NASA Convair CV-990A Galileo - "Take-off Moffett Field" - 1965

Silent film by Leo F. Buczynski. This means everything to me; in 1971, my 4th grade class took a field trip to NASA Ames at Moffett Field, and it would be my only time ever up close and personal with her highness, the CV-990, and this is Ship One! Be sure to check my channel for the best in VINTAGE & RARE airliner videos!
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[@freddrinkwater4193]

It's quite likely my father is flying that 990. Sadly, that plane, NASA 711, was destroyed in a mid-air, as Robert Carter relates in his comment. I was at home when the phone rang, and I heard the wife of Dad's boss say "Don't worry, your father wasn't involved." Tragic. (Dad was instead flying a DC-8 out of SFO for a noise abatement program, IIRC.) It was replaced with another 990, NASA 712, "Galileo II", which was ALSO destroyed by a fire caused by a tire blowout on takeoff.

[@davegowan5028]

Mr.. Drinkwater. I was on that aircraft many flights piloted by your dad,FredI was on that aircraft the day before it crashed on the Moffett Field golf course., Convair original test pilot was Roy Atkins and he and my Northrup friends died. Sad. My e-mail is [e-mail]. Thanks. Dave Gowan

[@bobcarter4343]

you could see 70 miles that day the sky was so clear. The fact that the tower made the mistake and was not watching the aircraft approach combined with neither crew picking up on the fact that both were cleared to the same (left) runway still baffles me. Mistakes happen and in this case with tragic consequences.

[@batt50]

Fred...your dad and my dad Byron Batthauer both flew the 990 together. They were eventually both chief pilots at different NASA labs. My dad spoke highly of your father. I believe your dad was a Marine aviator, my pop was Navy. It was a great era of aviation and experiments for those guys starting out in the early 60's.

[@freddrinkwater4193]

Steve, It's been a long time. Was Byron the pilot from Lewis / Cleveland that my dad tried and failed to steal for Ames? I think I remember meeting him once about 45 years ago. Sigh.

[@batt50]

@@freddrinkwater4193 Yes. So my dad was Fred's assistant Chief for about six months. It was in the early 1980's when the housing interest rates were 12-14%. My folks looked for housing and decided not to move due to the high interest rates, they could not swing it. In retrospect....they should have moved....in the long run they would have come out ahead within the California housing market. Dad enjoyed your dad, the flight department, and all of the different aircraft & experiments at Ames. If I recall correctly, they flew experiments and the plane on separate occasions to Africa, South America, and possibly to India. Dad ended back at Lewis and was eventually Chief pilot there. Another note....I believe my dad chaired the accident investigation on the aborted takeoff accident/fire with the 2nd to the last 990. The 990 was and is a beautiful airplane. Final note...we were fortunate to have good dad's, their great example/witness, and a terrific upbringing. The best to you Fred.

[@Adipsia1]

Beautiful aircraft... and seeing the Spantax CV-990A Coronado land in Birmingham UK when I was a pimply -faced teenager in the early '70's was always the highlight of my day.

[@gordocoop]

My dad Jim Remington died on that plane along with many others that day in 73. This is the first time I’ve ever seen video of the plane. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@michaelvykukal1669]

My father was in a meeting with your dad earlier that day before the crash. I still remember hearing a mass of sirens while walking home from school.

[@patrickflohe7427]

What’s the story of this incident?

[@fordlandau]

Beautiful aeroplane! Wish I’d flown in her. Great smoke on take off. Go girl.

[@freddrinkwater4193]

Smoke, yes. On the long straight-in to Ames from Santa Cruz, you could see the plane in front of the smoke the whole way.

[@Mark_Ocain]

Awesome harmonics from the GE powerplants when taxiing.

[@robbalboni4179]

great footage of the sharp looking and powerful convaircv-990 jetliner!

[@bobvenditti8775]

Excellent sight and sound! I'm actually building a 990 kit now, This video has nice close-up details, very helpful. Thanks!!

[@mcdonnell220]

You bet Bob, no problem!

[@stratus262j2]

Unfortunately for Convair, this beautiful & classy plane could not compete with the B-727 and B-720 in the short-to-medium range market. How sad.

[@tchirn]

It was never intended for the short and medium range market but only for the long distance market in competition with the Boeing 707 and the DC-8 !

[@exeuroweenie]

My dad flew on a VC 10,Air France Caravelle,and a TWA Convair.Damn,he's old.

[@fr-tigerfangs7039]

These massive fairings that protrube beyond the wings' trailing edge... they do look good but boy, what a drag!

[@EricIrl]

The opposite actually. They improve airflow and make the aircraft more efficient.

[@sundar999]

@@EricIrl You are right Ericrl. Laymen claim they know. A scientist would say: I wish I could measure if those fairings are good for the airflow or not.

[@freddrinkwater4193]

They are called Shock Bodies, and the intent is to delay transonic shock formation on the aft chord, allowing for a higher Mach cruise. Don't know how well it worked. NASA flew the 990 lately because it was easy to cut holes in the fuselage for instruments without compromising the structure.

[@solidlift]

A real airplane!