The aircraft had been used as a freighter by Air Chathams but was withdrawn from use in 2008 and used as a spares source to support the operation of the rest of their Convair 580 fleet. In January 2014 it was removed by road to a local recycling centre and deleted from the NZ register the same month.

Delivered to United Air Lines as CV340-31 N73117 in 1952. To Frontier Airlines and converted to a CV580 in 1966 then to other operators from 1980. To Sierra Pacific Airlines in 1983 then to Metroflight and operated for American Eagle in 1984. Converted to a freighter for DHL as OO-DHG in 1988. Reregistered as EC-943 in 1995 then EC-GDY in 1996. To Skyhaul as ZS-SKG in 2005. Withdrawn from use at Capetown in 2009 and scrapped in 2012.

Delivered to United Air Lines as CV340-31 N73121 in 1952. To Frontier Airlines in 1959 and converted to a CV580 in 1964. To other operators from 1979 then to Sierra Pacific Airlines in 1982. Scrapped in 1995.

Delivered to United Air Lines as CV340-31 N73153 in 1954. To Frontier Airlines in 1959 and converted to a CV580 in 1965. To Mountainwest Aviation who were renamed to Sierra Pacific Airlines in 1978. Leased to other operators. To Kelowna Flightcraft as C-GEVC in 1999 then to Conair as C-FFKF in 1990 and converted to a firebomber. Cancelled from the register in 2023. Flightaware shows its last flight to Pitt Meadows. CYPK.

Uprated by Ford Motor

Delivered to National Airlines as CV340-17 N8413H in 1953. Converted to a CV440 for Allegheny Airlines in 1960 then converted to a CV580 and registered as N5833 in 1967. To other owners from 1976 and converted to a freighter. Reregistered as N584PL in 1981. To Kelowna Flighrcraft as C-GKFT in 1986 then to Lincoln Airlines as N584PL in 1987. Impounded by the DEA at Opa-Locka FL in 1991. To Allcanada Express in 1994 and used for parts at Kelowna, BC. Scrapped in 1997.

The aircraft was sold to Conair Aviation in September 2009 and ferried, still wearing VH-PAL, to their Abbottsford, BC., base. It was deleted from the Australian register on 14th September 2009 and placed on the Canadian register as C-GYXS on 21st September 2009. It appears that Conair acquired the aircraft for parts to support the operation of their Convair fire-bomber fleet as it never flew, or even wore, its Canadian marks, lingering on at Abbottsford gradually donating parts. The last online photo of a recognisable airframe is dated 2017, and it is thought it was scrapped shortly after.

About to land on runway 04.

With Trump Castle's "TC" logo on the tail.

This aircraft had recently been bought by SAAB Aircraft Holdings after a couple of years with Metroflight/American Eagle. In 1992 it was acquired by SERCA Colombia as HK-3616X but appears to have been used for drug smuggling, as it was seized by the RCMP in November 1992. It was re-registered as C-FRDE and later bought by Kelowna Flightcraft Charter in 1994 as C-FYTV. It was scrapped circa 2003.

We later flew from Tucson to San Diego with this beauty. What kind of flights were those...

Stored minus prop #1. In December 1983 to Avensa as YV-84C. Crashed on 28 May 1985. Any help on the location is appreciated. Photo by Udo Schäfer

Photographer: Eberhard Kunze. K25 slide scan. Built 1953 as CV-340 N3419 for Braniff. Allegheny 1966, converted to CV-580 1967, Seair Alaska 1978, Kelowna C-GKFQ 1987, Evergreen N580EH 1988, AVESCA HK-3559 1990, AEROCAR 1994, seized by Colombian Armay as EJC-121 1995, reserialled EJC-1121 2009.