Convair 240, 330, 440 Compilation: 15 Minutes of R-2800 Bliss!

The Convair 240-series was a medium-size airliner designed in the late 40s, built specifically to replace the venerable DC-3 in short and medium routes. While it didn’t quite replace it (NOTHING replaces a DC-3!), it did a terrific job at hauling 40-50 passengers at a great speeds and pressurized comfort. The 240 spawned the extended 340 and 440 models, which all fulfilled their jobs at airlines until their replacement by turbroprops and regional jets. Convairs went on flying for small cargo operators and private charters, and unfortunately, not many remain airworthy. Notably, part of Lynard Skynard’s crew met their demise in one in 1977.
Convairs were powered by the venerable Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engines, one of the most reliable ever built. Topping it off, Convairs were equipped with “augmentors”, which gave it a distinctive howl that set it apart from its contemporaries. And making it one of my favorite sounding aircraft!
The Convairs unmistakable haunting roar were part of my childhood while growing up in Fort Lauderdale, as they criss-crossed the sky enroute to the Bahamas from their Florida bases.
What do you think of the radial-powered Convairs?
Video Credits:
• Air Tahoma Inc Convair...
• Convair 440 ZS-BRV eng...
• DOOR OPENS IN FLIGHT!!...
• N150PA Wet Departure |...
• Fresh Air-Jet One Expr...
• CONVAIR 440 Arrives HA...
• Convair CV-440 & CV-58...
• Convair 240 Start
• Airliners Internationa...
• Convair CV-240 Take off
• Convair 240/C-131 take...
• Convair runup
• Convair 152JR Start
• flight
• Convair CV-240 takeoff...
• Miami Air Lease Convai...
• Convair C-131B Departu...
• Convair start-up
• Miami Air Lease Short ...
• Carnicero flight with ...
• Convair 340 low flyover
• SJU plane spotting Con...
• Convair 340 Landing in...
• Convair C-131B La Paz
• Air Resorts Airlines C...
• Conquest Cargo Convair...
• Tolair Convair 440
• SXM - St. Maarten. 195...
• Thunder pig convair 44...
• Trans Dominican Airway...

[@bcshelby4926]

...I still remember when North Central was still operating 340s and 440s into the late 1960s before they were all converted to 580s with the Allison 501s. Indeed those P-2800s had such a lovely sound. Lived north of the airport in Milwaukee WI and they'd often come right over the house when taking off to the north . The clip of the "head on" approach at St. Maarten takes me back to standing along Layton Ave at the north end of Runway 19R and having them come overhead just about as low on their final before touchdown.

[@skyblazer9137]

The beauty of the Convair Metro 440. Those days are gone forever. Long live the P&W R 2800.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Believe or not we STILL have one that's trucking along to the Bahamas, operates out of KOPF. It's the one branded as "Conquest" in the video.

[@skyblazer9137]

Ok! WOW. Thanks... @@aircraftadventures-vids

[@whalesong999]

My first ride in an airplane was in a 340 at the dedication of our new municipal airport in Wichita in, I think, 1952. We'd been watching them taking rides for a while and were impressed with the steep rate of climb the Convair had. Riding in it was a thrill for the take-off, especially.

[@ronstowell8646]

Worked heavily on 340-440-580's at Pt. Mugu Navy base in the 1990's...........loved the Convair!

[@chrisblyth6716]

Prop engined planes alway look so graceful taking off and landing.

[@dlkline27]

These aircraft have a unique sound at idle because the exhaust runs through "augmenter tubes" which tones down that raw exhaust blast and leaves mostly the sound of prop blades swatting the air. Love these aircraft. I didn't know they used 2800 power. Awesome!

[@observer3232]

Flew in a Convair 580 45 years ago, on the original Frontier Airlines from STL-MCI. Enjoyed the ride, more pleasant and it seemed a bit roomier than commuter jets.

[@demartin5366]

Awesome video, love the sound of those Pratt and Whitney radials!! Nice collection of the Convairs in action. I have fond memories of Delta Airlines Convair 440s flying into and out of my local airport, EVV, as a kid. What a wonderful time in commercial aviation.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Still working on my time machine so I can move next to some airport in the late 60s and soak in all the wonderful sounds!

[@boblackey1]

In the 1950's as a kid I took several trips with my dad on American Airlines Convair 240's and Martin 404's. Eastern flew the 404. I later found out from a pilot both planes had the same Pratt and Whitney R -2800 radial engines. The 404 sounded a bit different so I was surprised. I remember the 404 had two short exhaust pipes under the engine with fire coming out at night. I think the Convair exhaust was on the trailing edge of the wing directly behind the engine. Perhaps that is the reason the sound was a little different. Go over to 12:15 of this and hear a Martin 404 if you haven't before. Enjoy your videos. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6jdqIujgMyUosUsi=65N1nXHRge9pY57G

[@stevenborham1584]

14:12 Sensual overload there 😮😍. Even though strakes fitted to the vertical stabilisers are usually a remedy for the initial designs insufficient directional stability, they aesthetically give most designs that extra zing. Love the interplay of Tuba and kettle drum rumble between the big props and engine exhaust. Always sound like background music to a J R Tolkien movie.

[@JimKristinTomlinson]

I have actually flown some of these. Wow.

[@karekrmarkolsen7309]

My first time as passenger was in 1960 on a domestic flight in Denmark. Can still feel the goosebumps I had as a 9 year old boy flying without my patents. (I am 73 now)

[@herbertcourtesie2459]

Not much more than say Great Compilation of these wonderful series of aircraft.

[@craigpennington1251]

Very surprised that Convair did not build a 4 engined airliner. Their twins were great. With the 4630 turbo compound radials, it would've been super.

[@bennybenitez2461]

Conquest Air own Carlos Gomez here in Miami is a dear friend and true aviation professional. Carlos was the one who restored the Eastern Airlines DC-7B.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

I remember that one! Flew around 2010 I believe. What happened to that DC-7?

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Hey do you think there's any chance I could arrange to see the Convair up close at OPF? I live about 30m away. If you could put me in contact with Carlos.

[@trimule]

I worked for Hawaiian Airlines in the 1960's (before I went to Pan Am) and we had several of these of different models. We also had a DC-3 (for milk, bread and mail runs to tiny Molokai), a never used Constellation and tried a couple of Nihon YS-11's.. I still remember the day our first DC-9 came in - it was science fiction unreal compared to the old crates.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

And now DC-9s are old crates, lol.

[@michaelthomas7178]

My dad left for Vietnam War from Lawton Oklahoma in one of these in 1968.

[@bensmith7536]

Have to say, that sounds glorious

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Indeed!

[@FitzArias]

Wow, theres one still flying around with its radials.

[@Rickinsf]

In the 80's I flew in and out of Santa Rosa Air Center (now defunct) where one of these was parked for a long time, the biggest plane on the field...I was told it hauled fish in Alaska and someone bought it and flew south. Always wondered what became of it.

[@gordon-n6s]

Absolutely NOTHING duplicates the sound of the throb of those R-2800 P&W engines and props of the Convairliner, though the engine was used on other aircraft types.

[@larrytate5605]

thanx for sharing

One Pretty Bird

[@JoshuaAviation242]

I see convairs everyday

[@jorgeperez7048]

Excelente

[@stuartlee6622]

I really want to see a 440 in Allegheny colors! I used to fly on those between EWR and Penn State University.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

I lived next to DCA in the 80s and saw Allegheny 640s.

[@MrCapi55]

Aircraft Adventures. No Landind From Cockpit? SNIFF!

[@randallbevansr5200]

And what about the most famous 340 of them all,?

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Lynard Skynard?

[@skyediamonds5654]

Does anyone have any videos of say, -340 in Braniff colors? I’m trying to do research into collecting data enough to build a 1/12th scale model. It probably have a ten-foot wingspan. Thank you in advance, Gary

[@ronstowell8646]

The segment with the yellow engine cowling was N42W loving nicknamed "Stumpy" or as the passengers said 42Whisky is actually far too risky.

[@65Dickster]

Convair 330 ??? ( 340! )

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Lol, good catch, oops