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On October 5, 1951, the 44-seat Convair CV-340 made its first flight. The American-built airliner developed the earlier CV-240 design with a longer fuselage, greater wingspan, and more power for improved performance at higher elevations.
The CV-240 predecessor had been developed as a replacement for the Douglas DC-3. The CV-340 continued that evolution with a larger airframe.
United Airlines (UA) received its first CV-340 on March 28, 1952, according to the Air Mobility Command Museum. A United press release reproduced by *Aviation Week* records the retirement of its last Convair on March 1, 1968, after the fleet had served the airline since 1952.
“Owl” Flights
Delta Air Lines (DL) ordered ten CV-340s in June 1951, after tentatively agreeing to buy ten Martin 2-0-2s. Its remaining ten CV-340s had initially been ordered by Chicago and Southern Air Lines, which merged with Delta on May 1, 1953.
Delta put the type into scheduled service on March 1, 1953, and promoted it on nighttime “Owl” discount coach services across its southern routes. The Delta Flight Museum describes the aircraft as faster and more comfortable than the DC-3 and DC-4, while still able to serve the airline’s smaller cities.
CV-440 Development
Convair followed the CV-340 with the CV-440 Metropolitan. It was the same size as its predecessor, with reduced cabin noise and higher operating weights. Delta acquired the newer model in 1956 and modified all its CV-340s to CV-440 standard.
In Europe, SAS (SK) purchased 20 CV-440-75 Metropolitans in 1956–1957, according to the Flyhistorisk Museum Sola. The airline retired the type in 1976.
Featured image: United Airlines dubbed its CV-340s as 'Mainliners'.
Featured image: Jon Proctor Collection
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