The Convair CV-580 in New Zealand
Aug 24, 2019 18:38:22 GMT 12
Dave Homewood, baz62, and 2 more like this
Post by harrysone on Aug 24, 2019 18:38:22 GMT 12
Dave suggested this and in hindsight I think it is a fantastic idea: Create a page dedicated to the Convair 580 and its 30 years (so far) service in NZ skies, especially as the aircraft appears to be in its twilight years of service. These aircraft have lead something of a 2nd string existence here and have operated largely as 'tramp steamers', largely employed in a freight role and operating at night or operating ad-hoc passenger charters or scheduled flights to locations off the beaten track (Chattam Islands or Tongan Islands). I realised that I have at my fingertips a fantastic photo resource care of a late and very good friend of mine, Mike Hodgkinson (fellow Catalina member, and avid prop-liner enthusiast and amateur aviation photographer). Mike (amoungst other aircraft movements) kept records of all Convair developments through the '90s and 2000s. I will be presenting many of his photos on this page (some which lead to locations offshore) and I'd like to dedicate it to Mike's memory.
What is often also overlooked is that all 14 Convairs registered in NZ have had at least two complete leases of life in their 60+ years of existence. All of the NZ registered aircraft effectively 'rubbed shoulders' with the last of the great piston engined prop-liners in service around the world during their heyday of '50s-'60s.
Some Period Advertising of the 'Convair-Liner' from the 1950s:
farm1.static.flickr.com/653/23022244826_5cb8aea1f7_b.jpg
images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71VMFkF44KL._SL1210_.jpg
boxartden.com/gallery/var/resizes/BROCHURES-POSTERS-AND-ADS/Real-Aircraft-Ads/convair%201952-960.jpg?m=1523865400
The CV-580 was the most successful outgrowth from turbine engine conversions and updates to the basic Convair CV-340/440 design. The Convair 340 and slightly later 440 were slightly enlarged versions of Convair's 240 aircraft which was one of the early 40 seat DC-3 replacements produced in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Convairliners were among the very first to introduce 'modern jet-liner' features such as folding air stairs. The CV-240 and subsequent CV-340 and CV0440 designs were originally designed around 2 Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines in an easily changed 'power egg'installation, with the consideration that if suitable turbine power plants should become available that they could be converted to accommodate them. The Convair 340 was originally designed to accommodate 4 additional seats over the original design for American Airlines. The result was a lengthened fuselage and increased wingspan an correspondingly increased weights. The CV-440 was an improvement of the '340 with better sound insulation, improved exhaust systems and increased pax capacity (by reducing carry on baggage allowance). Many Convair 340s were brought up to Convair 440 standards.
Convair prop-liner production stopped in 1958 as the company geared itself towards pure-jet designs such as the Convair 880 and 990. It didn't completely abandon the aircraft though, improvements and production jigs were passed on to Canadair (then a subsidiary in Canada). Various turbine conversions took place during the late 1950s through the 1960s, the basic Convair design proved to be very adaptable to turbo-prop conversion:
these included:
Convair 540 : a conversion with Napier Eland turbo-props, while promising performance, issues with the engines and a take over by Rolls Royce spelt the end of the Convair 540.
Convair 580 : The most successful, the conversion was of Convair CV-340 (Allison Prop-Jet Convair 340) or CV-440 aircraft with two 3,700 hp Allison 501 D13D/H turboprop engines with four-bladed Aeroproducts propellers, in place of original 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.
Convair 600: RR Dart turbine conversion of the original Convair 240s undertaken using a Convair sanctioned design mod.
Convair 640: RR Dart turbine conversion of CV-340/440 aircraft, not as popular as CV-600 or CV-580 conversions, these were also somewhat under powered.
Here are some good illustrations of all the various types of Convair-liners and the various conversions
i.imgur.com/RDEQzIp.png
Each of of the aircraft which has been or is flying in NZ skies has had a colourful history. While they are probably somewhat under-rated in NZ aviation circles they are probably still some of the fastest cruising turboprop airliners you are likely to come across.
OK I'll list the Convair 580s in NZ as they commenced service, rather than alphabetically following their regos. The first couple of aircraft to enter service were with Air Freight NZ in 1989...please feel free to upload any additional info guys...
What is often also overlooked is that all 14 Convairs registered in NZ have had at least two complete leases of life in their 60+ years of existence. All of the NZ registered aircraft effectively 'rubbed shoulders' with the last of the great piston engined prop-liners in service around the world during their heyday of '50s-'60s.
Some Period Advertising of the 'Convair-Liner' from the 1950s:
farm1.static.flickr.com/653/23022244826_5cb8aea1f7_b.jpg
images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71VMFkF44KL._SL1210_.jpg
boxartden.com/gallery/var/resizes/BROCHURES-POSTERS-AND-ADS/Real-Aircraft-Ads/convair%201952-960.jpg?m=1523865400
The CV-580 was the most successful outgrowth from turbine engine conversions and updates to the basic Convair CV-340/440 design. The Convair 340 and slightly later 440 were slightly enlarged versions of Convair's 240 aircraft which was one of the early 40 seat DC-3 replacements produced in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Convairliners were among the very first to introduce 'modern jet-liner' features such as folding air stairs. The CV-240 and subsequent CV-340 and CV0440 designs were originally designed around 2 Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines in an easily changed 'power egg'installation, with the consideration that if suitable turbine power plants should become available that they could be converted to accommodate them. The Convair 340 was originally designed to accommodate 4 additional seats over the original design for American Airlines. The result was a lengthened fuselage and increased wingspan an correspondingly increased weights. The CV-440 was an improvement of the '340 with better sound insulation, improved exhaust systems and increased pax capacity (by reducing carry on baggage allowance). Many Convair 340s were brought up to Convair 440 standards.
Convair prop-liner production stopped in 1958 as the company geared itself towards pure-jet designs such as the Convair 880 and 990. It didn't completely abandon the aircraft though, improvements and production jigs were passed on to Canadair (then a subsidiary in Canada). Various turbine conversions took place during the late 1950s through the 1960s, the basic Convair design proved to be very adaptable to turbo-prop conversion:
these included:
Convair 540 : a conversion with Napier Eland turbo-props, while promising performance, issues with the engines and a take over by Rolls Royce spelt the end of the Convair 540.
Convair 580 : The most successful, the conversion was of Convair CV-340 (Allison Prop-Jet Convair 340) or CV-440 aircraft with two 3,700 hp Allison 501 D13D/H turboprop engines with four-bladed Aeroproducts propellers, in place of original 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.
Convair 600: RR Dart turbine conversion of the original Convair 240s undertaken using a Convair sanctioned design mod.
Convair 640: RR Dart turbine conversion of CV-340/440 aircraft, not as popular as CV-600 or CV-580 conversions, these were also somewhat under powered.
Here are some good illustrations of all the various types of Convair-liners and the various conversions
i.imgur.com/RDEQzIp.png
Each of of the aircraft which has been or is flying in NZ skies has had a colourful history. While they are probably somewhat under-rated in NZ aviation circles they are probably still some of the fastest cruising turboprop airliners you are likely to come across.
OK I'll list the Convair 580s in NZ as they commenced service, rather than alphabetically following their regos. The first couple of aircraft to enter service were with Air Freight NZ in 1989...please feel free to upload any additional info guys...
