cruseing sped of a convair 990?

bigred1970 · Post by **bigred1970** » 05 Sep 2006, 16:36

still enjoying this hot rod, I have found that it seems comfy doing about .90-92, this is at about 38k feet and burns just over 2000lbs an hour from each engine... I will see how higher altitudes work as I burn off fuel on this flight from louisville, ky to heathrow....

stay tuned...

ianhind · Post by **ianhind** » 05 Sep 2006, 20:49

Hmmm I don't think anyone in Europe used them over that sort of distance.

Swissair used them into Heathrow probably from Zurich, SAS used them from Scandinavia into Heathrow. And the one leased by Air France probably just did Paris - London.

What stages did the US airlines use them on?

So now tell me the Swissair ones went on to New York

[or did I see the same one several times a day?]

Ian

bigred1970 · Post by **bigred1970** » 05 Sep 2006, 21:35

I am not sure what routes they were used on, but the range is stated to be 3800 ,miles, so that is why I chose the route I did, it would make sense to use it since its high speed could probably cut quite I bit of time off the flight, I am guessing that the 3400mile flight will probably take me about 6.5 hours..

Mark C · Post by **Mark C** » 03 Oct 2006, 21:59

Hmmm I don't think anyone in Europe used them over that sort of distance

Apart from its initial performance defficiencies (not being able to fly as fast as was garunteed) the big problem with the CV990 once its initial performance shortcommings were reasonably resolved was that it could only go fast at the undesirable expence of horrendous fuel consumption. The CV990 was designed to operate high speed transcontinental/US services .... coast to coast direct .... but simply couldn't manage the distance and was consequently relegated to lesser routes.

When the oil price shock of the 1970's started to bite most of the original major CV990 operators had either already disposed of their fleets or were in the process of doing so. Charter operators like Modern Air Transport, and SPANTAX were forced to reduce cruise mach .... first down to 0.85 .... then down to 0.78 .... in a bid to maintain economic performance .... and as a result fuel consumption decreased whilst the aircrafts range increased quite dramatically.

In fact one Modern Air CV990 is known to have flown the 4,319 mile Philadelphia/Vienna sector "direct" .... at reduced cruise mach .... so .... "BIGRED1970's" Kentucky/Heathrow sector would have been quite practical for the CV990 operating under such operational restrictions.

Expect a major illustrated CV990 feature from me very soon

Mark C

VEGAS · Post by **VEGAS** » 04 Oct 2006, 15:33

Mark C wrote: Expect a major illustrated CV990 feature from me very soon

Mark C

Will look forward to that Mark. The Smokin 'vair is one of my all time favourite classics!

Mark C · Post by **Mark C** » 16 Oct 2006, 20:52

OK folks !

I got that CV990 feature I've been promising finally posted on the CBFS NON BRITISH forum now .... entitled "CONVAIR CALAMITY (part 2) - THE CV990".

Among reply posts is a links to my earlier (accompanying) article .... entitled "CONVAIR CALAMITY (part 1) - THE CV880" .... thanks again for doing that Garry

For those who feel persuaded by these articles to try out both CV880 & CV990 and panel in FS, an extensive historical selection of these aircraft may be downloaded "FREE" the HJG at the following address.

http://www.simviation.com/hjg/

Enjoy !

Mark C