Convair R3Y-2 Tradewind

Convair · United States · first flew 1955 · transport aircraft

The Convair R3Y-2 Tradewind was the amphibious assault-transport variant of the Tradewind, distinguished by a hinged nose ramp that allowed it to beach and unload military vehicles, and it conducted the world's first turboprop-powered aerial refuelling of jet fighters.

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:

Bow-loading ramp for beaching landing craft
Only flying boat to perform in-flight refuelling of jet aircraft
High swept wing with four Allison T40 turboprops

Externally similar to the R3Y-1 but distinguished by the hinged nose section; the swept high wing, T-tail, and turboprop engines remain the primary recognition features shared with its sibling.

Specifications

The Convair R3Y-2 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

Five R3Y-2s were delivered with the bow-loading capability, enabling the Navy to experiment with turboprop-powered assault transport operations. The aircraft demonstrated the ability to simultaneously refuel four Grumman F9F Cougars in flight, a remarkable capability for the era.

Variants

Directly related to the R3Y-1, differing primarily in the bow-loading ramp and minor internal reconfiguration; both variants shared identical powerplants and suffered the same T40 engine reliability problems.

Where you'll see it

Withdrawn from service in 1958 along with the R3Y-1 after persistent engine failures; none survived into preservation.

Related aircraft

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