(Convair) CV 240-340-440 @·AIRCRAFTUBE

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    Convair 440 Metropolitan
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    Convair 240
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    Convair VT-29B (240-27)
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    Convair 440 Metropolitan
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    Convair VT-29B (240-27)
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    Convair CV-440 1958
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    Convair CV-440
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    Convair 340-61 - 1955
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    Convair HC-131A Samaritan (USCG)
  • Convair C-131F Samaritan (VR-30 Providers) Convair C-131F Samaritan (VR-30 Providers)
    Convair C-131F Samaritan (VR-30 Providers)
  • Convair NC-131H (TIFS) Convair NC-131H (TIFS)
    Convair NC-131H (TIFS)

Convair CV-240 family

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 it broken up in 1947.

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. The 240 first flew on March 16, 1947.

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. In 1954, in an attempt to compete with turboprop-powered airliners like the Vickers Viscount, Convair produced the Model 440 Metropolitan, with more streamlined cowlings, new engine exhausts, and better cabin soundproofing. 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.

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.

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.
  • Convair CV-240 : Initial production version, with seats for 40 passengers in a pressurised fuselage. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney 2,400 hp (1,800 kW) R-2800 engines. 176 built (excluding military derivatives).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Convair 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.
  • Convair CV-440 Metropolitan : 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. 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.
  • Convair CV-580 : 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.
  • 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. 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.

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Convair C-131 Samaritan

The Convair C-131 Samaritan was produced from 1954 to 1956. It is the military version of the Convair CV-240 family of airliners.

Design and development

The design began life in a production requirement by American Airlines for a pressurized airliner to replace the classic Douglas DC-3.

Operational history

The CV-240/340/440 series was used by the United States Air Force (USAF) for medical evacuation and VIP transport and was designated as C-131 Samaritan. The first model Samaritan, the C-131A, was derived from the CV-240 model, and was delivered to the USAF in 1954.

The earlier trainer model, designated the T-29, was also based on the Convair 240 and was used to instruct USAF navigators for all USAF aircraft and those USN Naval Flight Officers (NFOs) selected to fly land-based naval aircraft. First deliveries to the USAF were made in 1950 followed by large production quantities until early 1955. The USAF and the USN operated T-29s in separate units at separate locations until 1976. In 1974, the USAF T-29s with the 323d Flying Training Wing (323 FTW) at Mather AFB, California began to be replaced by the Boeing 737-derived T-43. In 1975, the Navy retired all of its T-29s assigned to Training Squadron Twenty-Nine (VT-29) at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, deactivated VT-29, and merged their advanced navigator training program for land-based NFOs with the Air Force's program at Mather AFB.

A planned bomber training version of the T-29 (designated T-32) was never built. The CV-340 model was used for most C-131Ds.

In addition to T-29 variants, the United States Navy used the Samaritan, initially designated as the R4Y until 1962, at which point the naval aircraft were also redesignated as C-131s.

Nearly all of the C-131s left the active USAF inventory in the late 1970s, but the U.S. Coast Guard operated the aircraft until 1983, while the Air National Guard and U.S. Navy units operated additional C-131 airframes, primarily as Operational Support Aircraft (OSA) for Air National Guard flying wings and as naval air station "station aircraft" until 1990. The C-131 was primarily replaced by the C-9 Nightingale in regular USAF service, with the Air National Guard replacing their OSA with C-130 Hercules aircraft and the Navy with C-12 Hurons.

In 1959, a C-131 was the first aircraft to be used as a reduced-gravity aircraft or 'vomit comet', for astronaut training as part of Project Mercury.

A Samaritan was the first aircraft used as a flying gunship testbed in mid-1963, in a program known as "Project Tailchaser". A C-131B (AF Ser. No. 53-7820) was given a gunsight for the side window, but instead of guns it had cameras in the cargo area. Eventually the C-131 was ferried to Eglin AFB in Florida and a General Electric SUU-11A/A 7.62 mm Gatling-style Minigun was installed. Live ammunition was used and both over-water and overland tests were successful.

Variants

  • C-131A : Transport for United States Air Force based on Convair 240, capable of carrying 39 passengers on rearward facing seats or 20 stretchers and 7 seats. 26 built.
  • HC-131A : Surplus C-131As transferred to the United States Coast Guard, 22 transferred.
  • MC-131A : Temporary designation used before 1962 when a C-131A was used for medivac duties with 27 stretchers.
  • VC-131A : Temporary designation used before 1962 when a C-131A was used as a staff transport.
  • C-131B : A hybrid Model 240/340 with seats for 48 passengers, 36 built.
  • JC-131B : C-131B converted for missile tracking, six conversions.
  • NC-131B : One C-131B used for permanent testing.
  • VC-131B : C-131B when used as a staff transport.
  • YC-131C : Two Model 340s flown with Alison 501D-13 engines.
  • C-131D : Military version of the Model 340 with seats for 44 passengers, 33 built.
  • VC-131D : C-131D when used as a staff transport.
  • C-131E : Electronic Countermeasures training version for Strategic Air Command (SAC), later designated TC-131E, 15 built and one conversion from C-131D, two transferred to United States Navy as R4Y-2.
  • TC-131E : C-131E redesignated.
  • C-131F : R4Y-1 redesignated.
  • RC-131F : Conversions for photo-mapping and survey, six conversions.
  • VC-131F : R4Y-1Z redesignated.
  • C-131G : R4Y-2 redesignated.
  • EC-131G : One C-131G modified as an electronics trainer.
  • RC-131G : One C-131G modified as an airways aid checking duties.
  • VC-131G : C-131G used as a staff transport.
  • C-131H : Other models converted to Model 580 turboprop standards.
  • NC-131H : One conversion with an extended nose incorporating a separate cockpit as a Total In-Flight Simulator. This aircraft was transferred to the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio on November 7, 2008.
  • R4Y-1 : United States Navy version of the Model 340 with 44 passenger seats, redesignated C-131F in 1962, 36 built.
  • R4Y-1Z : United States Navy staff transports, redesignated VC-131F in 1962, one built and conversions from R4Y-1.
  • R4Y-2 : Two C-131Es transferred to the United States Navy, redesignated C-131G in 1962, an additional 13 cancelled.
  • R4Y-2Q : Projected radar countermeasures version of the R4Y-2, five cancelled
  • R4Y-2S : Projected United States Navy Anti-Submarine Warfare trainer version, 14 on order cancelled.
  • XT-29 : Prototype military trainer version of the Model 240 for the United States Air Force, two built.
  • T-29A : Initial production version for navigator training, unpressurised cabin for 14 students, 46 built.
  • VT-29A : T-29As converted for staff transport.
  • T-29B : Pressurised version with room for 10 navigator and four radio operator students, 105 built.
  • NT-29B : One T-29B used for permanent testing.
  • VT-29B : T-29B converted for staff transport with seating for 29 or 32 passengers.
  • T-29C : T-29B with 2500hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-29W engines, 119 built.
  • AT-29C : T-29C modified for airways checking duties, redesignated ET-29C in 1962.
  • ET-29C : AT-29C redesignated.
  • VT-29C : T-29C converted for staff transport.
  • T-29D : Bombardier training version of the T-29C with room for six students, 93 built.
  • ET-29D : Airways checking conversion of the T-29D.
  • VT-29D : Staff transport conversion of the T-29D.
  • XT-29E : Proposed turboprop version of T-29B, none built.
    • YT-32 : Proposed bomber training version with transparent nose, none built.

Operators

Paraguay : Paraguayan Air Force operated one former USAF Convair C-131D.

United States :

  • United States Air Force operated T-29 and C-131 aircraft.
  • United States Navy operated R4Y/C-131 and T-29 aircraft.
  • United States Coast Guard operated R4Y/C-131 aircraft.
  • NASA.

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Convair CV-240 family

  • Role : Airliner.
  • Manufacturer : Convair.
  • First flight : March 16, 1947.
  • Introduction : February 29, 1948 with American Airlines.
  • Status : In limited service.
  • Primary user : American Airlines.
  • Produced : 1947–1954.
  • Number built : 1,181.
  • Variants :
    • Convair C-131 Samaritan.
    • Canadair CC-109 Cosmopolitan.

    Specifications (Cv-440 Metropolitan)

  • Minimum crew : 2 pilots.
  • Passengers : 52.
  • Length : 81 ft 6 in (or 24.84 m).
  • Height : 28 ft 2 in (or 8.59 m).
  • Wing span : 105 ft 4 in (or 32.11 m).
  • Wing area : 920 sq ft (or 85.47 m2).
  • Max take-off weight : 49,700 lb (or 22,543 kg).
  • Dry Operating weight : 33,314 lb (or 15,111 kg).
  • Cruising Speed : 288 mph (250 kts or 463 km/h).
  • Max Speed : 300 mph (or 261 kts or 483 km/h).
  • Service ceiling : 24,900 ft (or 7,590 m).
  • Max range : 1,930 mi (1,677 nm or 3,106 km).
  • Engines : R-2800-CB-16 "Double Wasp" .
  • Power : 2,500 hp (or 1,865 kW) per engine.

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Convair CV 240-340-440-Samaritan : Your comments on this subject
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