Convair R3Y Tradewind

Convair · United States · first flew 1950 · transport aircraft

The Convair R3Y Tradewind was a large turboprop-powered flying boat operated by the US Navy in the 1950s, the only turboprop flying boat to serve with the US military. It featured a nose-loading door and was capable of acting as an aerial tanker.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, swept
E — Engines	4 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	42.37 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Large turboprop flying boat with gull wing
T-shaped bow door for vehicle loading
Only turboprop-powered flying boat in US Navy service

A massive gull-winged flying boat with four large turboprop engines and a deep hull; its size and the distinctive nose loading door of the R3Y-2 are unmistakable recognition features.

Specifications

The Convair R3Y Tradewind has a length of 42.37 m (139 ft).
It has a wingspan of 44.42 m (146 ft).
Its maximum speed is 644 km/h (400 mph).
Typical crew: 10.

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

History

The XP5Y-1 patrol prototype first flew in April 1950; the transport R3Y-1 and tanker-capable R3Y-2 followed. The entire fleet was grounded by 1958 due to persistent turboprop gearbox failures, and the type was quickly retired.

Variants

R3Y-1 was the transport version; R3Y-2 had a hinged nose for drive-on vehicle loading and could refuel jets in flight. Both variants suffered severe engine reliability problems.

Where you'll see it

Operated exclusively by US Navy Transport Squadron VR-2 at NAS Alameda, California, from 1956 to 1958; never deployed operationally due to mechanical unreliability.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.