Convair CV-240 family
Convair · United States · first flew 1947 · airliner
The Convair CV-240 family was a series of twin-engine pressurised piston airliners produced in the late 1940s and 1950s to replace the Douglas DC-3 on short-haul routes. The family was later turboprop-converted to extend its commercial life significantly.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Rounded fuselage with oval windows |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engine pressurised piston airliner of the late 1940s
- Rounded fuselage with oval windows
- Low-wing with distinctive nacelle shape
Classic twin piston airliner with a circular-section fuselage, low straight wings and large round-cowled engines; the oval cabin windows and distinctive squared-off tail are identifying features.
Specifications
- The Convair CV-240 family has a length of 24.14 m (79 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 32.12 m (105 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 482 km/h (300 mph).
- Typical crew: 3 + up to 44 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The CV-240 entered service with American Airlines in 1948 as the 'Convairliner,' offering pressurisation and improved comfort over the DC-3. Subsequent stretched variants—the CV-340 and CV-440—improved capacity and range. Many airframes were later converted to turboprop power (as CV-580, CV-600 and CV-640) and continued flying for decades, some surviving into the 21st century.
Variants
The family includes the CV-240, CV-340 (stretched fuselage), CV-440 Metropolitan (further refinement) and turboprop conversions CV-580 (Allison 501), CV-600 and CV-640.
Where you'll see it
Widely operated by US domestic carriers and international airlines throughout the 1950s–1970s; turboprop variants continued in regional and cargo service much longer, with some examples still airworthy.
Related aircraft
- Convair 240
- Convair XB-46
- Convair XC-99
- Convair 110
- Airspeed Ambassador
- Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
- Douglas DC-6
- Handley Page Marathon
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