Built for Hawaiian Airlines in 1953 but instead it was retained by Convair for prototype conversion to Allison turboprop. It flew as a test bed with a USAF serial number until 1960 when it was acquired by the FAA as N454. It then flew for a succession of non-airline operators until acquired by Kelowna Flightcraft in 1981. At some point it was upgraded to comply with the PacAero Engineering designed STC used on all subsequent CV-580 aircraft.

Photographer: Neil Aird.

This aircraft was bailed from the USAF to Lockheed for use in Operation Hourglass, as part of the Electra program. Although the Allison 501D engine was proving reliable, Lockheed flew the aircraft for 30 days on a carefully planned 'airline' schedule in order to test its durability for commercial operations, which involved much longer operational days and multiple daily flight cycles, than the engine had thus far experienced in military use. Photo from Lockheed Aircraft Corp.

Converted from a civil CV340-36 in 1954 and seen on display at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio in May, 1956, still fitted with Allison YT-56-A3 engines and three bladed propellers. Later fitted with Allison 501-D13 and then 501-D26 engines. Re-designated CV770 in 1967 in civilian use. Registrations worn include N5511K (ntu), N454, N454X, N970L, N630V. Convereted to a CV580 in 9/79 as N600AB, and later N400AB and C-GKFY.

Withdrawn from use.

A spares aircraft for Kelowna Flightcraft. This was one of two CV340s converted to turboprop powered YC-131C in 1954 by the installation of YT-56-A-3 engines, thus becoming America's first multi-engine turboprop military transports. Assigned USAF serial 53-7886 where it served alongside 53-7887 as a testbed to prove the feasibility of turboprop engines for military operations. In 1955 the two aircraft flew a total of 3,000 hours and were later assigned to MATS. Was leased to General Motors in 1957 for development testing of Allison's civilian 501-D13 version of the T-56. It later served with the FAA and a host of civilian operators.

Ex YC-131C 53-7886, owned at the time by Tex Sun Beechcraft. Notice the nacelles are different than a standard CV580.

Delivered to the USAF in May 1954 as a YC-131C, powered by Allison YT-56 turboprops. Converted to civil standards similar but not identical to the Convair 580 (it retained the nonstandard YC-131C engine nacelles and exhausts), and unofficially designated Convair 770. Later operated by several corporate owners. To C-GKFY with Kelowna Flightcraft in June 1981.

Owned at the time by LTV Aerospace Corp. Notice the nacelles are different from a standard 580, and reveal its past as USAF YC-131C 53-7886, a very early turboprop conversion. Other regns include N454, N454X, N630V, N600AB, N400AB and C-GKFY.