Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Convair · United States · first flew 1955 · airliner
The Convair CV-440 Metropolitan was the final and most refined piston-engine member of the Convair-Liner family, featuring improved sound insulation and weather radar as standard. It represented the pinnacle of twin-piston airliner development before turboprops rendered such types obsolescent.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Round-window pressurised fuselage, low-wing twin |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin Pratt & Whitney R-2800 piston airliner
- Round-window pressurised fuselage, low-wing twin
- Sound-proofed 'Metropolitan' cabin, retractable tricycle gear
A classic postwar twin-piston airliner with a circular-section pressurised fuselage, round windows, two large R-2800 engines in long nacelles, low wing, and retractable tricycle gear — very similar to the CV-340 but identifiable by radar nose and improved acoustic treatment.
Specifications
- The Convair CV-440 Metropolitan has a length of 24.84 m (81 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 32.12 m (105 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 507 km/h (315 mph).
- Typical crew: 3, 44-52 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in October 1955, the CV-440 served with major US carriers including Continental, Delta, and Swissair in Europe. Many were later converted to turboprop power as the CV-540, CV-580, CV-600, and CV-640, giving the airframe a second career that extended operations into the 2000s in freight roles.
Variants
The CV-440 was the baseline; turboprop conversions produced the CV-540 (Napier Eland), CV-580 (Allison 501), CV-600 (Rolls-Royce Dart), and CV-640 (Dart). Earlier family members were the CV-240 and CV-340.
Where you'll see it
Operated by major US domestic and international airlines in the late 1950s and 1960s; turboprop conversions extended service with regional carriers into the late twentieth century.
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