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| C-131 Samaritan | |
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| Convair C-131D Samaritan | |
| Role | Military transport |
| Manufacturer | Convair |
| First flight | 1949 |
| Introduced | 1950 |
| Retired | 1990 |
| Primary users | United States Air Force United States Navy Paraguayan Air Force |
| Developed from | Convair 240 |
The Convair C-131 Samaritan was an American military transport produced from 1954 to 1956.
Contents |
History
The design began life in a production requirement by American Airlines for a pressurized airliner to replace the classic Douglas DC-3. Convair's original design had two engines and 40 seats, and thus it was designated the CV-240. The first 240 flew on March 16, 1947, and production aircraft were first delivered to American on February 28, 1948. Seventy-five were delivered to American, with another fifty going to Western Airlines, Continental Airlines, Pan American Airways, KLM, and Trans Australia Airlines.
Military variants
The CV-240/340/440 series was used by the United States Air Force for medical evacuation and VIP transport and was designated as C-131 Samaritan. The first model Samaritan, the C-131A, was derived from the 240 model, and was delivered to the USAF in 1954. A trainer model, designated the T-29, was also based on the Convair 240 to instruct navigators and radio operators. The T-29 was eventually replaced by the T-43. A planned bomber training version of the T-29 (designated T-32) was never built. The 340 model was used for most C-131Ds.
The United States Navy used the Samaritan as the R4Y. Nearly all of the C-131s left the active inventory in the late 1970s, but Air National Guard and Navy units operated a few until 1990. The C-131 was eventually replaced by the C-9 Nightingale.
A Samaritan was the first aircraft used as a flying gunship testbed in mid-1963, in a program known as Project Tailchaser. A C-131B (#53-7820) was given a gunsight for the side window, but instead of guns it had cameras in the cargo area. Eventually the C-131 was ferried to Eglin AFB in Florida and a General Electric SUU-11A/A 7.62 mm Gatling-style Minigun was installed. Live ammunition was used and both over-water and over-land tests were successful.
Variants
- C-131A
- United States Air Force version of the Model 240 with seats for 37 passengers, 26 built.
- HC-131A
- Surplus C-131As transferred to the United States Coast Guard, 22 transferred.
- MC-131A
- Temporary designation used before 1962 when a C-131A was used for medivac duties with 27 stretchers.
- VC-131A
- Temporary designation used before 1962 when a C-131A was used as a staff transport.
- C-131B
- A hybrid Model 240/340 with seats for 48 passengers, 36 built.
- JC-131B
- C-131B converted for missile tracking, six conversions.
- NC-131B
- One C-131B used for permanent testing.
- VC-131B
- C-131B when used as a staff transport.
- YC-131C
- Two Model 340s flown with Alison 501D-13 engines.
- C-131D
- Military version of the Model 340 with seats for 44 passengers, 33 built.
- VC-131D
- C-131D when used as a staff transport.
- C-131E
- Electronic Countermeasures training version for Strategic Air Command, later designated TC-131E, 15 built and one conversion from C-131D, two transferred to United States Navy as R4Y-2.
- TC-131E
- C-131E redesignated.
- C-131F
- R4Y-1 redesignated.
- RC-131F
- Conversions for photo-mapping and survey, six conversions.
- VC-131F
- R4Y-1Z redesignated.
- C-131G
- R4Y-2 redesignated.
- EC-131G
- One C-131G modified as an electronics trainer.
- RC-131G
- One C-131G modified as an airways aid checking duties.
- VC-131G
- C-131G used as a staff transport.
- C-131H
- Other models converted to Model 580 turboprop standards.
- NC-131H
- One conversion with an extended nose incorporating a separate cockpit as a Total In-Flight Simulator. This aircraft was transferred to the National Museum of the United States Air Force outside Dayton, Ohio on November 7, 2008 1
- R4Y-1
- United States Navy version of the Model 340 with 44 passenger seats, redesignated C-131F in 1962, 36 built.
- R4Y-1Z
- United States Navy staff transports, redesignated VC-131F in 1962, one built and conversions from R4Y-1.
- R4Y-2
- Two C-131Es transferred to the United States Navy, redesignated C-131G in 1962, an additional 13 cancelled.
- R4Y-2Q
- Projected radar countermeasures version of the R4Y-2, five cancelled
- R4Y-2S
- Projected United States Navy Anti-Submarine Warfare trainer version, 14 on order cancelled.
- XT-29
- Prototype military trainer version of the Model 240 for the United States Air Force, two built.
- T-29A
- Initial production version for navigator training, unpressurised cabin for 14 students, 46 built.
- VT-29A
- T-29As converted for staff transport.
- T-29B
- Pressurised version with room for 10 navigator and four radio operator students, 105 built.
- NT-29B
- One T-29B used for permanent testing.
- VT-29B
- T-29B converted for staff transport with seating for 29 or 32 passengers.
- T-29C
- T-29B with 2500hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-29W engines, 119 built.
- AT-29C
- T-29C modified for airways checking duties, redesignated ET-29C in 1962.
- ET-29C
- AT-29C redesignated.
- VT-29C
- T-29C converted for staff transport.
- T-29D
- Bombardier training version of the T-29C with room for six students, 93 built.
- ET-29D
- Airways checking conversion of the T-29D.
- VT-29D
- Staff transport conversion of the T-29D.
- XT-29E
- Proposed turboprop version of T-29B, none built.
- YT-32
- Proposed bomber training version with transparent nose, none built.
Operators
- Paraguayan Air Force operated one former USAF Convair C-131D
- United States Air Force operated T-29 and C-131 aircraft.
- United States Navy operated R4Y and C-131 aircraft.
- United States Coast Guard
Specifications (240)
General characteristics
- Length: 74 ft 8 in (22.8 m)
- Wingspan: 91 ft 9 in (28 m)
- Height: 26 ft 11 in (8.20 m)
- Wing area: 817 ft² (75.9 m²)
- Empty weight: 25,445 lb (11,540 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 42,500 lb (19,280 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-2800 "Double Wasp" 18 cylinder air cooled radial engines, 2,100 hp (1,567 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 315 mph (507 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 280 mph (451 km/h)
- Range: 1,200 mi (1,930 km)
- Service ceiling 16,000 ft (4,880 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,520 ft/min (463 m/min)
References
- Convair 240 - National Air and Space Museum
- C-131 Samaritan factsheet - National Museum of the United States Air Force
- C-131D Samaritan - March Field Air Museum
- C-131 Samaritan - GlobalSecurity.org
- C-131 Samaritan - The Aviation Zone
- Gunships - The Aviation Zone
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
- List of military aircraft of the United States
- List of military aircraft of the United States (naval)
- List of military transport aircraft
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Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 1 December 2008, at 23:46.
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