Convair 240

I was stationed at Harlingen AFB from '57 to '61 as a crew chief on a T29 (No. 798 if memory serves me right). During that time there were three crashes, one pancake into a cotton field, one nose wheel failure, and one cartwheel which pretty much disassembled the bird. If anyone has any information about these incidents or knows where I might find it, Would you please email it to me.

Thanks Jim Birke 3610 flight line maintenance squadron.

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My father was with the crew that delivered the first Convair to Australia in 1948...Does anyone have any details of that trip?

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It was an aircraft of this type that was transporting southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from Greenville, South Carolina to Baton Rouge, Louisianna when it crashed near Gillsburg, Mississippi on October 20, 1977. A right engine magneto fault was identified as a contributing factor in the crash.

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transtexas got their convair 240s from american-they didnt have 440s-braniff had 340s-delta and eastern had 440s

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I've ever admired the Convair 240 since observing it's operation daily for Aerolineas Argentinas in the late fifties.
I remember the steep climb angle and the sound of the counterthrust of the props on landings which permitted the use of short runways. May I have also seen four blade props installed? What I'm sure is that all were original piston engines. Best regards. G

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I think it was a 240 and not one of the later models. Sure looked a lot like this one.

Took my first ever, airplane flight in this critter. As I recall, it was operated by Trans Texas Airways and the trip was from Houston, TX's Hobby Airport to New Orleans. Time line was 1959-1960.

I thought it was so cool. Really enjoyed the flight. Back then you walked across the tarmac and climbed up the boarding ladder. Had a beautiful stewardess greet you on the flight deck. Geez where has all that gone?

Made it to NOLA in what I thought was record time.

Mark

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The C-131A was the first airplane I ever worked on, back at Eglin AFB in 1974, as an Autopilot technician. We had both 131s and T-29s. They were beautiful airplanes, and I am sorry to see them all retired. I did get to re-tour one at Sun-n-Fun back in 05.

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I started out as a crew chief and then become a flight mechanic on T29A, B, and C, D and on C-131A in the late 60's and into the early 70's at Scott Air Force Base IL. We flew these aircraft approximately 120 hours per month in special air missions and aero evacuation support. The aircraft were actually pretty good and flew great, we did have some problems, but today I believe most of them were all self generated. The cost of the operation sky rocketed due to maintenance and parts cost. If the Air Force would have given the regular Air Force mechanics proper training the cost would have been cut. Also at the same time there was a hidden agenda of the Air Force Reserves trying to take over the full maintenance operations. Most of our missions were hauling VIP or inspection teams, around the country or flying local mission training or keep code 4 pilots current and navigators.
These old aircraft should have been around for several more years then they were.

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My first flight was in a piper cub sitting in my dad's lap in 1940 from a grass field in Newport Rhode Island...
In 1954, at Bilouxi Miss while attending electronics tech school I would spend hours at the end of the runway fascinated by the T-29 s as they flared for landings. I can't describe it but that feeling of connection with the aircraft at that moment stayed with me through 10,000 hours of PIC . The t-29's were my inspiration, I can still feel that moment between flare and the first squeak of the tires...
Never did fly a T-29 though, and did not renew my physical after my 73d Birthday...

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Many T-29's were converted to VIP transports in the 1960's. I was a radio operator on ferry crews for VT-29B from Land Air Corp., Cheyenne, Wyoming to Weisbaden AB, Germany in 1963. These planes went to the various American embassies in Europe.
I was the radio operator on VT-29D #25816 in Rio de Janeiro (JBUSMC) 1972-1974 as well.(it replaced our C-54G)

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ANY SUGGESTIONS WHERE I CAN BUY A WOODEN PUT TOGETHER KIT OF THIS WONDERFUL AIRCRAFT? I FIRST MET IT AS A CARGO HANDLER FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES AT OHARE IN LATE 1955 AND HAD A MODEL OF IT THAT HAS LONG SINCE BEEN MISPLACED. LATER I WAS AN OPERATIONS GUY THAT DID THE WEIGHT AND BAL.

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As honest an airplane you would want to fly. Flew T 29s, c 131s in various configurations and enjoyed all of it.

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The U.S. DOD also flew the 131Fs,Gs and Hs(turboprops) with some carrying up to 60 passengers depending upon configuration. Another feature in these aircraft was the cargo door on the port side aft.

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As I remember there were several 'upgrades or modifications' to the original airframe /powerplants. Seems that the last 'factory' model was the 580 (?). The major difference was the upgraded power plants, from radial to constant speed engines /props. A later modification comes out of Canada and is listed as the 5800. They've stretched the body by about a dozen feet, upgraded the engines and now produce three versions--all passenger, half passenger, half freight, or all frieght. Last I heard, you could buy one of these truly 'rivet up' re-manufactured birds for about $7 million--in today's market as good a bargain as I've seen lately! Dick

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the engine sub-designation was CB-16.

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