rhoades Aviation – CV-640
* Sea Airmotive – CV-340, CV-440 & CV-580
*
Sierra Pacific Airlines
Sierra Pacific Airlines is an American charter airline based in Tucson, Arizona, USA. It operates passenger charters and sub-charters for other airlines, as well as for the United States Forest Service, United States Military and the United Stat ...
– CV-340, CV-440 & CV-580
* Skyfreighters – CV-440
*
SMB Stage Lines
SMB may refer to:
Business
* Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), also known as small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs)
Arts and entertainment
* '' Sveriges Medeltida Ballader'', a compilation of Swedish medieval ballads
* Michigan State ...
– CV-600 & CV-640
*
Summit Airlines – CV-580
* Sun Valley
Key Airlines
Key Airlines was founded as Thunderbird Airlines in 1964 and then changed its name in 1969.
The airline took over Sun Valley Airlines in 1972 and became known as Sun Valley Key Airlines
for several years until reverting to the Key Airlines name. Th ...
– CV-440 (U.S. commuter air carrier previously known as Sun Valley Airlines, which operated out of Salt Lake City, UT and Sun Valley, ID, and then changed its name back to
Key Airlines
Key Airlines was founded as Thunderbird Airlines in 1964 and then changed its name in 1969.
The airline took over Sun Valley Airlines in 1972 and became known as Sun Valley Key Airlines
for several years until reverting to the Key Airlines name. Th ...
)
*
Trans-Texas Airways (TTa) – CV-240 & CV-600
*
Texas International Airlines
Texas International Airlines Inc. was a United States airline, known from 1940 until 1947 as Aviation Enterprises, until 1969 as Trans-Texas Airways (TTa), and as Texas International Airlines until 1982, when it merged with Continental Airlines. ...
– CV-600 (former Trans-Texas Airways aircraft)
*
Time Air
Time Air was an airline in Canada founded in 1966 by businessman Walter “Stubb” Ross from Lethbridge in Alberta. It was called Lethbridge Air Service before becoming Time Airways Ltd. which was then shortened to Time Air Ltd. In 1993 it ...
– CV-580 & CV-640 (former Norcan Air and North Caribou, also one previously owned by Domino's Pizza)
*
Trans-Colorado Airlines
Trans-Colorado Airlines was a United States airline based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It operated from August 1980 until July 1988. The airline operated flights for Continental Airlines under the Continental Express banner beginning in 1986.
...
– CV-580 (aircraft painted in the livery of
Continental Express
Continental Express was the operating brand name used by a number of independently owned regional airlines providing commuter airliner and regional jet feeder service under agreement with Continental Airlines. In 2012 at the time of the merger be ...
)
*
United Airlines
United Airlines, Inc. (commonly referred to as United), is a major American airline headquartered at the Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois. – CV-340
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 48–49] & CV-580 (CV-580 aircraft operated via wet lease contract by
Frontier Airlines (1950–1986)
Frontier Airlines was a United States airline formed by a merger of Arizona Airways, Challenger Airlines, and Monarch Airlines on June 1, 1950. Headquartered at the now-closed Stapleton Airport in Denver, Colorado, the airline ceased operation ...
as the replacement for former United
Douglas DC-6
The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with th ...
service to Elko, NV and Ely, NV)
*
Viking International Airlines – CV-600 & CV-640
*
Westates Airlines – CV-580
*
Western Airlines
Western Airlines was a major airline based in California, operating in the Western United States including Alaska and Hawaii, and western Canada, as well as to New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Miami and to Mexico City, London and N ...
– CV-240
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 49–50]
*
Wright Airlines
Wright Air Lines, founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1966, is regarded as the first United States regional airline. The airline was based in Cleveland at Burke Lakefront Airport and filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in Sep ...
– CV-440, CV-600 & CV-640
*
Zantop International Airlines
Zantop International Airlines, Inc., was a United States airline incorporated in May 1972 as a Michigan corporation, the stock of which was 100% owned by the Zantop family.
History
Zantop traces its origins to 1946 when the Zantop family set up Z ...
– Convair 640
Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America
*
Aero California
Aero California (at times shortened as ''AeroCal'') was a low-cost airline with its headquarters in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, operating a network of domestic passenger flights with its hub at the city's Manuel Márquez de León Inte ...
– CV-340
*
Aerocaribe
Aerocaribe was an airline based in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. It was a regional affiliate of Mexicana operating services under the Mexicana Inter banner and codeshares with its parent company. It operated almost 120 flights a day. In 2005 Mexica ...
– CV-340 & CV-440
[7>Lambert 1993, p. 7]
*
Aerolíneas Argentinas
Aerolíneas Argentinas, formally Aerolíneas Argentinas S.A., is Argentina's largest airline and the country flag carrier. The airline was created in 1949 from the merger of four companies and started operations in . A consortium led by Iberia ...
– CV-240
*
Aerolineas Colonia (Uruguay) – CV-240
*
Aeromexico – CV-340
*
Aeroquetzal
Aeroquetzal is a defunct airline formerly based at Guatemala La Aurora International Airport. Flying only regional routes first, Aeroquetzal later became the first Guatemalan airline besides Aviateca to operate a short lived scheduled passenger ...
– CV-580
*
ALM Antillean Airlines
ALM Antillean Airlines ( nl, Antilliaanse Luchtvaart Maatschappij) was the main airline of the Netherlands Antilles between its foundation in 1964 and its shut-down in 2001, operating out of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.
History
ALM Antil ...
– CV-340 & CV-440
*
Arawak Airlines
The Arawak are a group of indigenous peoples of northern South America and of the Caribbean. Specifically, the term "Arawak" has been applied at various times to the Lokono of South America and the Taíno, who historically lived in the Greater ...
(Trinidad and Tobago) CV-440
*
ARCO Aerolíneas Colonia S.A. (Uruguay) – CV-240, CV-600
*
Avensa
Avensa (''Aerovías Venezolanas Sociedad Anonima'') was a Venezuelan airline headquartered in Caracas. It was in the process of financial restructuring, after it went into bankruptcy due to poor management in 2002, with Santa Barbara Airlines t ...
– CV-240, CV-340,
[''Flight'' April 8, 1960, p. 490.] CV-580
*
Aviateca
Aviateca S.A. branded Avianca Guatemala is a regional airline headquartered in Guatemala City. Aviateca was under government ownership and remained so until 1989 when it joined the Grupo TACA alliance of Central America and was privatized. It ...
– CV-240, CV-340 & CV-440
*
Caribair (Puerto Rico)
Caribair was a Puerto Rican airline based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that served over a dozen destinations in the Caribbean as well as Miami. In 1970, the air carrier was serving 16 destinations on 14 Caribbean islands, plus Miami. The airline ...
– see North America
*
Chilean Airways – CV-580
*
COPA Compañia Panameña de Aviación – CV-340
*
Cruzeiro do Sul – CV-240, CV-340 & CV-440
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 52–53]
* (FAMA)
*
LACSA
Avianca Costa Rica S.A., formerly known as LACSA (''Spanish: Lineas Aéreas Costarricenses S.A.''), minority owned by the Synergy Group, is the national airline of Costa Rica and is based in San José. It operates international scheduled servic ...
– CV-340 & CV-440
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 53–54]
*
Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas
LAP - Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas (also referred as ''LAP'' and later LAPSA Air Paraguay) was a Paraguayan airline that was founded in November 1962 to be the flag carrier airline of Paraguay. Its main hub was Silvio Pettirossi International Airp ...
(LAP) – 3 CV-240
*
LAN Chile
LATAM Airlines Chile (formerly LAN Airlines and LAN-Chile) is an airline based in Santiago, Chile, one of the founders of LATAM Airlines Group, Latin America's largest airline holding company. The main hub is Arturo Merino Benítez Internationa ...
– CV-440
*
Prinair
Prinair is a Puerto Rican charter operator airline. It was Puerto Rico's domestic and international flag carrier airline for almost two decades from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s. Despite previously ceasing scheduled commercial operations twice ...
– CV-580
*
Real Transportes Aéreos
Real Transportes Aéreos (acronym to Redes Estaduais Aéreas Limitadas, literal translation: State Air Networks Limited) was a Brazilian airline founded in 1945. It was merged into Varig in 1961, when Varig bought the Consórcio Real-Aerovias-Nac ...
– CV-340 & CV-440
[Veronico & Larkins 2005, p. 53]
*
SAHSA
''Servicio Aéreo de Honduras S.A.'' otherwise known as SAHSA Airlines was the national flag carrier airline of Honduras from October 22, 1945, to January 14, 1994. The airline was a subsidiary of Pan American Airways and merged with ''Transpor ...
– CV-580
*
Transportes Aéreos Nacional
Transportes Aéreos Nacional was a Brazilian airline founded in 1946. It was merged into Varig in 1961, when Varig bought the Consórcio Real-Aerovias-Nacional, of which Transportes Aéreos Nacional was one of the partners.
History
Transporte ...
– CV-440
*
VARIG
VARIG (acronym for Viação Aérea RIo-Grandense, ''Rio Grandean Airways'') was the first airline founded in Brazil, in 1927. From 1965 until 1990, it was Brazil's leading airline, and virtually its only international one. In 2005, Varig went ...
– CV-240, CV-340 & CV-440
Military operators
;
*
Royal Australian Air Force
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...
- Two CV-440 Metropolitans (RAAF serial ''A95-313 and 353'') were in service with RAAF from 1956 to 1968.
**
No. 34 Squadron RAAF
No. 34 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) VIP transport squadron. It operates Boeing 737 Business Jets and Dassault Falcon 7Xs from Defence Establishment Fairbairn in Canberra. The squadron was formed in February 1942 fo ...
; :
*
Transporte Aéreo Militar - Six CV-440s and five CV-580s acquired. One of each remaining as of 1987.
;
*
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
and
Canadian Armed Forces
}
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force.
...
CV-540s were re engined with T56 turbo props with 412 Squadron
; : CV-580
; :
*
Luftwaffe
The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
operated six CV-440s.
;
*
Italian Air Force
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march = (Ordinance March of the Air Force) by Alberto Di Miniello
, mascot =
, anniversaries = 28 March ...
operated four CV-440 Metropolitans from 1957 until 1978
; :
*
Paraguayan Air Force
The Armed forces of Paraguay ( es, Fuerzas Armadas de Paraguay) consist of the Paraguayan army, navy (including naval aviation and marine corps) and air force.
The constitution of Paraguay establishes the president of Paraguay as the commander- ...
: CV-440/C-131D
;
*
Sri Lanka Air Force
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) ( si, ශ්රි ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව, Śrī Laṃkā guwan hamudāva; ta, இலங்கை விமானப்படை, Ilaṅkai vimāṉappaṭai) is the air arm and the yo ...
- CV-440
;
*
Mexican Air Force
The Mexican Air Force (FAM; es, Fuerza Aérea Mexicana) is the primary aerial warfare service branch of the Mexican Armed Forces. It is a component of the Mexican Army and depends on the National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA). The objective of t ...
CV-580 Nowadays used as an AEW&C Simulator on AFB #1 Santa Lucia
Other operators
![Cv580](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Cv580.jpg)
;
*
National Research Council (Canada)
The National Research Council Canada (NRC; french: Conseil national de recherches Canada) is the primary national agency of the Government of Canada dedicated to science and technology research and development, research & development. It is the ...
CV-580C-FNRC) multi purpose flying laboratory, mainly used for airborne
atmospheric
An atmosphere () is a layer of gas or layers of gases that envelop a planet, and is held in place by the gravity of the planetary body. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A s ...
research, carrying more than 40 in-situ sensors and cloud probes and remote sensing instrumentation such as X,W band radars, 355 nm lidars, and radiometers.
*
Canada Centre for Remote Sensing The Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO) (formerly ''Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS)'') is a branch of Natural Resources Canada's Earth Science Sector. It was created in 1970 with Lawrence Morley as the first Director Gene ...
, later
Environment Canada
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC; french: Environnement et Changement climatique Canada),Environment and Climate Change Canada is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Department of the Environment ( ...
, retired to the
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
The Canada Aviation and Space Museum (french: link=no, Musée de l'Aviation et de l'Espace du Canada) (formerly the Canada Aviation Museum and National Aeronautical Collection) is Canada's national aviation history museum. The museum is located ...
in June 2015 in recognition of its historical significance to Canadian science (CV-580 C-GRSC)
;
*
CAAC
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC; ) is the Chinese civil aviation authority under the Ministry of Transport. It oversees civil aviation and investigates aviation accidents and incidents. As the aviation authority responsible fo ...
- One CATC CV-240 defected to the People's Republic in November 1949. This may have been used as a VIP aircraft.
;
*
Airborne Resources, (C-131B N131CR)
*
Environmental Research Institute of Michigan, later Veridian and then
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems
General Dynamics Mission Systems is a business unit of American defense and aerospace company General Dynamics. General Dynamics Mission Systems integrates secure communication and information systems and technology. General Dynamics Mission Syste ...
(CV-580s N51211) and N51255)
*
Honeywell International
Honeywell International Inc. is an American publicly traded, multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It primarily operates in four areas of business: aerospace, building technologies, performance m ...
, Everett Washington (CV-580 N580HW)
*
Raytheon
Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It is one of the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers in the world by revenue and market capitaliza ...
, Tucson Arizona (CV-580 N580HH)
*
University of Washington
The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington.
Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seattle a ...
, (CV-580 N3UW
[Rodriguez, Javier]
"Convair 580."
''airliners.net,'' 1999. Retrieved: June 7, 2011.)
Accidents and incidents
Specifications (CV-240)
See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
* Best, Martin S. "The Development of Commercial Aviation in China: Part 8A: Central Air Transport Corporation". ''Air Britain Archive'', Summer 2009. pp. 75–92. .
* Best, Martin S. "The Development of Commercial Aviation in China: Part 8B: Central Air Transport Corporation - Fleet Lists". ''Air Britain Archive'', Autumn 2009. pp. 103–118.
* Best, Martin S. "The Development of Commercial Aviation in China: Part 14: Civil Aviation Administration of China". ''Air Britain Archive'', Winter 2011. pp. 153–171.
* Best, Martin S. "The Development of Commercial Aviation in China: Part 14: Civil Aviation Administration of China". ''Air Britain Archive'', Winter 2011. pp. 153–171.
* Best, Martin S. "The Development of Commercial Aviation in China: Part 14B: Civil Aviation Administration of China". ''Air Britain Archive'', Spring 2012. pp. 15–28.
*
Bridgman, Leonard (ed.) ''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1955–56''. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc.
"Commercial Aircraft of the World".''
Flight
Flight or flying is the process by which an object moves through a space without contacting any planetary surface, either within an atmosphere (i.e. air flight or aviation) or through the vacuum of outer space (i.e. spaceflight). This can be a ...
'', November 18, 1960. Vol. 78, No. 2697. pp. 781–827. .
* "Complete Civil Registers: 7: Ethiopia ET: Part Two". ''Archive''. 1996, No. 3. Air-Britain Historians. pp. 63–68. .
* Frawley, Gerald. "Convair CV-540, 580, 600, 640 & CV5800". ''The International Directory of Civil Aircraft 1997/98''. Fyshwick ACT, Aerospace Publications, 199, p. 86 .
* Gradidge, Jennifer. ''The Convairliners Story.'' Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., First edition, 1997, .
* Hagby, Kay
''Fra Nielsen & Winther til Boeing 747.'' Drammen, Norway. Hagby, 1998. .
* Lambert, Mark. ''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1993–94''. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division, 1993. .
* Siegrist, Martin. "Bolivian Air Power — Seventy Years On". ''
Air International
''AIR International'' is a British aviation magazine covering current defence aerospace and civil aviation topics. It has been in publication since 1971 and is currently published by Key Publishing Ltd.
History and profile
The magazine was fir ...
'', Vol. 33, No. 4, October 1987. pp. 170–176, 194. .
* Veronico, Nicholas A. & Larkins, William T. ''Convair Twins: Piston Convair-Liners: Prop-Jet Turbo Liners''. Airliner Tech Series, Volume 12. North Branch, Minnesota: Speciality Press Publishers, 2005. .
* Wegg, John. ''General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors.'' London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1990. .
* Wragg, David W. ''World's Air Fleets''. London: Ian Allan, 2nd edition, 1969. .
"World Airline Directory" ''
Flight
Flight or flying is the process by which an object moves through a space without contacting any planetary surface, either within an atmosphere (i.e. air flight or aviation) or through the vacuum of outer space (i.e. spaceflight). This can be a ...
'', April 8, 1960, Vol. 77, No. 2665. pp. 484–516. .
External links
Convair CV-240, National Air and Space MuseumC-131 Samaritan factsheet, National Museum of the United States Air ForceC-131 Samaritan, The Aviation ZoneGunships, The Aviation ZoneBBC News Article about Convair CV-440Aero News Network Article about Convair CV-440Canadian Research Facilities Navigator: NRC Flight Research Laboratory Convair-580 aircraft
{{ADF aircraft designations
CV-240
1940s United States airliners
1950s United States airliners
Low-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1947
Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft