N39 Convair 580 Columbus Nebraska

[@janwalor736]

As an old Aspen Airways pilot, I'm betting this was one of theirs or Frontiers. Truly a beast of an airplane. In winter we'd do sometimes 4-5 instrument approaches a day throughout the high country from Montana to Texas. No autopilot or auto throttles, cables and pulleys moved all flight surfaces. If you had flying skills it was a great place to show it, and if you didn't it would eat you alive.

[@brianaerni]

Jan Walor great to hear from a pilot of one of these wonderful birds!!

[@3ofus135]

Did you ever fly to Lake Tahoe Airport on the 580? I remember seeing the Aspen Airways 580's at the Tahoe airport all the time in the late 70's and early 80's.

[@tailhookmd2546]

My dad flew T-29s in the USAF. I think he had at least a thousand hours. He talked about the CVs all the time. Loved flying them!

[@rossmartenak5517]

Convair 580 from a pessenger's viewpoint.....a SWEET ride. Good vibrations, a real sense of flying, & a wonderful use of kerosene power!

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

I was a Frontier mechanic and avionics tech in the 580 days, and I am here to testify to the truth of what you say. To this day I am amazed at the flying skills of the pilots who flew the 580 into mountain airports in all kinds of weather. No autopilot, no flight director, no area navigation capability. Early on, they did not even have radio altimeter or DME. At least one mountain airport was served by Frontier DC-3s flying NDB approaches with ADF from an H-marker installed and maintained by Frontier's ground radio department. Many of Frontier's senior pilots gained incredible flying skills during WWII, and it served them well.

[@Rocketman88002]

The most used short hop commuter and cargo plane around. Used extensively in the mountain states to connect to the majors. The flights sometimes ended painfully for me because they often depressurized the cabin too quickly resulting in earaches that lasted days.

[@stevencasteel6799]

My first ever flight was on one of these. Absolutely love the sound of those engines.

[@Altenholz]

Just the unique way, the stair extends, and the door opens. Simply great!

[@BlueSky-qv7cd]

Their were several aircraft manufactured in the same time period that had air stairs like the Convair

[@Russell1971]

Gotta love the Convair 580. And I just love watching this startup sequence as well. The Convair 580 takes me back to the mid to late 1980's, when American Eagle was operating them for a short while - between 1986 and 1989. They would fly from Dallas, Texas, over to Tyler and then continue on to Longview before heading on the opposite flight path back to DFW. I consider the Convair 580 as a SAAB 340/2000 on steroids! One fine plane!

[@freddythamesblack8479]

Flew in one in 1970 as a kid and I was fascinated by big props and and vibration 😀

[@jackyclaiborne2142]

At first in this video, I believe they first fire up the APU engine, which drives the generator that provides electrical power to the aircraft. This aircraft appears to have the same engines and props used on the LockHeed L-188 Electra. Allison turboprop engines. They fire up the starboard engine first, and then the port engine. When the engine reaches full idle speed, the 'chafe cutter" or "box fan" sound, produced by the props, is added to the whine of the engines. The port engine is fired up last. In takeoff and inflight, the props produce the "bumblebee" sound, which virtually drowns out the sound of the jet engines. It appears that the Allison engines are double shafted hard geared. The Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines of the DeHaviland Dash-8 are double shafted free turbine engines.

[@N34RT]

I think the proper terminology may be "dual-shafted". But on another note, having flown both PT-6 (King Air's) and Garrett (Turbo Commanders) powered turbo props during my career, PT-6 and other "air-clutched" turbines normally startup/shutdown with their props in the "feathered" position. Garrett's, Allison's and other "direct drive" turbines normally startup/shutdown with props in the "flat" or "fine" pitch position (lockout pins in the prop hub assembly) - in fact you cannot/should not EVER try to start the latter with the props feathered as you will damage the engine (via a HOT start).

[@johneddy908]

The Allison engines also came with something also used on the Lockheed L-188 Electra II - Aeroproducts 605 propellers.

[@wmbrown9597]

I flew these for FAA. They did not have an APU. It was a GTC in right wheel well. It was used to supply air for starting the right engine. Then the air from the right engine stated the left engine. There was some electrical power for initial engine start but then the right generator took over. These aircraft did what was Semi Automatic Flight Inspection (SAFI). We flew grids across the US checking VOR, Vortacs, Tacans and DFs at Flight service stations. Operations ended in Mid90s.

[@charlesnash2748]

My father was an AA pilot. Logged time in the right seat of a Convair when I was 8 y.o.; great airplanes, even better after the turbine conversion.

[@timmotel5804]

4/2023: I flew with the FAA at Cannon AFB back in 1974 on a DC-3 as they checked out the new "VASI" approach lights that we had just installed. I was a power lineman/airfield power and lighting technican. TAC F-111 training base. Love this plane. Thanks

[@ksbear2]

I've flown as a passenger on Frontier, Allegheny and Aspen CV-580s. Absolutely loved them as a pax.

[@AvgeekCarGeek]

Man oh man do I love these aircraft big-time :) still have 7 of these operating in New Zealand and it's always a treat to see the beautiful smoky Alison engines in action LIKED

[@brianaerni]

I'm coming to New Zealand!!!!

[@thefartpoweredcyclist24]

These 580 turbo-props are just the best. I've never flown in one, but they really get to me big time..i love the sound of the engine's,reminds me a bit of the fokker 27's engine's.....if i was rich i would definitely buy one of these.

[@derekobidowski5784]

originally they were powered by Pratt & Whitney R 2800 Double Wasp 18 cylinder Radial engines and was designated as the 440 the 580 has the allison turboprops and props as the C-130 does.

[@Guitfiddlejase]

I flew in them many times as a kid in the 70’s!! They used 580’s all the time to ferry passengers from Colorado Springs to Stapleton for connecting flights out of the state back then..and yes! The turboprops were amazing!! What a sound like you said! You never realize a “golden age” is happening until it’s over!

[@moneylab2860]

Thanks for the video! I used to love watching these 580's come and go out of Sioux Falls, SD in the 70's when they were used by Ozark and Republic airlines. Flew in one a couple of times and it was great.

[@phishbill]

Republic yes, Ozark no. Ozark never flew the CV-580, or any Convair equipment for that matter. The wings sat just a little higher on Ozark's turboprops :)

[@0001943]

@@phishbill Ozark DID fly some Convair 240s for a short time. They were powered by the original piston engines.

[@phishbill]

@@0001943 You are quite right, OZ did have a few for a short time..did they swap these for Martin 4-0-4s from Mohawk? I know they didn't keep the 4-0-4s in the fleet too long either.

[@awnutz]

North Central❤️

[@j.d.peppmeier9041]

An Ozark Convair 580 delivered me to Ft. Leonard Wood in 1966 for basic training. It was a great airplane, with good passenger comfort - not like the sardine cans the airlines stuff us into today !

[@phishbill]

OZ never had Convairs of any type in their fleet. That was a Martin 404 of an FH-227 you rode on.

[@stuartlee6622]

I flew in Allegheny Airlines 580s from PSB (Phillipsburg/Black Moshannon Airport) to Newark. Now they use SCE (University Park Airport) for commercial. If the sun was right, you could see the name, Braniff, stenciled on the wings. Obviously Allegheny got them from Braniff.

[@sanfordberg4880]

My first dispatch route qual was into IWD at 5:50 am in the morning from MSP. It was snowing moderately. The Captain turned to me and said, “Sometimes there’s 48 passengers on board and a crew of three, sometimes there’s 51 passengers.”

[@andredegraaf1643]

Never had the chance to fly in one but I remember seeing plenty land and take off at Stapleton Airport back when we used to just hang out and watch planes. I remember that they were quite noisy but very cool. I think all or most of them were operated by Frontier Airlines.

[@allanloiselle7290]

I've had a soft spot for these planes ever since I flew in one from Nassau to Long Island, Bahamas, in March 1985. I've had a soft spot for Columbus Nebraska ever since I worked for Dale Electronics, whose head quarters and one of their plants was in Columbus. Really nice people to work for.

[@ryancflam]

My goodness those Allison engines are simply music to my ears

[@kenschaefer7625]

I flew on a 580 in 1970 from Denver to Cheyenne WY. I flew in a DC-9 from Waterloo, Iowa to Denver and then connected to Cheyenne on the 580. Nice plane but a bumpy ride just east of the Rocky Mountains front range.

[@derekobidowski5784]

Thats is a turboprop conversion as originally the Convair CV 240 family were powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp 18 cylinder radial engines and 3 bladed props. this conversion uses Allison 501D13 Turboprops and 4 bladed props the same used on the Lockheed Electra and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules that designated it as the 580. the Convair CV240 family was produced from 1947-1954. originally for the replacement of the Douglas DC-3. and the FAA is still flying them.

[@phishbill]

The 240 family, yes, but no 240s got the conversion to the 580. Only CV-340s became 580s, the 240s got the Rolls conversion to the somewhat less-reliable and underperforming 600s.

[@fleabitis]

This brings back old SMB Stage memories - or post traumatic stress syndrome stuff. It’s been so long I have a hard time separating one from the other.

[@carlossalaff8094]

Beautiful... memories of Aspen Airways brought me here

[@kyotokid4]

..for myself, North Central. These were a common sight in Milwaukee where i grew up. Loved the sound of those Allison 501-D13s.

[@finleyfendt3750]

These were amazing airplane.

[@AccessAir]

All that and no takeoff??

[@DougHanchard]

Check out how short the registration number is!

[@LtBRS]

Those 580's are sweet. Does anyone know if there's any of em' still flying?

[@williamwang5575]

Planes are my favorite transports

[@jetfueljp4]

Those are Allison C130 powerplants and props

[@อภิชาติพูลศรี-ฤ3ฃ]

I want to know why each engine is installed. Can the engine be installed at the same time? Please let me know, I don't understand

[@langeleegte92]

prachtig om te zien de 580 vooral de turbo geluiden jammer dat ik ze niet meer kan zien

[@chass5438]

Hit an air pocket in one of these in 1968 coming back from Denver. Everyone woke up in a hurry. lol.

[@airmuseum]

Have you ever thought about how one would go about making an "air pocket"? Clear air turbulence. Just a little roiling of the air from unequal heating, or slipstream from another aircraft. You only move a small amount, but it feels like meters. Sort of like a speed boat on choppy water..only in three dimensions. Generally harmless to the airplane..but it can cause passengers to be jolted around. Ergo...seat belts!

[@johneddy908]

Amazing. On a video featuring a Lockheed L-188 Electra II (kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJCodKiVYriCgdE), the pilot was assisted by an external service unit for engine start-up. On this Convair 580, the pilot could start-up its two Allison 501-D13 engines with no external service unit needed, much the same way with the Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.10 engines that power the Convair 600/640.

[@wardogies]

What reason was that convair to be there

[@wardogies]

What does the FAA use those planes for

[@josemariadacostacoelhofilh3083]

👏👏👏👍👍👍

[@antdrag4754]

Engines from L-188

[@migfsx]

Allison 501.. like in the Lockheed electra

[@robertfencl4401]

Start the other engine already, video could have been 1/2 as long!

[@K0BLR]

What engines did that thing have?

[@herbergreen]

Alllison 501D13 turboprop (gas turbine) engines. Allison was a division of General Motors (GM) when they provided engines for the CV-580 conversions.

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

+K0BLR Allison 501D13H, 3,750 equivalent shaft horsepower, with water/methanol injection to maintain full takeoff power in high/hot conditions. The engine was developed in the 1950s as the military T-56. In cold weather, the engines could exceed the 4,000 hp propeller stress limit without water injection if the flight crew was not careful. In the start sequence, the right engine is operated in Low Speed Ground Idle (LSGI) at about 10,300 rpm until the engine oil warms. It is then "upshifted" by a switch in the cockpit and solenoid on the fuel control to near full speed, or HSGI, which is not near the governed in-flight engine speed of 13,820 rpm. The right engine then helps supply compressed air to start the left engine. It appears that the pilot in this video taxied the airplane out with both engines in LSGI, which is certainly not standard procedure. If he/she attempted a takeoff with engines in LSGI, the engines would automatically upshift as the throttles were advanced. Reduction gearing turns propellers at 1,020 rpm. Each prop is 13.5 feet in diameter and weighs about 1,000 lb. A special prop synchronization system on the 580 will not only match propeller rpm exactly, but will adjust relative positions of propellers until the blades of one propeller lag the rotation of the other propeller by 15 degrees. This helps to minimize noise and vibration in the cabin, at least somewhat. It is a great airplane, but I always found the ride in the cabin to be noisy and uncomfortable.

[@jimholmes2555]

K0BLR In the 1980's I worked for Aspen Airways at Stapleton in Denver as a mechanic. We flew 11 CV-580's and 4 British Aerospace 146's. The BAe's were the fancy planes but the CV-580's were the Work Horses. A friend of mine, (She was an Aspen Airways pilot), Told me there is no such thing as a CV-580. They were certified as CV-340A and CV-440A, The "A" designating Allison Conversion. 6 of our Convairs had Hamilton Standard props, the other 5 had Aeroproduct props with water-meth injection systems. Great power when taking off from high altitude airports such as Pitkin County airport (Aspen) in Colorado.

[@judge4177]

hey jim i used to work at jet aviation 85 till 91, fueled many of the 580's and 146's . good times back then. i still remember old Scotty , the head mechanic. good guy. and that flat top gray haired ex marine pilot. who dead sticked that 580 in the mountains when both engines failed. good pilot to land on that dirt road.

[@jimholmes2555]

judge4177 Yes. Bob White was the Pilot who dead sticked the 580. I saw him last year at Aspen Airways employee reunion. I saw a lot of people I hadn't seen in nearly 30 years. Lori Farmer (now Lori Parsons), Dean Ausgen, Dave keefer, Tom Burt, John Botterill, Richard Farmer, Dave Burnside. Ramp Rats, and Flight attendants. So many people

[@willamlandrum3674]

A retired 580 pilot called them Converter 580s; converts kerosene into pure noise!

[@brianaerni]

Testing the waas gps system.

[@chass5438]

Hi Derwood.

[@awnutz]

North Central Airlines. Oshkosh

[@juan2300]

August 1972 North Central Airlines Oshkosh to Chicago returning to PHX.

[@brianaerni]

Testing ILS system

[@bingobango170]

The plane that won WW2. No plane dropped more bombs over Europe than this beauty. Great video 👍🏽👍🏽

[@grumpyoldfart1945]

Ummm........no. I think you are mistaken. These were never bombers and didn’t come out until after the war was over. Always short haul airliners, navigator trainers or corporate. As others have said, originally powered by P&W R-2800 radial recips, many were later converted to Allison or RR Dart power.

[@meauxjeaux431]

Bingo Bango...You're drunk again aren't you ?

[@ronniedelahoussayechauvin6717]

I don’t know anything about Aircraft’s.

[@borden2417]

I like the Convair 580 so what with this video. What a waist of time.

[@SuperOldandSlow]

What? No video of the takeoff? Thumbs-down!

[@lorencaudill4310]

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