C-131 SAMARITAN

The 'Convair C-131 Samaritan' was an American military transport produced from 1954 to 1956.

Contents

History

Military variants

Variants

Operators

Specifications (240)

References

Related content

History

The design began life in a production requirement by American Airlines 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 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, and Trans Australia Airlines.

Military variants

The CV-240/340/440 series was used by the United States Air Force for medical evacuation and VIP transport and was designated as 'C-131 Samaritan'. The first model Samaritan, the C-131A, was derived from the 240 model, and was delivered to the USAF in 1954. A trainer model called the T-29 was also based on the Convair 240 to instruct navigators and radio operators. The T-29 was eventually replaced by the T-43. A planned bomber training version of the T-29 (designated T-32) was never built. The 340 model was used for most C-131Ds.
The U.S. Navy used the Samaritan as the 'R4Y'. Nearly all of the C-131s left the active inventory in the late 1970s, but Air National Guard units operated a few into the mid-1980s. The C-131 was eventually replaced by the C-9 Nightingale.
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 (#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.

Variants

;C-131A
: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 Command, 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,
;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-2800-29W 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

;Canada

★ Royal Canadian Air Force operated CC-109 aircraft.
;

★ Paraguayan Air Force operated Convair C-131
;

★ United States Air Force operated T-29 and C-131 aircraft.

★ United States Navy operated R4Y and C-131 aircraft.

★ United States Coast Guard

Specifications (240)

References

★ Convair 240 - National Air and Space Museum

★ C-131 Samaritan factsheet - National Museum of the United States Air Force

★ C-131D Samaritan - March Field Air Museum

★ C-131 Samaritan - GlobalSecurity.org

★ C-131 Samaritan - The Aviation Zone

★ Gunships - The Aviation Zone

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