CONVAIR T-29 & C-131 SAMARITAN
T-29 & C-131 SERVICE
| Manufacturer: | Convair Aircraft Corp., San
Diego, California, USA (In 1954, became Convair Division of General Dynamics Corp.) |
| Models: | CV-240, CV-340, CV-440 |
| Designations: | C-131; T-29; AT-29, R4Y, T-32 |
| Names: | Samaritan (C-131), Flying Classroom (T-29, unofficial) |
| First official flight: | (XT-29) 22/09/1949 |
| Factory production period: | 1949 - 1957 |
| Primary service period: | 1950 - 1970's |
| Last official flight: | (C-131H) 1990 |
T-29 & C-131 VARIANTS
Based on the Convair civil airliner, 1077
built from 1946 - 1958.
565 built as Convair 240 / 340 / 440 civil version from 1946 - 1958:
Model CV-110 c/n: 1
1 built ff: 08/07/1946.
Model CV-240 c/n: mixed 1 to 178 176 built
ff: 16/03/1947.
Model CV-340 c/n: mixed 1 to 239 212 built
ff: 05/10/1951.
Model CV-440 c/n: mixed 312 to 510 176 built ff: 06/10/1955.
512 built as T-29 / C-131 military version from 1949 - 1957.
| 1949 | Model CV-240-17 | XT-29 | 2 | |
| 1950 | Model CV-240-17 | T-29A | 46 | |
| 1952 | Model CV-240-27 | T-29B | 105 | |
| 1953 | Model CV-240-27 | T-29C | 119 | |
| 1953 | Model CV-240-52 | T-29D | 92 | |
| 1954 | Model CV-240-53 | MC-131A | 26 | Total: 390 |
| 1954 | Model CV-340-70 | C-131B | 36 | |
| 1954 | Model CV-340-67/-68/-79/440-79 | C-131D | 33 | |
| 1956 | Model CV-440-72 | C-131E | 15 | Total: 084 |
| 1955 | Model CV-340-71 | R4Y-1 | 36 | |
| 1957 | Model CV-440-71 | R4Y-2 | 2 | Total: 038 |
|
Grand Total: 512 |
Originally built as a civil Model CV-440, c/n:
399, this aircraft was converted to
a CV-580 with Allison 501 turboprops and new c/n: PAC-19. It now serves in
New Zealand with reg: ZK-CIE.
Warbirds Over Wanaka, New
Zealand, 2016.
T-29 & C-131 PRODUCTION
XT-29
Prototype twin engined crew trainer.
Original
designation XAT-29. To T-29A standard.
Produced 1949 - 1950
Convair San Diego, California (CO)
| 49-1910, 49-1911 | 169, 179 |
Total: 002 |
T-29A
As XT-29, navigator trainer, 4 astrodomes,
unpressurized.
Produced 1949 - 1951
Convair San Diego, California (CO)
| 49-1912, 49-1913 | 180, 152 | |
| 49-1914 / 49-1945 | 181 / 212 | |
| 50-183 / 50-194 | 213 / 224 |
Total: 046 |
(Model 240-18) YT-32 - Projected bomber training version of T-29A, cancelled.
T-29B
As T-29A, navigator / radio trainer, 3
astrodomes,
engine upgrade, pressurized.
Produced 1951 - 1953
Convair San Diego, California (CO)
| 51-3797 / 51-3816 | 225 / 244 | |
| 51-5114 / 51-5172 | 245 / 303 | |
| 51-7892 / 51-7917 | 304 / 329 |
Total: 105 |
T-29C
As T-29B, engine upgrade.
Produced 1953 - 1955
Convair San Diego, California (CO)
| 52-1091 / 52-1175 | 330 / 414 | |
| 53-3461 / 53-3494 | 415 / 448 |
Total: 119 |
T-29D
As T-29C, bombardier training,
no astrodomes.
Produced 1953 - 1955
Convair San Diego, California (CO)
| 52-1176 / 52-1185 | 52-1 / 52-10 | |
| 52-5812 / 52-5836 | 52-11 / 52-35 | |
| 52-9976 / 52-9980 | 52-36 / 52-40 | |
| 53-3495 / 53-3546 | 52-41 / 52-92 |
Total: 092 |
(Model 340-50) XT-29E - Proposed turbo-prop version, cancelled.
MC-131A
As CV-240, military passenger / medical
transport, 37 seats.
Redesignated as C-131A(M) in 1962.
Produced 1953 - 1954
Convair San Diego, California (CO)
| 52-5781 / 52-5806 | 53-1 / 53-26 |
Total: 026 |
| 5 additional airframes cancelled. | ||
C-131B
As CV-340, military passenger transport,
48 seats.
Produced 1954 - 1955
Convair San Diego, California (CO)
| 53-7788 / 53-7823 | 240 / 275 |
Total: 036 |
(Model 340-60) C-131C - Proposed SAC support aircraft, 61 on order cancelled.
C-131D
As CV-340 / CV-440, military passenger
transport, 44 seats,
engine upgrade. 4 as
new built, 29 as factory conversions from
civil airliners.
Produced 1954 - 1956
Convair San Diego, California (CO)
| 54-2805 / 54-2825 | mixed 183 to 238 | |
| 55-290 / 55-301 - 6 completed as civil CV-340-79, c/n: 218, 219, 222, 227, 230, 239. These were replaced by 6 CV-440-79 civil airframes with c/n: 315, 316, 321, 322, 326, 329 - s/n: 55-292, 55-293, 55-294, 55-297, 55-299, 53-301. |
mixed 206 to 329 |
Total: 033 |
C-131E
As CV-440, ECM trainer. Also designated
as the TC-131E.
Proposed designations
were RC-131F, RC-131G.
Produced 1956 - 1957
Convair San Diego, California (CO)
| 55-4750 / 55-4759 | 337 / 346 | |
| 57-2548 / 57-2551 | 477 / 480 | |
| 57-2552 | 476 |
Total: 015 |
R4Y-1
USN version of C-131D. 10 T-29B
and 3 T-29C also converted.
Redesignated as C-131F in 1962.
Produced 1955 - 1956
Convair San Diego, California (Y)
| BuNo.140993 / 141028 | 276 / 311 |
Total: 036 |
R4Y-2
USN staff transport version.
Redesignated as C-131G in 1962.
Produced 1957
Convair San Diego, California (Y)
| BuNo.145962, 145963 | 481, 482 |
Total: 002 |
R4Y-2Q -
Projected radar CM version, 5 cancelled.
R4Y-2S -
Projected ASW trainer version, 14 cancelled.
R4Y-2T -
Projected trainer version, 13 cancelled, 5 under
construction completed as the last 5 civil CV-440's.
|
Grand Total: 512 |
T-29 & C-131 CONVERSIONS
USAF
| CT-29A | 4 | T-29A, 1959, cargo conversions. |
| ET-29A | 1 | T-29A, conversion as electronic test-bed. |
| GT-29A | 1 | T-29A, conversion to ground instructional airframe. |
| JT-29A | 3 | T-29A, temporary conversions for tests. |
| NT-29A | 1 | T-29A, permanent conversion for tests. |
| VT-29A | 32 | T-29A, staff transport conversions. |
| (GVT-29A) | 4 | VT-29A, conversions as ground instructional airframes. |
| ET-29B | 2 | T-29B, conversions as electronic test-beds. |
| GT-29B | 1 | T-29B, conversion to ground instructional airframe. |
| JT-29B | 8 | T-29B, temporary conversions for missile program tests. |
| NT-29B | 8 | T-29B, permanent conversions for missile program tests. |
| (NVT-29B) | 2 | NT-29B, conversions for staff duties. |
| VT-29B | 80 | T-29B, 1952, staff transports. |
| JT-29C | 1 | T-29C, temporary conversion for tests. |
| VT-29C | 31 | T-29C, staff transports. |
| ET-29D | 12 | T-29D, conversions for ECM training. |
| JT-29D | 1 | T-29D, temporary conversion for tests. |
| VT-29D | 69 | T-29D, 1953, staff transports. |
| VT-29E | 1 | T-29B, executive staff transport. |
| AC-131A | 10 | T-29C, 1958, modifications for airways checks. |
| (AT-29C) | 10 | 1960, redesignation of AC-131A. |
| (ET-29C) | 10 | 1962, redesignation of AT-29C. |
| VC-131A | 2 | C-131A, 1968, staff transports. 4 VT-29B also redesignated in 1956. |
| EC-131B | 8 | C-131B, conversions for electronics testing, all later to JC-131B. |
| JC-131B | 36 | C-131B, temporary conversions for tests. |
| NC-131B | 1 | C-131B(53-7793), 1967, permanent conversion for test duties. |
| VC-131B | 1 | C-131B, temporary conversion as a staff transport. |
| JYC-131C | 1 | C-131C, temporary conversion for Radio Corp. of America. |
| YC-131C | 2 | Civil CV-340-36 & -64, 1954-1960,
conversions with turbo-prop engines. Assigned s/n: 53-7886 (c/n: 91), 53-7887 (c/n: 131). |
| VC-131D | 2 | C-131D, 1967, temporary conversions as staff transports. |
| C-131H | 5 | 1 NC-131B(53-7793) / 4
C-131D(54-2815, 54-2816, 54-2817, 55-299), 1965, equivalent civil Model 580 turbo-prop upgrades. |
| (VC-131H) | 4 | C-131H, 1966, staff transports. 3 to USN in 1979 as C-131H. |
| (NC-131H) | 1 | C-131B(53-7793), 1970-1995, flight simulator nose for jet training. |
US Navy / USCG
| R4Y-1Z | 1 | Civil CV-340-66 (c/n: 140),
1954-1961, conversion as
staff transport with US Navy. Assigned BuNo. 140378. |
| HC-131A | 22 | C-131A(M), 1976-1982, transfers to the
USCG, equipment changes. Assigned USCG s/n: 5781 / 5796, 5798 / 5801, 5805, 5806. 1 supposed conversion as an HC-131G or HC-131H. |
| EC-131F | 1 | C-131F, 1976-1979, modified as an electronics trainer. |
| VC-131F | 2 | R4Y-1, 1962-1988, staff transports. |
| VC-131G | 1 | C-131G, 1978-1986, staff transport. |
FOREIGN MILITARY / CIVILIAN SERVICE
- Convair aircraft in military service with Australia, Bolivia, Canada,
Colombia,
Ecuador, West Germany, Italy, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru,
Spain and Sri Lanka.
- Ten new airframes built as the Canadair
(CL-66B) CC-109 Cosmopolitan by
Canadair Aircraft Ltd., Canada for the RCAF in 1960-1961.
- Many T-29
and C-131 aircraft sold onto the civil market post military service.
-
Many turbo-prop upgrades as the Convair Turboliner, 540,
580, 600 and 640.
