The T-29/C-131 series of aircraft was one of the military's many cost-saving examples of purchasing existing civil and commercial designs for their utility and transport needs. The first military Conviar-Liner was accepted on 8 March 1950. Military production eventually eclipsed civil production with the last Convair-Liner built being a military Canadair CL-66B, which was delivered on 3 March 1961. This aircraft was the last of 568 military Convair-Liners built.
This volume focuses on the influence of America’s Second World War aviation development and experience, subsequent aviation technological advances, and world events, in shaping American choices in military aircraft and associated weapons’ development during the few years following the war. It shows how air warfare weapons from the last conflict were carried forward and altered, how new systems evolved from these, and how the choices fared in the next war―Korea. The period was one of remarkable progress in a short span of time via a great many aircraft and weapons programs, and associated technological progress. These systems were of immense importance influencing and growing the engineering, production, and operational capabilities to be exploited for the next generation of weapons that soon followed. Emphasized is the innovative features or new technology and how these contributed to advancing American military aviation, influencing the evolution of follow-on models or types. Included are military prototype, experimental, and research aircraft that are equally important in understanding the history of American aircraft development. Combat employment, progress, and equipment adaptation during the Korean Conflict is then highlighted. Tabulated characteristics are provided of those aircraft that entered production or represented significant technological advances influencing others that follow.
Warbirds pays special attention to the aircraft of America's Golden Age, 1919–1939, and the breakthrough technological developments of that era. Warbirds offers more than 300 A–Z entries of the aircraft of America's Golden Age. Each entry includes a photograph of the warplane, service dates, manufacturer, records set, engineering and performance history, technical innovations, and even operational problems. To help enthusiasts and researchers, the guide cites the very latest books and periodical literature in its two extensive bibliographies. It also lists aviation museums, airplane magazines, and sources of photographs.
World War II saw a tremendous number of advances in aviation technology. Low-speed maneuverability, robust pressurization systems, and implementation of the first jet engines are just a few of the amazing developments made. Returning GIs, having experienced air travel to distant lands, were expected to fuel a postwar travel boom. That perceived need drove companies such as Consolidated Vultee Airlines (Convair) to propose a new series of medium-range airliners, thus giving birth to the Convair-Liner and their turboprop-powered conversions - the Turbo-Liner. More than 55 years after the first flight of the Convair-Liner, turboprop-powered examples of the type are still hauling cargo in the United States and passengers in a few foreign countries. This book discusses the development of the Convair Twins and their eventual transition from piston power to turboprop power. Over 300 photos illustrate Convair Twins' interior, exterior, powerplants, and systems. Find out who the initial delivery customers of the 240, 340, and 440 were. This book covers the many challenges Convair faced and the technologies employed to advance it. Also covered are military models, domestic and foreign airline operators and models flown, second airline owners, and significant dates in Convair-Liner history.
