Canadair CC-109 Cosmopolitan
Canadair · Canada · first flew 1959 · transport aircraft
The CC-109 Cosmopolitan was the Canadian Armed Forces' designation for a turboprop-converted version of the Convair 440 Metropolitan airliner, re-engined with Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops by Canadair for RCAF service. It served as a VIP transport and troop carrier.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 24.84 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Canadian turboprop conversion of the Convair 440
- Twin Rolls-Royce Dart engines 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 converted a number of Convair 440 airframes for the Royal Canadian Air Force beginning in the late 1950s, replacing piston engines with Dart turboprops to produce a more capable and economical transport. The Cosmopolitan served the RCAF in various transport roles from the early 1960s through to the mid-1990s.
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.
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