Help Save a Convair 990
Convair 990 was a long range aircraft built in early 1960s by Convair, General Dynamics.
Also known as the Coronado, CV990 was the fastest jet aircraft at the time with a speed of 990km/h. The Coronado faced stiff competition from the new generation Boeing 727 and had a short lived history with only 37 examples built.
The CV990 was initiated at the request of American Airlines, who wanted an aircraft larger than the Convair 880 with US coast to coast capability.
The CV990 had anti-shock bodies on its upper wings, designed by Dr. Dietrich Küchemann, which allowed it to cruise at a higher speed.
CV990 Coronado in flight. Notice the raceway added to the top of fuselage later, just as with CV880. Photo copyright Eduard Marmet
The aircraft was powered by General Electric CJ-805-23 engines, which were quite known as “smoky”.
American Airlines started retiring the Coronados in 1967. Having had only a few built, CV990s nowadays are very scarce.
But now, you can help a project by a set of airline enthusiasts to restore an ex-Spantax CV990.
The aircraft, EC-BZO, cn 30-10-30 is a 48 year old frame. Originally delivered to American Airlines in 1962 as N5618, she had a tenure with MEA and was delivered to Spantax in 1972.
The aircraft now resides at Palma De Mallorca Airport, PMI, in Spain at a deteriorated condition.
She will need some extensive exterior skin refurbishment, but the enthusiasts behind the project “Save the Spantax Coronado” believe she can be successfully restored.
To take over the aircraft for restoration work, they are planning to propose a document to the local authorities complete with signatures of as much as people possible. This would help restore a very rare and unique aircraft, which would otherwise could soon end up solely as scrap metal.
You too, can help them with a signature, be wherever in world you are from.
To add your signature, head over here ( NOTE : Either your Spanish ID, or ( if overseas ) passport number will be required for identification purposes by the local authorities. Your data however won’t be sold. )
If you would not like to provide your details for the signature gathering, you can also help them to cover the project costs by buying a CV 990 Coronado Vinyl sticker for €3. Full details are available at the official project website EC-BZO.COM .
The group’s Facebook page for the project is here .
If you can help, it would help preserve a part of the history.
Disclaimer: This website is not associated or affiliated with the above group by any kind and will not take responsibility for any transactions. However, it must be mentioned that the persons behind the project are well known and trusted in the aviation community and are solely motivated by the purpose of saving this once proud aircraft.
Help Save a Convair 990 – http://is.gd/cXKjq ( Pls RT ) #aviation
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Help Save a Convair 990 (source: Airline Industry Review): Convair 990 was a long range aircraft built in early 19… http://bit.ly/cOZhil
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Help Save a Convair 990 (source: Airline Industry Review): Convair 990 was a long range aircraft… http://bit.ly/cOZhil #ashtag #feedzilla
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Help Save a Convair 990 (source: Airline Industry Review): Convair 990 was a long range aircraft built in early 19… http://bit.ly/cOZhil
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
I would of signed the Petition, but it’s very odd that they insist on having your Passport Number…. why is that?
True, but I believe this is required for verification process. Since unless otherwise there is no way to prove to the government that the petition was signed by real people.
You guys missed your chance. There is a Convair 990 sitting here in El Paso, TX in flyable condition. All instruments and radios intact. Just needs fuel and a good cleaning to fly. The owner was willing to give it to anyone who would fly it away. Yesterday they started to chop it up as no one came forward. Sad to see it go.
That’s bad news. Have they begun chopping up ? What’s the reg ?
That El Paso 990 was complete, but not really ready to gas up and fly away. High speed taxi tests a few years back resulted in many compressor stalls. It might have been an easy fix but with no buyer or charter in sight, no diagnosis or repair was done.
What a shame it was scrapped. It was in great cosmetic shape, could have been made ferryable if you had some money, and deserbved a better end than being converted in to beer cans.
When the FAA wanted a couple of long idled 880s made ferryable from Mojave to the East Coast it didnt take much work. New tires, new fluids, new batteries and some OHd instruments, a lot of tests and minor fixes and they were on their way. No engine changes needed. They were used for fire testing. The US Navy had an 880 flying as a tanker test acft and those pilots ferried the FAA planes.