The 440 was a development of the 340 with modifications to increase speed by about 8km/h and to reduce the noise level in the cabin. Special kits were also made available to convert 340 to 440 standard with longer engine nacelles and a longer “radar nose”. Accommodation was provided for between 44 and 52 passengers. The prototype first flew on 6 October 1955 and 162 were built before production was phased out in the spring of 1958. A few were also operated by the USAF and US Navy.
Convair 440 Engines: 2 x Pratt-Whitney R-2800-CB16 Double Wasp, 1864kW Max take-off weight: 22226 kg / 49000 lb Empty weight: 15111 kg / 33314 lb Wingspan: 32.11 m / 105 ft 4 in Length: 24.13 m / 79 ft 2 in Height: 8.59 m / 28 ft 2 in Wing area: 85.47 sq.m / 919.99 sq ft Cruise speed: 465 km/h / 289 mph Ceiling: 7590 m / 24900 ft Range w/max.payload: 756 km / 470 miles Passengers: 52
Although based on the Convair 240, the 340 was largely a new aircraft with greater wing span (32.11m) and area; a 54-in longer fuselage for 44 passengers; R-2800-CB16 or CB17 engines; greater all-up weight of 21,318kg; and many interior design improvements.
The first aircraft (N3401) flew on 5 October 1951 and the first delivery to an airline was N73103, to United Air Lines on 28 March 1952.
A total of 209 had been built by January 1955, when the last two production aircraft were delivered to REAL (Brazil).
CV-340-B
The C-131B, based on larger Convair-Liner 340, was being produced in 1955 as flying laboratory for electronics equipment.
YC-131C was a ConvairLiner 340 fitted experimentally with two 3,750 h.p. Allison T56 turboprops.
Some standard ConvairLiner 340s were also ordered as C-131D.
The USAF operated the 340 as C-131 or VC-131 transports, flying and ECM trainers and for other duties; while the US Navy/Marine Corps received 37 transports as R4Y. The U.S. Navy equivalent of the C-131A is designated R4Y-1Z.
Many Convair 340s were converted to 440 and 580 standard.
A total of 209 CV-340s was built, followed by 186 CV-440s.
Convair C-131A Samaritan
In November 1957 a Convair 340 with Napier Eland turboprop engines was flown to the USA to serve as a prototype. In 1958 the RCAF ordered a version of the Convair with Eland engines, to be built by Canadair as the CL-66.
Convair 340 Napier Eland conversion
In 1954 two Convair 340 were built as experimental YC-131C models to flight test Allison YT-56 turboprops. The first flew on 20 May 1954 with a gross weight of 53,200 lb compared to 47,000 lb for the standard 340.
YC-131C
The Convair 440 Metropolitan is a 52-seat development of the Model 340, having increased all up weight.
CV-340-B Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB16, 2400 hp Wingspan: 105 ft 4 in Length: 79 ft 2 in Height: 28 ft 2 in Wing area: 920 sq.ft Empty weight: 32,399 lb Loaded weight: 47,000 lb Max speed: 314 mph at 16,000 ft Cruise speed: 292 mph Range: 1150 mi Seats: 44
Convair C 131 Samaritan Engine: 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-103W, 2466 hp Length: 79.167 ft / 24.13 m Height: 28.15 ft / 8.58 m Wingspan: 105.348 ft / 32.11 m Wing area: 963.378 sq.ft / 89.5 sq.m Max take off weight: 47008.4 lb / 21319.0 kg Weight empty: 29004.6 lb / 13154.0 kg Max. speed: 265 kt / 491 km/h Cruising speed: 238 kt / 440 km/h Cruising altitude: 18635 ft / 5680 m Wing load: 48.79 lb/sq.ft / 238.0 kg/sq.m Maximum range: 1652 nm / 3060 km Range: 1652 nm / 3060 km Crew: 3 Payload: 48 Pax
Convair C-131A Samaritan Air evacuation and cargo transport. Engines: 2x 2,500 h.p. Pratt & Whitney R2800-99W Wingspan: 91 ft. 9 in Length: 74 ft. 8 in Empty weight: 29,000 lb Loaded weight: 43,575 lb. Max speed: 313 m.p.h. at 14,500 ft Cruise: 285 mph at 20,000 ft ROC: 1410 fpm Ceiling: 24,500 ft. Range: 875 miles Accommodation: 40 passengers or 27 stretchers. Armament: None
ConvairLiner project started with the Model 110, of which the prototype NX90653 was flown for the first time on 8 July 1946. American Airlines convinced Convair to alter the CV-110 into the larger CV-240. The first post-World War II commercial transport designed by Consolidated Vultee was evolved primarily as a DC-3 replacement.
Accommodation was provided for 2 crew and 40 passengers. The aircraft was powered by two 2400 hp / 1,788kW Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CA18 radial engines.
The prototype, NX90849, first flew at San Diego on 15/16 March 1947 and the first licensed aircraft was delivered to American Airlines on 28 February 1948, who put the type into scheduled service on 1 June 1948.
Military versions of the 240 were produced as the T-29A to E aircrew trainers for navigators and bombardiers.
Conversion of the commercial CV 240 for military training duties was commenced in 1948, the first version being the T-29A which first flew on 22 September 1952.
Development of the T-29A with pressurised cabin, increased fuel capacity, etc, resulted in the T-29B which first flew on 30 July 1952.
T-29B
The T-29C had higher powered engines, The T-29D for advanced navigational/bombardment training, and the VT-29E which was a personnel transport variant.
Altogether 176 were built, and the Convair 240 served VARIG for 26 years.
Convair CV-240-21 Turboliner, December 1952 (Courtesy Pat Ford)
The Allison T38 (company Model 501) engines fitted to the Convair CV-240-21 Turboliner were rated to 2,750shp.
The Convair 340 is a development of the Model 240, having a 4 ft 6 in increase in fuselage length, increased all up weight, and higher powered engines.
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CA18, 2400 hp / 1,788kW Wingspan: 28.0 m / 91 ft 10 in Length: 22.7 m / 74 ft 6 in Height: 8.3 m / 27 ft 3 in Wing area: 75.9 sq.m / 816.98 sq ft Max take-off weight: 18972 kg / 41826 lb Empty weight: 12530 kg / 27624 lb Max. speed: 538 km/h / 334 mph Cruise speed: 480 km/h / 298 mph Ceiling: 9150 m / 30000 ft Range w/max.fuel: 2880 km / 1790 miles Crew: 3-4 Passenger capacity: 40
T-29B Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-97, 2400 hp Wingspan: 91 ft 9 in Length: 74 ft 8 in Height: 27 ft 3 in Wing area: 817 sq.ft Loaded weight: 43,575 lb Max speed: 300 mph Cruise: 230 mph ROC: 1370 fpm Range: 1500 mi
The ConvairLiner project started with the Model 110, of which the prototype NX90653 was flown for the first time on 8 July 1946. American Airlines convinced Convair to alter the CV-110 into the larger CV-240.
After the end of the War, in 1946 Ted Hall and Tommy Thompson from the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft designed and built the two-seat Convair Model 116.
Convair Model 116
Convair Model 116
This prototype completed 66 test flights, and Hall designed another model, named the 118 (or the Convair Car). Two prototypes were built.
Convair Model 118
Convair Model 118
Consolidated Vultee bought rights to the original roadable design by their own Chief Development Engineer, Ted Hall. His creation was unusual in that the car portion looked exactly like a scaled down conventional automobile of the period, though suspended beneath its self contained ‘flight module’. The automobile had a streamlined glassfibre body with four seats, and was powered by a 26 hp Crosley car engine.
Where the ConvAircar also differed from previous roadables was that the company planned to sell only the car part, for $1500. Aircraft modules with 190 hp Lycoming aero engines would be rented out by the hour or day when the owner wanted to go flying. Convair spent $800,000 on building two prototypes at their San Diego plant and gearing up for a planned production run of 160,000 ConvAircars. The 725 lb auto-plane prototype first flew during November 1947. All went well until the third test flight, late in November 1947. The ConvAircar took-off with minimal gasoline in its tanks. The ConvAircar ran out of fuel and was wrecked, and shortly afterwards Convair ran out of enthusiasm.
