In the last week I twice staged through Antigua and both times saw a white Convair 580. On Saturday night, while my BA 777 was being refuelled, the Convair taxied out and took off into the night sky. This got me wondering how many of the breed, piston & turbine are still in use. Answers please on a postcard, oh forget that with the current postage prices!
By: Banupa - 9th April 2013 at 19:55
I didn’t get near enough to see what the markings were on the one at Antigua. Anyone any ideas?
By: Roborough - 9th April 2013 at 14:34
Conair, Abbotsford BC had at quite a few 580’s converted to water/fire retardant bombers. I think they are still active.
Bill
By: TonyT - 9th April 2013 at 12:37
Looking at my licences the Convair series came off it at my last renewal (2012), but that does not say there isn’t one still on a European register as they transferred the likes of the DC3..4..6..7. off my licence at the same time and back onto my Section L licence.
By: A-4Scooter - 9th April 2013 at 12:30
Australia has a few of the Convairs flying around still too. Here is a link to some pictures of some that are flying around.
Note also the HARS Group at Albion Park in NSW is restoring a C-131 (CV-340) to bring back to Australia.
Enjoy:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.352986084784083.80734.317002341715791&type=3
By: Newforest - 9th April 2013 at 09:17
Interestingly, the oldest 580 still flying is c/n 2! N580HW is a testbed for Honeywell.
By: scrooge - 9th April 2013 at 08:54
The NZ register has:
3 General Dynamics Allison Convair 340/580
1 General Dynamics Allison Convair 340/5800
5 General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/580
By: Bager1968 - 9th April 2013 at 03:52
There are a bunch of 580s still in service in Alaska & Canada in the fire-bomber role… some of them were sent down here in western Colorado last year after the P-2 Neptune grounding.
By: Newforest - 8th April 2013 at 19:31
Correct, ZK-CIB, Air Chathams 🙂
http://www.discoverthechathamislands.co.nz/visit/Getting-around/
By: tdl - 8th April 2013 at 17:40
Good question, Banupa!
The same cross my mind last month, when I was starting my return-to-home- journey after a holiday in New Zealand.
An interesting sight was a Convair 580 of Air Chatham Islands (ZK-CIB?) taking off half an hour before my own flight…
Kind regards,
Thomas
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April 8, 2013 at 5:33 pm