It was so cold we couldn't get the stair truck started to move it for a clean shot. Ex N5607 with AA and Modern, and later rr N5624 with Modern.

Although not nearly the "smoker" that the 880 was, the 990 left plenty of evidence that it had applied power to pull off the gate. This one went on to become OD-AFF with MEA, and ended its career as EC-BZP with Spantax.

No airline operated Convair 990s to Australia so the smoky arrival of N5615 was greeted with much excitement by aviation enthusiasts. It was on a charter flight that commenced in Boston and included overflights of the North and South Poles and a landing at McMurdo in Antarctica. The flight was a fundraiser for the Richard E Byrd Polar Centre in Boston (hence the spelling of the aircraft name). An attempt to fly the same route in 1970 was scuttled when the US Navy, out of safety concerns, refused permission to land at McMurdo.

Starting out as N5602 with AA in 1.63, this CV-990 was acquired by Spantax in 4.69 and is seen here stored in a line with six of its sister-ships, all of which were b/u in 1991. This one however survived until dismantled in the mid-Nineties. The forward fuselage is now maintained as a simulator at Girona

A magnificent seven Coronados, plus a DC-8 interloper. The others, from right to left are EC-BTE, EC-BQQ, EC-CDC (TAE DC-8), EC-CNG, EC-CHJ, EC-BJC & EC-CNF. All were broken up in 1991 except EC-BQQ which lasted a few more years

Originally American Airlines' N5609 in 3.62, this 990 was acquired by Spantax from Modern Air Transport in 2.70. Stored with several others at PMI and broken up in 1991

Modern Air Transport had a base at Berlin Tegel and three of their eight Coronados were at LGW for a West Germany-England soccer match that wet day. The 1973 oil crisis was a blow for these thirsty jets, not helped by rules to fly at a fuel-inefficient height of 10,000ft in the Allied air corridors over East Germany. Modern hoped to switch to DC-8s and DC-9s but ceased flying in 1975. N5624 went to Nomads as N990E, then Galaxy. Wfu at FLL in 12.85, to Christ is the Answer in 1990 - obviously not as scrapped 4.91

Delivered new to American in January 1963. Operated by Modern Air from December 1970 until 1976.

Delivered new to American Airlines in February 1963. Served MEA from July 1969 until March 1971. Later EC-BXI with Spantax.

Leased by Modern Air Transport to Air France from March to November 1967, this was AF's only Coronado. Swissair's CV990A HB-ICD is at the left.

The prototype CV990 Coronado on an early test flight wearing the manufacturers titles. To NASA 711 in November 1964 and later N711NA. From General Dynamics 50 years ago.

The Convair 990 was never used on scheduled services into Australia, so finding one parked on the TAA maintenance apron was a surprise and a treat.

Delivered new to American Airlines in February 1962 as N5607. Operated by Modern AT from April 1967 until August 1975. Here it smokes in on finals to Miami on a Winter sunshine charter.

Ex N5609 American Airlines, Modern Air Transport and Nordair.

This Coronado served Garuda from January 1964 until crashing on take-off from Bombay on May 28, 1968. Also visible are DC-6/7s of Schreiner (left), THY (leased) and Aeromaritime (right).

"Galileo II" was operated by NASA from September 1973 until being destroyed by fire on take off at March AFB on 17 March 1985.

Delivered to AA in 6.62 as N5618 and after a period with MEA, bought by Spantax in 1.72. Looking magnificent in her later colours on what was probably one of the last trips to the UK, this Coronado was eventually set aside at Palma for preservation by the excellent Museo del Aire, but has been under threat of eviction from its site which is on Air Force land. During 2017 major efforts were made by the Salvemos el Coronado de Spantax group to save this significant airframe