Convair R3Y-1 Tradewind

Convair · United States · first flew 1954 · transport aircraft

The Convair R3Y-1 Tradewind was a large turboprop-powered flying boat that served as a naval transport in the late 1950s, remarkable as the only turboprop flying boat to enter US Navy service.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, swept
E — Engines	4 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	42.7 m fuselage
T — Tail	T-tail

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Spot it by:

Only turboprop flying boat to enter US Navy service
Four Allison T40 coupled turboprops
High swept wing and T-tail on large transport hull

A large, graceful flying boat with a high swept wing carrying four paired-turboprop nacelles, a clean T-tail, and a long slender hull; its turboprop engines and swept wing immediately distinguish it from piston-era flying boats.

Specifications

The Convair R3Y-1 Tradewind has a length of 42.7 m (140 ft).
It has a wingspan of 44.6 m (146 ft).
Its maximum speed is 644 km/h (400 mph).
Typical crew: 5.

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

History

Developed from the XP5Y-1 patrol prototype, the Tradewind first flew in February 1954 and entered service with the Navy as a cargo and personnel transport. Persistent engine problems with the paired Allison T40 turboprops plagued the fleet, and all six R3Y-1s and five R3Y-2s were withdrawn from service by 1958.

Variants

The R3Y-2 introduced a bow-loading ramp capable of beaching landing craft, making it the world's first turboprop transport aircraft able to refuel jet fighters in the air; both marks suffered from chronic T40 engine unreliability.

Where you'll see it

Operated by US Navy Transport Squadron VR-2 from 1956 to 1958; no examples survive in preservation, making it one of the more obscure American flying boat programmes.

Related aircraft

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