Convair 240
Convair · United States · first flew 1947 · airliner
The Convair 240 was a twin-engined pressurised short-haul airliner that entered service in 1948, representing a major advance over the DC-3 for domestic US routes and spawning a long production family.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Pressurised oval fuselage with rounded nose |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radials on low tapered wing
- Pressurised oval fuselage with rounded nose
- Tricycle undercarriage; distinctive oval cabin windows
Low straight wing with two large radial engines; oval pressurised fuselage with rows of small oval windows; tricycle gear; shorter and rounder than a Douglas DC-6.
Specifications
- The Convair 240 has a length of 22.76 m (75 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 27.97 m (92 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 499 km/h (310 mph).
- Typical crew: 3, up to 40 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed at American Airlines' request for a pressurised DC-3 replacement, the Convair 240 first flew on 16 March 1947 and entered service with American Airlines in June 1948. It was produced in substantial numbers for both civil and military (T-29, C-131) customers, and later turboprop conversions extended the type's working life well into the 1980s in cargo operations.
Variants
Convair 340 (stretched); Convair 440 Metropolitan (further refined); T-29 (USAF navigation trainer); C-131 Samaritan (USAF medical); numerous turboprop conversions (Allison, Rolls-Royce Dart).
Where you'll see it
Major US carriers including American, Continental, and United operated the type; military versions served widely in the USAF and US Navy; turboprop conversions remained in cargo use into the 1990s.
Related aircraft
- Convair CV-240 family
- Convair XB-46
- Convair XC-99
- Convair 110
- Airspeed Ambassador
- Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
- Douglas DC-6
- Handley Page Marathon
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