Canadair CC-109 Cosmopolitan

Canadair · Canada · first flew 1959 · transport aircraft

The CC-109 Cosmopolitan was the RCAF designation of the Canadair CL-66, a turboprop version of the Convair 440 Metropolitan powered by Napier Eland engines. It became the standard RCAF VIP aircraft and a light transport.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	24.84 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Canadian turboprop conversion of the Convair 440
Twin Napier Eland turboprops on straight low wing
RCAF VIP and troop transport in silver livery

Resembles the Convair 440 airliner closely but with turboprop nacelles replacing the original piston radials. The low straight wing, twin turboprops, and distinctive Convair fuselage profile with large circular windows are key identifiers.

Specifications

The Canadair CC-109 Cosmopolitan has a length of 24.84 m (81 ft).
It has a wingspan of 32.11 m (105 ft).
Its maximum speed is 547 km/h (340 mph).
Typical crew: 3.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Canadair's CL-66 first flew on 2 February 1959 and entered RCAF service in 1960; 13 were built. It replaced the Douglas Dakota and North American B-25 Mitchell in light transport duties.

Variants

The CC-109 was the sole Canadian military variant; the base Convair 440 was also produced in civil and US military forms (C-131 series).

Where you'll see it

Operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force (later Canadian Armed Forces) from the early 1960s until phased out in the 1990s, primarily on domestic and transatlantic transport duties.

Related aircraft

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