THE CONVAIRLINERS WORLDWIDE
HAVE YOU ANY CONVAIRLINER MEMORIES?

In the late 1940's there was a need for a suitable replacement for the Douglas DC-3. Several types evolved but one of the most successful was the Convairliner series. Consolidated Aircraft and Vultee Aircraft both of California merged to become Convair Aircraft in the 1940's. When talking about Convair passenger airliners two distinct series come to mind. First the Convairliners which were two engined piston or jet-prop powered airliners with about 40 to 44 seats and the  Convair jets which were four engined jets known mainly for their speed. It has been said the 880 and 990 jets lost more money for Convair than the Edsel lost for Ford Motors.

It can't be said that the Convairliners were exactly replacements for the DC-3. They were much improved over the Dakotas with pressurization, air conditioning, and tricycle landing gear. With 40 seats they were nearly double the size of the DC-3, but in most cases they were a logical step up for most airlines. Their closest competitor was the Martin 202 and Martin 404 made in Maryland. They started with major airlines and evidentially were handed down to smaller local service carriers. One exception is Mohawk Airlines which purchased brand new Convair 440's.

With an extra strong airframe, many of the original types were converted into jet-prop airliners.

CONVAIR 240 - Named for 2 abreast seating and forty passengers in total was the first of the series. The main customer was American Airlines who flew them into the mid 1960's. > Convair 600 - A converted Convair 240 to jet prop power with Rolls-Royce Dart engines. Both were identifiable by having 10 passenger windows on each side.

CONVAIR 340 - A larger, longer and more powerful 240 with 11 windows on each side. The main customer was United Airlines. Identifiable from the 440 with two round exhaust ports behind each engine.

CONVAIR 440 -  A more powerful and soundproofed 340. Identifiable from the 340 with one rectangular exhaust port behind each engine. > Convair 540 - A converted 440 to jet-prop power using Napier-Eland engines. (Only done by Allegheny Airlines)

CONVAIR 340 or CONVAIR 440 Jet-prop conversions. > Convair 580 Jet-Prop conversion using Allison 501D engines. > Convair 640 Jet-Prop conversion using Rolls-Royce Dart engines.

The Convairliner was popular with the military and had their own numbering system.

Link to Convair 240/340/440 Video