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| The Carvair was a DC-4 conversion to carry heavy freight (incl. motor cars) or up to 84 passengers. The prototype flew for the first time on 21 June 1961 and entered service with British United Air Ferries (later British Air Ferries) in March 1962. A total of 23 Carvair conversions were completed. The conversion involved replacing the entire forward fuselage with a new nose section containing a hydraulically operated sideways-opening nose door and an elevated flight deck over the front of the cargo hold.
| CREW | 2-3 |
| PASSENGERS | 85 |
| ENGINE | 4 x P+W "Twin Wasp", 1065kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 33475 kg | 73800 lb |
| Empty weight | 18762 kg | 41363 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 35.8 m | 117 ft 5 in |
| Length | 31.3 m | 103 ft 8 in |
| Height | 9.1 m | 30 ft 10 in |
| Wing area | 135.8 m2 | 1461.74 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Cruise speed | 350 km/h | 217 mph |
| Range w/max.fuel | 5560 km | 3455 miles |
| Range w/max payload | 3400 km | 2113 miles |
| karl h, e-mail, 01.06.2013 05:54 There were two of these in the late eighties early nineties being refurbished by PAC in Hamilton, New Zealand, I turned an offer to be extra hand on delivery flight from New Zealand to Hawaii, where they were going to be used on a bread run. The one I was supposed to be on blew an engine on take off from refueling stop in middle of Pacific ...they were stuck there for a few days..... reply | | Paul Doyle, e-mail, 10.01.2013 21:18 As a kid in Southend in the 60s I always thought the Carvair looked like a Short Stirling bomber!! As the car ferry was coming to an end in the late-70s I wrote a couple of books on the car ferry era, they are AIR BRIDGE 1 (on the use of the Bristol 170 Freighter Mks 31&32 from 1947 to 1963) and AIR BRIDGE 2 (on the use of the ATL98 Carvair from 1962 to 1977), both available from bookshops or me as the Publisher. reply | | Dave Hykle, e-mail, 01.03.2012 22:13 I have just returned from viewing the 9th Carvair ever produced. WOW ! It is currently in the USA in a non-flying status. reply | | janetcharris@hotmail.com, e-mail, 13.12.2011 06:58 Worked for British Air Ferries in the season of 1971. Ground staff. Loved the job. And the planes. Coming from a family entrenched in aircraft it was a dream job looking back, watching , and don't mock, Pan Am has brought it all back. I remember the Carvair as basic , rattley, with flapping wings. Not so good for passengers , but excellent for cargo. We gained two little Avros from Air Lingus. Much more passenger friendly. But I will never forget that year or the sure of the planes. reply | |
| | Grummancat, e-mail, 01.08.2011 08:20 I've always thought of this airplane as basically a piston-engined 747 reply | | Frank Hall, e-mail, 10.05.2011 01:13 Freddie Laker will be remembered for this success story more than any other of his enterprises. Quite a brilliant concept, all the design work and airframe proving was already done! Just stick a bulge on the front and make money. reply | | Paul Crawley, e-mail, 06.03.2011 22:56 I remember when I was an Air Cadet I flew on one of the farwell flights out of Southend Airport I beleive around 1976 and as it was captained by my friends dad we were allowed on the flight deck right through the flight, shame Southend Airport could not have a Carviar as a Gate Guard. reply | | jerry k, e-mail, 19.05.2010 22:37 This plane is featured in "Goldfinger". It transports both the villian's Roll's Royce and James Bond's famous Astin Martin DB5 over the English Channel. reply |
| Howard Syder, e-mail, 08.01.2010 01:43 I worked on the design of the Carvair and have pictures of its maiden flight on June 21 1961. It was an aircraft that did the job for which it was designed at the time. reply | | Glyn Chipperfield, e-mail, 12.09.2009 17:05 I remember working as a baggage boy at Southend Airport during my college holidays in 1971 to 1973. The Carvair was a great looking aircraft and I had the opportunity to fly in the cockpit 'jump seat' a couple of time, flying to Ostend, which was great fun.
I also remember the Late Mike Keegan, who owned British Air Ferries then. I was only 16 at the time, but remember he always had time to stop and talk about aircraft, especially the Carvair. reply | | Howard Syder, e-mail, 18.01.2009 00:37 I was a structural design engineer on the Carvair. I have seen this aircraft in Hawaii and Seattle over the years. After working on the Carvair I emigrated to the USA and worked as an engineer for Boeing for 30 years on most of the Boeing commercial airplanes, 707, 727, 737, 757 etc.
I was always impressed with the Carvair as an airplane that did the job for which it was designed. reply | | Patrick Dean, e-mail, 24.08.2008 00:21 Gentlemen;
My book "The ATL-98 Carvair" A Comprehensive History of the Aircraft and All 21 Airframes is now available worldwide at all major book stores. The book has four chapters illustrating the evolution of the aircraft and a chapter on each of the airframes. There are 175 photos and seven appendicies.
Thanks to all,
Patrick reply | | Bob D, e-mail, 06.07.2008 03:46 I have the third FAA type rating on the American registration and I certified the aircraft for the FAA. reply | | TEZ, e-mail, 21.04.2008 22:27 I WAS 16 WHEN G-ANYB FIRST FLEW I WAS A KEEN AIRCRAFT SPOTTER LIVING ABOUT 5 MIN WALK AWAY FROM AIRPORT I AM SOUTHEND BORN AND BRED AND HAVE SEEN LOTS OF COMINGS AND GOINGS AND SOME VERY RARE BIRDS SINCE THE EARLY SIXTYS AND THE MEMORY OF SITTING IN THE COCKPIT OF G-ANYB IN ATL HANGER I AM SURPRISED NO ONE HAS BOTHERED TO SAVE SUCH A GREAT AIRCRAFT FOR A MUSEUM ALL THE BEST TEZ. reply | |
| | Thac Thang Nguyen, e-mail, 17.12.2007 21:05 Hello
I love this tiny tiny aircraft. It makes me remember my when I was I child. Please, anyone can do me a favour, it would be grateful if you can contact me and I would like to have some photos of the ATL-98.
Many thanks,
Thac Thang Nguyen
Email: thacthangnguyen@gmail.com reply | | WARNAULT PHILIPPE, e-mail, 11.12.2007 22:24 dear mister
j am very interesting this CARVAIR ATL98
J HAVE 600 PICTURES, SLIDES AND POSTCARDS + DOCUMENTS ET MAQUETTE AIRLINE BRITISH UNITED AND THE CAP OF CAPTAIN
J SEARCH STICKERS AND PIN'S (CARVAIR) + DES COLLECTIONNEURS ON THE CARVAIR ATL 98 AND BRISTOL FREIGHTER
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
GOOD NIGHT
PHILIPPE reply | | Bryan P, e-mail, 02.06.2007 19:00 one of the few remaining carvair's just crashed in Alaska. May 30, 2007 reply |
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