|
| Convair 340
Although based on the Convair 240, the 340 was largely a new aircraft with greater wing span (32.11m) and area; a 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 flew on 5 October 1951 and the first delivery to an airline (United Air Lines) was made 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). The USAF also operated 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.
Convair 440 Metropolitan
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. 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.
| MODEL | Convair 440 |
| PASSENGERS | 52 |
| ENGINE | 2 x Pratt-Whitney R-2800-CB16, 1864kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 22226 kg | 49000 lb |
| Empty weight | 15111 kg | 33314 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| 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 m2 | 919.99 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Cruise speed | 465 km/h | 289 mph |
| Ceiling | 7590 m | 24900 ft |
| Range w/max payload | 756 km | 470 miles |
| Jim Dawson, e-mail, 20.04.2010 17:56 A minor correction to Richard Chambers comments. The surviving Convair 770 that LTV sold was purchased by Alton Box Board Company in Alton, IL. I flew it for a few years until we sold it and bought a Hawker. Our training consisted of studying the LTV produced manual and a few flights with an LTV pilot, then a type ride with an FAA air carrier examiner from Dallas. I have a lot of good memories from that airplane.
Jim reply | | Ove Niemi, e-mail, 09.04.2010 07:11 Iam searching a chance to buy a old passenger aircraft
and save it..ilove flying and Convair Metropolitan is a
classiq aircraft-- reply | | Richard Chambers, e-mail, 12.01.2010 02:58 Two 340s were retrofitted with turboprop engines and were designated Convair 770s. One was scrapped at Oklahoma City after a few years. The other was modified from a passenter seat configuration to an executive transport with updated avionics. I flew it for Texstar and for LTV who sold it to a Canadian firm, I believe, and may still be flying. reply | | Joe Panza, e-mail, 09.01.2010 04:37 The Convair C-131 was my first flying assignment out of pilot USAF Flight Training in 1966. Flew for the 10AMS Medevac unit at McGuire AFB. Great bird and great mission.... 10 to 12 stops a day picking up and dropping off patients. For a new jock it was a great way to build up flying experience operating in and out of all manner of airfields in all kinds of WX. One of my best assignments. reply | |
| | Steve McEwan, e-mail, 28.06.2009 15:19 The photo is actually a Convair 540. When Napier shut down the Eland engine program the aircraft were reconverted to recips. The photo can't be a 600 because that was the Rolls conversion of the 240. Rolls powered 340s were known as 640s. reply | | ghazi badeeb, e-mail, 25.06.2009 20:49 this is a peace of art lovly airplan fun to fly reply | | Tommy Olsson, e-mail, 25.03.2009 09:26 Hi!
We have a wonderful fully functional simulator of a CV440 Metropolitan at Vasteras Aviation Museum in Vasteras, Sweden. I myself work as a sim-instructor on this and the old Swedish jet-fighter, J35 Draken.
If you want to take a look in the cockpit in our Metropolitan-simulator, here is a VR-link:
www.4pisr.se /AllFullScreen.php?id=MetropolitanSimulator reply | | Bill Query, e-mail, 30.08.2008 23:39 Flew the C-131 with the Navy 1965 /68 while attached to the Commander of Naval Air Recerve staff in New Orleans. During this period I had 3 single engine landings--two from swallowed valves and one from an oil fire caused by ruptured valve housing. Even still, this was the best multi-engine plane (prop) I have flown. reply | | Ted Goetz, e-mail, 01.06.2008 19:40 I was flying the C-131 out of El Toro when this happened and remember the incident well. In partial answer to Mike Dixon's question, The pilots had been making several short enroute stops and had been leaving the right engine running while unloading (right engine had the air conditioning /pressurization pump).Because of the fuel imbalance they decided to open the fuel crossflow valve while in flight. This was a big NO NO that we thought all Convair pilots knew because the valve often malfunctioned leaving you with no source of fuel. I later looked at the spot they put it down in and all I can say is they did one hell of a job since the plane had the glide characteristics of a streamlined safe reply | | thawkins, e-mail, 23.09.2007 02:29 The picture is a Convair "600". Note the turbo-prop engines. The "340" had radial engines. reply | | Dayana, e-mail, 28.03.2007 02:36 Hi, IŅ'm so happy to find this page, this is great.
Well, IŅ'm a Flight Assistant and this month IŅ'll fly this plane (Convair 340), and I would like to know if you have the manual from this plane, please I really thank you if you send the manual to my e-mail. thank you very much and congratulations for the page, so beatifull. reply | | Mike Dixon, e-mail, 31.12.2006 05:46 Do you have any information on a United Airlines 340 that lost power in both engines and bellied into a field in the Tejon Pass near Gorman, California. It was on a flight from Bakersfield to Los Angeles. As I recall it was in the early 1960's. The plane was repaired and flown out of the field it dropped into.
Thank you reply |
|
Do you have any comments?
|
| 
COMPANY
PROFILE
All the World's Rotorcraft
|
