Convair 240/340/440/540/580/600/640/5800

The Convair 240, 340 and 440 was one of the closest plans to draw close to being a Douglas DC-3 substitution as in spite of an excess of modest DC-3s in the post bellum years this group of aerial shuttles attained extensive deals achievement.

Outline of the first 110 was launched in light of an American Airlines demand for a DC-3 substitution. American discovered the 110 (which first flew on July 8 1946) to be excessively little and asked that the 110 be scaled up in size, and this brought about the 240 Convairliner. The 240 was apparently the most progressive short pull aerial shuttle of its day, and first flew on March 16 1947 and entered administration on June 1 1948.

The achievement of the 240 prompted the 1.37m (4ft 6in) extended 340, which first flew on October 5 1951, and the enhanced 440 Metropolitan which joined additional lodge sound-sealing, new rectangular fumes outlets, tighter motor cowlings, and some other air movement optimized enhancements and first flew on October 6 1955. The greater part of the 440s were likewise conveyed with climate radar in an extended nose, which had been an alternative on the 340.

The 240, 340 and 440 sold in substantial numbers, essentially to aerial shuttles in North America, and framed the spine of numerous carriers' short to medium pull armadas. Today the little number of cylinder Convairs that stay in administration are essentially utilized as tankers.

A large portion of the Convairs were likewise constructed for the US Air Force as the C-131 and T-29 in numerous adaptations, and for the US Navy as the R4y which were redesignated as well as C-131 in 1962.

On the other hand, the first cylinder Convairs have been the subject of various turboprop alteration programs, the line's natural quality and dependability settling on it a famous decision for transformations.

As ahead of schedule as 1950 the capability of turboprop controlled 240s was perceived, prompting the first flight and advancement of the 240-21 Turboliner, while an Allison 501d fueled YC-131c military change first flew on June 19 1954. One other early transformation happened in 1954 when D Napier and Sons in Britain changed over 340s with that organization's 2280kw (3060hp) Eland N.el.1 turboprops as the 540. Six such air ship were changed over for Allegheny Airlines in the USA, in spite of the fact that these flying machine were later changed over once more to cylinder power. Canadair then fabricated 10 new flying machine with Eland motors as the CL-66 for the Royal Canadian Air Force, where they were assigned CC-109 Cosmopolitan.

The most famous Convair transformations were those done by Pacaero in California for Allison, and this included changing over 340s and 440s to 580s with Allison 501d turboprops, in addition to altered tail control surfaces and a bigger tail range. The main such change flew on January 19 1960, in spite of the fact that it was not until June 1964 that a changed over air ship entered administration.

Convair's own particular change project included Rolls Royce Darts, and the first of these flew on May 2 1965. In this manner changed over 240s turned into 600s, while 340s and 440s turned into 640s.

Super 580 Aircraft Company, a division of Flight Trails Inc., supplanted the Allison 501-D13d motors by -D22gs and fused some further enhancements on a few 580s which were redesignated Super 580.

Kelowna Flightcraft in Canada however has offered the most aspiring Convair change program, the 5800, having extended the 580 by 4.34m (14ft 3in) and returning to the 440's unique tail unit. Creation changes have another cargo entryway and advanced aeronautics with EFIS.

The greater part of the remaining Convairs are currently utilized as payload transports.