Convair CV990

Gorgeous old jet! And supposedly even more expensive than Concorde (in real terms). I was lucky enough to fly on a Spantax example back in 1979 - are there any Coronados still flying?

BRAZILIAN AIRLINE VARIG WAS, AS FAR AS I CONCERNED, THE ONLY AIRLINE TO FLY THE 3 MODELS WITH FOUR ENGINE JETS FROM THE FIRST GENERATION: 3 DC-8, 2 CONVAIR 880, AND A BUNCH OF BOEING-707 IN THE EARLIE 60`S.

I REMEMBER SEEING ONE OF THE OLD 880 WHEN I WAS ONLY 5 IN MY FIRST TIME AT THE GALEÃO INTL, WHEN MY DEAREST FATHER TOKE ME TO VISIT ITS TERACE (TIMES WHEN AIRPORTS HAD A TERACE AND ANYTHING TO SEE). I CAN REMEMBER THE UNIQUE SOUND OF ITS ENGINES.... GOOD QUESTION, ARE THERE CORONADOS STILL FLYING?

710, 711,and 712, were CV990 aircraft. In 1974, 711 was on final using the same runway.
711 landed on top of a US Navy P3 Orion. Another CV990 was found in India, and flown to NASA Ames at Mt. View, CA, NSI [Northrup Services Inc], revamped the airplane inside and outside. Later 712 was rigged for a crash landing to test fire re-tardents. 712 exploded, destroying everything near it. 711 was considered for the new tail nunber "713". Never happen, 710 was chosen instead. To confuse the story here is the replacment was 710, not "810". I'll have to make my way to Mojave and take my time examining 810. Thx for the read. John E.

Skerry,
There are no Coronados [PB2Y] still flying, however there is one left on static display at:

Pensacola, Florida
National Museum of Naval Aviation.

John E.