C-131 Samaritan
Encyclopedia
The Convair
C-131 Samaritan was an American
military transport produced from 1954 to 1956. It is the military version of the Convair CV-240.
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 CV-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, Sabena
, Swissair
and Trans Australia Airlines
.
(USAF) for medical evacuation and VIP
transport and was designated as C-131 Samaritan. The first model Samaritan, the C-131A, was derived from the CV-240 model, and was delivered to the USAF in 1954.
The earlier trainer model, designated the T-29, was also based on the Convair 240 and was used to instruct USAF navigators for all USAF aircraft and those USN Naval Flight Officer
s (NFOs) selected to fly land-based naval aircraft. First deliveries to the USAF were made in 1950 followed by large production quantities until early 1955. The USAF and the USN operated T-29s in separate units at separate locations until 1976. In 1974, the USAF T-29s with the 323d Flying Training Wing (323 FTW) at Mather AFB, California began to be replaced by the Boeing 737
-derived T-43
. In 1975, the Navy retired all of its T-29s assigned to Training Squadron Twenty-nine (VT-29) at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, deactivated VT-29, and merged their advanced navigator training program for land-based NFOs with the Air Force's program at Mather AFB.
A planned bomber training version of the T-29 (designated T-32) was never built. The CV-340 model was used for most C-131Ds.
The United States Navy
used the Samaritan, initially designated as the R4Y until 1962, at which point the naval aircraft were also redesignated as C-131s. Nearly all of the C-131s left the active inventory in the late 1970s, but the U.S. Coast Guard operated the aircraft until 1983, while the Air National Guard
and Navy units operated additional airframes, primarily as Operational Support Aircraft (OSA) for Air National Guard flying wings and as naval air station aircraft until 1990. The C-131 was primarily replaced by the C-9 Nightingale
in Regular USAF service, with the Air National Guard replacing their OSA with C-130 Hercules
aircraft and the Navy with C-12 Huron
s.
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 (AF Ser. No. 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.
C-131A
HC-131A
MC-131A
VC-131A
C-131B
JC-131B
NC-131B
VC-131B
YC-131C
C-131D
VC-131D
C-131E
TC-131E
C-131F
RC-131F
VC-131F
C-131G
EC-131G
RC-131G
VC-131G
C-131H
NC-131H
R4Y-1
R4Y-1Z
R4Y-2
R4Y-2Q
R4Y-2S
XT-29
T-29A
VT-29A
T-29B
NT-29B
VT-29B
T-29C
AT-29C
ET-29C
VT-29C
T-29D
ET-29D
VT-29D
XT-29E
YT-32
HC-131A (Search and Rescue}
C-131A
C-131B
C-131D
C-131F
Convair
Convair was an American aircraft manufacturing company which later expanded into rockets and spacecraft. The company was formed in 1943 by the merger of Vultee Aircraft and Consolidated Aircraft, and went on to produce a number of pioneering aircraft, such as the Convair B-36 bomber, and the F-102...
C-131 Samaritan was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military transport produced from 1954 to 1956. It is the military version of the Convair CV-240.
Design and development
The design began life in a production requirement by American AirlinesAmerican Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
for a pressurized airliner to replace the classic Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
. Convair's original design had two engines and 40 seats, and thus it was designated the CV-240. The first CV-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
Western Airlines
Western Airlines was a large airline based in California, with operations throughout the Western United States, and hubs at Los Angeles International Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport, and the former Stapleton International Airport in Denver...
, Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
, Pan American Airways, KLM, Sabena
Sabena
SABENA was the national airline of Belgium from 1923 to 2001, with its base at Brussels National Airport. After its bankruptcy in 2001, the newly formed SN Brussels Airlines took over part of SABENA's assets in February 2002, which then became Brussels Airlines...
, Swissair
Swissair
Swissair AG was the former national airline of Switzerland.It was formed from a merger between Balair and Ad Astra Aero , in 1931...
and Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines or TAA, was one of the two major Australian domestic airlines between its inception in 1946 and its sale to Qantas in May 1996. During that period TAA played a major part in the development of the Australian air transport industry...
.
Operational history
The CV-240/340/440 series was used by the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
(USAF) for medical evacuation and VIP
Very Important Person
A Very Important Person, or VIP is a person who is accorded special privileges due to his or her status or importance.Examples include celebrities, heads of state/heads of government, major employers, high rollers, politicians, high-level corporate officers, wealthy individuals, or any other...
transport and was designated as C-131 Samaritan. The first model Samaritan, the C-131A, was derived from the CV-240 model, and was delivered to the USAF in 1954.
The earlier trainer model, designated the T-29, was also based on the Convair 240 and was used to instruct USAF navigators for all USAF aircraft and those USN Naval Flight Officer
Naval Flight Officer
A Naval Flight Officer is an aeronautically designated commissioned officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps that specializes in airborne weapons and sensor systems. NFOs are not pilots per se, but they may perform many "co-pilot" functions, depending on the type of aircraft...
s (NFOs) selected to fly land-based naval aircraft. First deliveries to the USAF were made in 1950 followed by large production quantities until early 1955. The USAF and the USN operated T-29s in separate units at separate locations until 1976. In 1974, the USAF T-29s with the 323d Flying Training Wing (323 FTW) at Mather AFB, California began to be replaced by the Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
-derived T-43
Boeing T-43
|-See also:-External links:* http://www.militaryaircraft.de/pictures/military/aircraft/T-43/T-43A_Gator.html* http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/t43a.shtml* http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/12ftw.htm...
. In 1975, the Navy retired all of its T-29s assigned to Training Squadron Twenty-nine (VT-29) at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, deactivated VT-29, and merged their advanced navigator training program for land-based NFOs with the Air Force's program at Mather AFB.
A planned bomber training version of the T-29 (designated T-32) was never built. The CV-340 model was used for most C-131Ds.
The United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
used the Samaritan, initially designated as the R4Y until 1962, at which point the naval aircraft were also redesignated as C-131s. Nearly all of the C-131s left the active inventory in the late 1970s, but the U.S. Coast Guard operated the aircraft until 1983, while the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
and Navy units operated additional airframes, primarily as Operational Support Aircraft (OSA) for Air National Guard flying wings and as naval air station aircraft until 1990. The C-131 was primarily replaced by the C-9 Nightingale
McDonnell Douglas DC-9
The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by...
in Regular USAF service, with the Air National Guard replacing their OSA with C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
aircraft and the Navy with C-12 Huron
C-12 Huron
The C-12 Huron is the military designation for a series of twin-engine turboprop aircraft based on the Beechcraft Super King Air and Beechcraft 1900. C-12 variants are used by the United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps...
s.
A Samaritan was the first aircraft used as a flying gunship
Gunship
The term "gunship" is used in several contexts, all sharing the general idea of a light craft armed with heavy guns.-In Navy:In the Navy, the term originally appeared in the mid-19th century as a less-common synonym for gunboat.-In military aviation:...
testbed in mid-1963, in a program known as "Project Tailchaser". A C-131B (AF Ser. No. 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
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and a General Electric SUU-11A/A 7.62 mm Gatling-style Minigun
Minigun
The Minigun is a 7.62 mm, multi-barrel heavy machine gun with a high rate of fire , employing Gatling-style rotating barrels with an external power source...
was installed. Live ammunition was used and both over-water and over-land tests were successful.
Accidents and incidents
On 17 December 1960, a Samaritan crashed at Munich in what is the largest loss of life in an accident in the Bavarian capital. Shortly after takeoff one engine failed and the pilot tried to get back to Riem in heavy fog over Munich. Due to the limited visibility the aircraft struck the tip of St. Paul's church close to the Theresienwiese, and crashed onto a streetcar, killing all 20 people on board the plane, and 32 on the tram.Variants
- 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 CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
(SAC), 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 ForceNational Museum of the United States Air ForceThe National Museum of the United States Air Force is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is the world's largest and oldest military aviation museum with more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display...
at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio on November 7, 2008
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-2800Pratt & Whitney R-2800The Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp is a two-row, 18-cylinder, air-cooled radial aircraft engine with a displacement of 2,804 in³ , and is part of the long-lived Wasp family....
-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 ForceMilitary of ParaguayThe armed forces of Paraguay consist of the Paraguayan army, navy and air force.The constitution of Paraguay establishes the president of Paraguay as the commander-in-chief....
operated one former USAF Convair C-131D
- United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
operated T-29 and C-131 aircraft. - United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
operated R4Y/C-131 and T-29 aircraft. - United States Coast GuardUnited States Coast GuardThe United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
operated R4Y/C-131 aircraft. - NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
On display
- Source: Aeroweb
HC-131A (Search and Rescue}
- Edward H. White II Memorial Museum, Brooks AFB, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
s/n 52-5800 - Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft MuseumPueblo Weisbrod Aircraft MuseumThe Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum is a combination of the Weisbrod Museum and the International B-24 Memorial Museum, designed to honor the men and women who served during World War II with emphasis on the Pueblo Army Air Base and the B-24 Liberator bomber...
, Pueblo, ColoradoPueblo, ColoradoPueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
C-131A
- Minnesota Air Guard Museum, Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
C-131B
- Kelly Field Heritage Museum, Kelly AFB, Texas s/n 53-7811
- Air Force Armament MuseumAir Force Armament MuseumThe Air Force Armament Museum, adjacent to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the only facility in the U.S. dedicated to the display of Air Force armament...
, Eglin AFB, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
s/n 53-7821
C-131D
- Air Mobility Command Museum, Dover AFB, DelawareDelawareDelaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
s/n55-0295 - Hill Aerospace MuseumHill Aerospace MuseumHill Aerospace Museum, located near Ogden, Utah, is a U.S. Air Force museum that is part of the United States Air Force Heritage Program.The museum, founded in 1981 and moved to its current location in 1991, displays over 90 aircraft from around the world, in addition to a variety of munitions,...
, Hill AFB, UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
s/n 55-300 - March Field Air MuseumMarch Field Air MuseumThe March Field Air Museum is an aviation museum near Moreno Valley and Riverside, California, adjacent to March Air Reserve Base.-Origins:The museum was founded in 1979 as March Air Force Base Museum. Originally operated by the Air Force, the museum's operation was transferred to a nonprofit...
Riverside, CaliforniaRiverside, CaliforniaRiverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
s/n 54-2808 - Aerospace Museum of CaliforniaAerospace Museum of CaliforniaThe Aerospace Museum of California is an aviation museum located in North Highlands, California on the former McClellan Air Force Base, which closed in 2001. It features displays of authentic military and civilian aircraft as well as space vehicle replicas...
, McClellan AFB, California s/n 54-2822 - Selfridge Military Air Museum, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan s/n 55-293
- South Dakota Air and Space MuseumSouth Dakota Air and Space MuseumThe South Dakota Air and Space Museum, part of the museum system of the National Museum of the US Air Force, is located in Box Elder, South Dakota, just outside the main gate of Ellsworth AFB. The South Dakota Air and Space Museum serves to educate and entertain the public...
, Ellsworth AFB, South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
s/n 55-292 - Jimmy Doolittle Air & Space MuseumJimmy Doolittle Air & Space MuseumThe Jimmy Doolittle Air & Space Museum is an extensive aviation museum located at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. The museum houses 35+ aircraft displays and various other informative artifacts.-History:...
, Travis AFB, California s/n 54-2806 - United States Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OhioDayton, OhioDayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
s/n 55-301, FAA N8443H
C-131F
- National Museum of Naval AviationNational Museum of Naval AviationThe National Museum of Naval Aviation is a military and aerospace museum located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. The museum opened in 1962....
, NAS Pensacola, Florida b/n 141015
Specifications (CV-240)
See also
External links
- Convair 240 - National Air and Space MuseumNational Air and Space MuseumThe National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world. It was established in 1976. Located in Washington, D.C., United States, it is a center for research into the history and science of aviation and...
- C-131 Samaritan factsheet - National Museum of the United States Air ForceNational Museum of the United States Air ForceThe National Museum of the United States Air Force is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is the world's largest and oldest military aviation museum with more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display...
- C-131D Samaritan - March Field Air MuseumMarch Field Air MuseumThe March Field Air Museum is an aviation museum near Moreno Valley and Riverside, California, adjacent to March Air Reserve Base.-Origins:The museum was founded in 1979 as March Air Force Base Museum. Originally operated by the Air Force, the museum's operation was transferred to a nonprofit...
- C-131 Samaritan - GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...
- C-131 Samaritan - The Aviation Zone
- Gunships - The Aviation Zone