Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Commercial airliner / freighter

Power Plant:

(CV-580)

Two 2,797 kw (3,750 shp) Allison 501-D13H turboprops

Specifications:

History:

A successful series of airliners produced in the 1950s was the Convair CV-240, CV-340 and CV-440 series, a number of which saw service with airlines in Australia, and two of which were operated by the RAAF VIP flight from RAAF Fairbairn, Canberra, ACT.

On 29 December 1950 a conversion of the Model CV-240 was flown with turboprops and became known as the Turboliner. On 29 June 1954 a variant known as the YC-131C was flown with Allison 501D turboprops and subsequently on 19 January 1960 the first CV-580 conversion was flown, this model becoming known as the General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/580. In 1965 a variant known as the Model CV-600 was flown with Rolls Royce Dart turboprops, and a number were converted over the years. 170 Model CV-340s and CV-440s were converted to Model CV-580 configuration, including a number which were fitted with Napier Eland turboprops.

Part of the conversion process included an increase in the area of the tail unit to increase minimum control at low speeds; and styling changes to the interior to permit accommodation for up to 77 passengers when the type was used in the airliner role. Operators of the type in the United States included Frontier, Allegheny, Central and Caribair.

In 1990 Kelowna Flightcraft of BLritish Colombia, Canada announced the KFC-5800, this being an upgraded conversion with the fuselage lengthened by 4.34 m (14 ft 3in), max take-off weight increased, and the airframe refurbished and reconditioned. The prototype of this model N5800 flew for the first time on 11 February 1992, certification being received on 15 December 1993.

In 1989 a company set-up by Fieldair Holdings and Parceline Express known as Air Freight (NZ) Ltd obtained two Model CV-580s to operate a five nights a week main trunk freight service between Auckland, Palmerston North, and Christchurch. These aircraft had formerly been Model CV-340s with United Airlines, being delivered in 1954, and became ZK-FTA (c/n 168 – ex C-GKFP) and ZK-FTB (c/n 180 – ex C-FEDO) respectively, commencing services on 2 July 1989. However, ZK-FTB, was lost in a crash on take-off at Auckland on 31 July 1989.

In mid 1990 a further Model CV-580 was obtained as a replacement, this becoming ZK-KFL (c/n 372 – ex C-FKFL), and in 1994 a further Model CV-580 was obtained and became ZK-JDQ (c/n 465 – ex C-GGWH) which operated from March 1994 to December 1996 when it was exported as C-FKFL. This aircraft has had an interesting life as it flew in Australia from 1957 to 1962 with Ansett-ANA as VH-BZM as a Model CV-440-97. It saw service with Allegheny Airlines and in 1967 had its Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radials replaced with Allison 501-D13 turboprops.

In 1998 a further example arrived, this being for King Solomon Airways, and became ZK-KSA (c/n 507 – ex C-GTTE). Another aircraft, ZK-KFU (c/n 017 – ex C-FKFU), crashed in stormy weather off Peka Peak on 3 October 2003.

In October 2004 Air Freight (NZ) took delivery of a Convair 5800, the stretched variant of the Model CV-580. This machine ZK-KFS (c/n 277 – ex C-FKFS) joined a number of Model CV-580s with that company, but was exported to Canada in early 2016. The other Model CV-580s included ZK-KFH (c/n 42 – ex C-FKFL) and ZK-KFJ (c/n 114 – ex C-CKFJ).

As well, at this time Air Chathams had three Model CV-580s and Pionair had one Model CV-580 ZK-PAL (c/n 501 – ex N631AR) in service. Air Chathams received a further Model CV-580 in September 2004 and at that time leased one of its Model CV-580s VH-KSA (c/n 507) to Origin Pacific to operate passenger services from Auckland to Nelson.

Later further examples were imported, including ZK-CIB (c/n 327A – ex C-FCIB), ZK-CID (c/n 385 – ex HZ-SNII), ZK-CIE (c/n 399 – ex N565EA, N57RD, N98GL, N98G) and ZK-CIF (c/n 381 – ex N566EA).

In early 2006 Pioneer Adventures announced it was transferring some operations from Palmerston North to Essendon Airport in Melbourne, VIC the Convair CV-580 ZK-KSA being the first aircraft sent to Victoria, becoming VH-PDV, followed by ZK-PAL (ex N631MW) which became VH-PDL.  In late January 2006 a further Model CV-580 arrived in Palmerston North for the company (ex N631MW). By late 2008 Pionair Australia operated two Model CV-580Fs VH-PDW and VH-PDX and three Model CV-580s VH-PDV, VH-PDL and VH-PAL. In mid 2006 ZK-CIF was leased by Air Fiji from Air Chathams and operated for a period by its subsidiary, Airline Tonga.

On 10 December 2010 two Convair CV-580s arrived at Ballarat, VIC. These aircraft were flown from the United States for the fire-bombing season, having been converted for this purpose. Registered C-FKFA (c/n 100 – ex ZK-CID, HZ-SN11, HZ-SN2, C-FKFA, V5-KFA, N5826 N3435), an ex Model CV-340, and C-GYXC (c/n 507 – ex VH-PDV, ZK-KSA, VH-IHL, ZK-KSA, C-GTTE, N8124, N5124, Nua 145966), an ex-Model CV-440 which previously flew in Australia as VH-PDV, they were leased by the Victorian Government.

The end for the Convair CV-580F aircraft operated by Air Freight (NZ) Ltd took place in August 2016. The four aircraft were offered for sale during September that year. At that time ZK-FTA had flown 71,383 hours and made 56,691 landings; ZK-KFH had flown 68,642 hours and made 42,756 landings; ZK-KFJ had flown 68,164 hours and made 58,112 landings, by early 2018 being broken up for spares; and ZK-KFL had flown 34,538 hours and made 28, 286 landings. ZK-KFS, the Model 5800F, after some work on the aircraft, was ferried via Pago Pago and Honolulu in May 2016 to Canada where it became C-GKFS.

On 26 March 2017 Convair CV-580 VH-PDW made its last flight from Bankstown to Parkes in NSW where it has been retired and has now become part of the collection of aircraft in the annexe there to the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society’s Museum. It has been placed on display, joining a de Havilland Caribou, de Havilland Heron and other aircraft.  A further Model CV-580 was obtained by HARS in 2020 and was prepared for flight to its new base; and the forward fuselage of another was obtained for display purposes, the latter being conveyed to Parkes where visitors can sit in the assengers seats and the cockpit.