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U.
S. Military Aircraft Convair C-131 SAMARITAM Photo by DR. |
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After the Second World War, a great effort was devoted by manufacturers to the search for a Douglas DC-3 replacement. The type that came closest was the Convair series that began with the CV-240, This was a twin engine monoplane with low set wings and tricycle landing gear, that first flew in March 1947. Production totaled more than 1,000 in a series including the basic CV-240, the C-340 with greater span, and the CV-440 with numerous modifications and accommodation increased from 40 to 52. The payload, range, and reliability of the series made it attractive to the US services. |
TECHNICAL DATA
| Description | Specifications |
| Manufacturer: Convair | Length: 79 ft. 2 in. |
| First Flight: March 1947 | Height: 28 ft. 2 in. |
| Model: C | Wing Span: 105 ft. 4 in. |
| Crew: Four | Wing Area: 920.0 sq. ft. |
| Nickname: Samaritan | Empty Weight: 29,248 lb. |
| Basic Role: Medium Transport | Max. Weight: 47,000 lb. |
| Other Versions:
T-29A: 46 none-pressurized trainer
for 14 navigators. T-29B: 105 pressurized
trainer for 10 navigators and four radar operators
T-29C:119 T-29B variant with R-2800-99W radial rather than -77s or-99s. C-131A Samaritan: 26 CV-240 casualty evacuation model with accommodation for 27 litters or 37 passengers. C-131B: 36 of the CV-340 electric test bed C-131C: 27 of the CV-340 and six of the CV-440 staff transport model. C-130E: 15 CV-440 electronic counter measures. R4Y-1: 37 of a navy C-131C equivalent |
Pay Load: 44 passengers or freight. |
| Principal User: U. S. A. |
Propulsion |
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Performance |
Power Plant: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-99W radial piston engines. |
| Range: 450 miles maximum payload. | Horsepower: 2,500-hp. |
| Max. Speed: 293 mph. | No. Of Engines: Two |
| Ceiling: 24,500 ft. | |
| Climb Rate: 1,410 ft. per minute. |