Convair 640

The Convair CV-240 is an American airliner that Convair manufactured from 1947 to 1954, initially as a possible replacement for the ubiquitous Douglas DC-3. Featuring a more modern design with cabin pressurization, 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 for an airliner to replace its Douglas DC-3s. Convair's original design, the unpressurised Model 110, was a twin-engine, low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction, with 30 seats. It was powered by Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engines. It had a tricycle landing gear, and a ventral airstair for passenger boarding. The prototype Model 110, registration NX90653, first flew on July 8, 1946. By this time, American Airlines had changed the requirements to include pressurization 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.

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-powered airliners such as the Vickers Viscount, 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, Continental Airlines, Pan American Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Swissair, Sabena, and Trans Australia Airlines.Gradidge 1997, pp. 10–11.

A CV-240 was the first private aircraft used in a United States presidential campaign. In 1960, John F. Kennedy used a CV-240 named ''Caroline'' (after his daughter) during his campaign. This aircraft is now preserved in the National Air and Space Museum.

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, the major remaining operator of this model, currently holds the type certificate 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 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-powered conversion fitted with Allison T38 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 and other operators including KLM, 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, Lufthansa and SAS. Finnair operated the type from 1953 until 1980.
;Convair CV-540
:Conversion from a Convair CV-340 aircraft with two Napier Eland turboprop engines in place of the piston engines. Six aircraft were converted by Napier for Allegheny Airlines.Frawley 1997, p. 86. Cost for the conversions was £160,000 per-aircraft. 12 built as new-builds by Canadair for RCAF 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 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 on behalf of the Allison Engine Company. 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), Allegheny Airlines, and North Central Airlines for many years and was also the first aircraft type operated by American Eagle on behalf of American Airlines in code sharing feeder service. General Motors Air Transport (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 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 on 30 November 1965 and also served with Trans-Texas Airways (TTa) and successor Texas International 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'', 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

A stretched Convair CV-5800 of IFL Group with this aircraft being developed by Kelowna Flightcraft (now KF Aerospace) in Canada
:Conversion from former US Navy 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 with EFIS and Allison 501-D22G engines in place of the original R-2800 engines. The prototype of this conversion first flew on February 11, 1992; the type certificate 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 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 CV-240/340/440 series was used by the United States Air Force for medical evacuation and VIP 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 used the Samaritan under this designation
;Canadair CC-109 Cosmopolitan
:Conversion from CV-440, with Napier Eland turboprops in place of the piston engines. The conversions were performed in Canada by Canadair. In Royal Canadian Air Force 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
:Company designation for the CC-109 Eland powered variant

Operators

Civil operators

Africa

* Air Algerie – CV-640
* Ethiopian Air Lines – CV-240
* Kardair (Libya) – CV-440
* Titan Helicopter Group (South Africa) – 3 CV-580
* Regional Air (South Africa – 2 CV-580)
* Rovos Air (South Africa – CV-340)

Asia

* Air Jordan – CV-240''Flight'' April 8, 1960, p. 491.
* Air Maldives – CV-440
* All Nippon Airways – CV-440
* Ariana Afghan Airlines – CV-340Wragg 1969, p. 7.
* (CATC), - 6 CV-240
* Garuda Indonesia – CV-240,Bridgman 1955, p. 21 CV-340 & CV-440Veronico & Larkins 2005, p. 58
* Iran Air – CV-240
* Japan Domestic Airlines – CV-240
* Orient Airways CV-240Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 59–60
* Pakistan International Airlines – CV-240
* Philippine Airlines – CV-340Bridgman 1955, p. 26
* Royal Air Cambodge – CV-440
* Saudi Arabian Airlines – CV-340Bridgman 1955, p. 27
* Seulawah Air Services – CV-640
* South East Asia Air Transport – CV-340
* Toa Airways

Oceania

* Air Chathams – CV-580
* Air Fiji – CV-580
* Air Freight NZ – CV-580 & CV-5800
* Airlines of New South Wales – CV-440
* Airlines of South Australia – 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 – CV-580
* Pionair – CV-580
* Real Tonga – CV-580
* Trans Australia Airlines – CV-240Bridgman 1955, p. 15

Europe

* Aviaco – CV-440''Flight'' April 8, 1960, p. 493.
* Alitalia – Linee Aeree Italiane – , CV-340 & CV-440''Flight'' April 8, 1960, p. 492.
* Condor (& predecessor Deutsche Flugdienst) – & CV-440
* Delta Air Transport – CV-440
* European Air Transport – CV-5807>Lambert 1993, p. 7
* Finnair – CV-340''Flight'' April 8, 1960, p. 489. & CV-440
* Fred Olsen Air Transport – CV-340
* General Air (Germany) – CV-440
* Iberia Airlines – Convair CV-440''Flight'' April 8, 1960, p. 497.
* JAT Yugoslav Airlines – CV-340 & CV-440
* Kar-Air CV-440Wragg 1969, pp. 34–35.
* KLM – CV-240Bridgman 1955, p. 25 & CV-340
* Linjeflyg – CV-340 & CV-440
* LOT Polish Airlines – CV-240 (5 in 1957–1966)
* Lufthansa – CV-340Bridgman 1955, p. 20 & CV-440Veronico & Larkins 2005, p. 55
* Martinair – CV-640
* Mey-Air – CV-240
* Nor-Fly Charter – CV-440 & CV-580
* Pan Adria Airways CV-440
* Partnair – CV-580
* – CV-240
* SABENA – CV-240 & CV-440
* Scandinavian Airlines System, SAS – CV-440
* SA de Transport Aérien, SATA, SA de Transport Aérien – CV-440 & CV-640
* Stellar Airfreighter (Norway) – CV-440
* Swiftair – CV-580
* Swissair – CV-240 & CV-440
* Tellair – CV-440

United States and Canada

* Air Mid-America – CV-600
* Air New England (1970–1981), Air New England – CV-580
* Air Ontario – CV-580
* Air Rajneesh – CV-440
* Air Resorts – CV-440
* Air Tahoma – CV-240 & CV-580
* Allegheny Airlines - , CV-540 & CV-580
* Alaska Airlines – CV-240
* American Airlines – CV-240
* American Eagle Airlines, American Eagle – See Metro Airlines
* American Inter-Island – CV-440 (wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines, which operated flights between San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Croix in the Caribbean)
* Aspen Airways – CV-240, CV-440 & CV-580
* Atlantic Gulf Airlines – CV-580
* Bar Harbor Airlines – CV-600
* Braniff International Airways – CV-340 & CV-440
* Buffalo Airways – CV-240 bought for its engines, not put in service
* Cal Sierra Airlines – CV-580
* Canadian Pacific Airlines – CV-240''Flight'' April 8, 1960, p. 495.
* Caribair (Puerto Rico) – CV-340, CV-440 & CV-640
* Central Airlines – CV-240 & CV-600
* Charter Airlines – CV-580
* Cochise Airlines – CV-440
* Conair Group – CV-580
* Continental Airlines – CV-240, CV-340 & CV-440Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 44–45
* Continental Express – CV-580 (operated by Trans-Colorado Airlines)
* Cordova Airlines – CV-240 (acquired by and merged into Alaska Airlines)
* Delta Air Lines – CV-340 & CV-440Veronico & Larkins 2005, p. 45
* Desert Air Alaska, Desert Air – CV-240
* Eastern Air Lines – CV-440
* Era Aviation – CV-580
* Executive Airlines – CV-440
* Freedom Airlines – CV-580
* Frontier Airlines (1950–1986) – CV-240, CV-340, CV-440, CV-580 & CV-600 (CV-600 aircraft formerly operated by Central Airlines)
* Great Lakes Airlines (Canada) – CV-440 & CV-580
* Gulf Air Transport – CV-340, CV-440 & CV-580 (U.S. charter air carrier. CV-580 aircraft were formerly operated by North Central and Republic.)
* Harrison Airways (Canada) – CV-440
* Hawaiian Airlines – CV-340, CV-440 & CV-640Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 45–46, 80
* Contract Air Cargo, IFL Group – CV-580 & CV-5800
* Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter (KF Aerospace) – CV-580 & CV-5800
* Kitty Hawk Aircargo – 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 on board)
* Lake Central Airlines – CV-340 & CV-580
* Laredo Air – CV-580
* Mackey Airlines (also known as Mackey International) – CV-440 & CV-580
* Metro Airlines (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 – CV-440
* Midwest Air Charter/Airborne Express – CV-600
* Mohawk Airlines – CV-240 & CV-440Veronico & Larkins 2005, p. 46
* National Airlines (NA), National Airlines – CV-340 & CV-440Veronico & Larkins 2005, p. 47
* Nolinor Aviation – CV-580
* Norcanair – CV-580 & CV-640
* Nordair (Nordair Metro division) – CV-580
* North Central Airlines – CV-580
* Northeast Airlines – CV-240Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 47–48
* Northwest Airlines – CV-580 (former Republic Airlines aircraft that were previously operated by North Central Airlines)
* Pacific Western Airlines – CV-640
* Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) – CV-240 & CV-340Veronico & Larkins 2005, p. 48
* Powell Air – CV-440
* Quebecair – CV-540 (CL-66)
* Renown Aviation – CV-440 & CV-580
* Republic Airlines (1979–1986), Republic Airlines – CV-580 (formerly operated by North Central Airlines)
* Resort Air Commuter – CV-580
* Rhoades Aviation – CV-640
* Sea Airmotive – CV-340, CV-440 & CV-580
* Sierra Pacific Airlines – CV-340, CV-440 & CV-580
* Skyfreighters – CV-440
* SMB Stage Lines – CV-600 & CV-640
* Summit Airlines – CV-580
* Sun Valley Key Airlines – 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)
* Texas International Airlines, Trans-Texas Airways (TTa) – CV-240 & CV-600
* Texas International Airlines – CV-600 (former Trans-Texas Airways aircraft)
* Time Air – CV-580 & CV-640 (former Norcan Air and North Caribou, also one previously owned by Domino's Pizza)
* Trans-Colorado Airlines – CV-580 (aircraft painted in the livery of Continental Express)
* United Airlines – CV-340Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 48–49 & CV-580 (CV-580 aircraft operated via wet lease contract by Frontier Airlines (1950–1986) as the replacement for former United Douglas DC-6 service to Elko, NV and Ely, NV)
* Viking International Airlines – CV-600 & CV-640
* Westates Airlines – CV-580
* Western Airlines – CV-240Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 49–50
* Wright Airlines – CV-440, CV-600 & CV-640
* Zantop International Airlines – Convair 640

Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America

* Aero California – CV-340
* Aerocaribe – CV-340 & CV-440Lambert 1993, p. [27].
* Aerolíneas Argentinas – CV-240
* Aerolineas Colonia (Uruguay) – CV-240
* Aeromexico – CV-340
* Aeroquetzal – CV-580
* ALM Antillean Airlines – CV-340 & CV-440
* Arawak Airlines (Trinidad and Tobago) CV-440
* ARCO Aerolíneas Colonia S.A. (Uruguay) – CV-240, CV-600
* Avensa – CV-240, CV-340,''Flight'' April 8, 1960, p. 490. CV-580
* Aviateca – CV-240, CV-340 & CV-440
* Caribair (Puerto Rico) – see North America
* Chilean Airways – CV-580
* Copa Airlines, COPA Compañia Panameña de Aviación – CV-340
* Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, Cruzeiro do Sul – CV-240, CV-340 & CV-440Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 52–53
* (FAMA)
* LACSA – CV-340 & CV-440Veronico & Larkins 2005, pp. 53–54
* Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas (LAP) – 3 CV-240
* LAN Chile – CV-440
* Prinair – CV-580
* Real Transportes Aéreos – CV-340 & CV-440Veronico & Larkins 2005, p. 53
* SAHSA – CV-580
* Transportes Aéreos Nacional – CV-440
* VARIG – CV-240, CV-340 & CV-440

Military operators

;
* Royal Australian Air Force - Two CV-440 Metropolitans (RAAF serial ''A95-313 and 353'') were in service with RAAF from 1956 to 1968.
** No. 34 Squadron RAAF
; :
* Transporte Aéreo Militar - Six CV-440s and five CV-580s acquired. One of each remaining as of 1987.
;
* Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Armed Forces CV-540s were re engined with T56 turbo props with 412 Squadron
; : CV-580
; :
* German Air Force, Luftwaffe operated six CV-440s.
;
* Italian Air Force operated four CV-440 Metropolitans from 1957 until 1978
; :
* Paraguayan Air Force: CV-440/C-131D
;
* Sri Lanka Air Force - CV-440
;
* Mexican Air Force CV-580 Nowadays used as an AEW&C Simulator on AFB #1 Santa Lucia

Other operators

;
* National Research Council (Canada)
CV-580
C-FNRC) multi purpose flying laboratory, mainly used for airborne Atmospheric science, atmospheric 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, later Environment Canada, retired to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in June 2015 in recognition of its historical significance to Canadian science (CV-580 C-GRSC)
;
* Civil Aviation Administration of China, CAAC - 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 (CV-580s N51211) and N51255)
* Honeywell International, Everett Washington (CV-580 N580HW)
* Raytheon, Tucson Arizona (CV-580 N580HH)
* University of Washington, (CV-580 N3UWRodriguez, 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.
* Leonard Bridgman, 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 International, Flight'', 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'', 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 International, Flight'', April 8, 1960, Vol. 77, No. 2665. pp. 484–516. .

External links

Convair CV-240, National Air and Space Museum

C-131 Samaritan factsheet, National Museum of the United States Air Force





C-131 Samaritan, The Aviation Zone

Gunships, The Aviation Zone

BBC News Article about Convair CV-440

Aero News Network Article about Convair CV-440Canadian Research Facilities Navigator: NRC Flight Research Laboratory Convair-580 aircraft

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