Post-war military jet production thrust Convair into the spotlight of speed stardom. Sadly, as Stephen Skinner reports, its civil aviation ambitions simply could not compete
American airframers Convair competitively championed the need for aviation speed. Capitalising on its highly respected name in military aircraft, it entered a niche sector of the 1950s market, manufacturing elegant contenders that boasted a new era of swift travel in style and comfort.
Today, the sleek and stylish Convair 880 and 990 are little known – just three are preserved intact in museums around the world.
Notably, Convair failed to make any substantial inroads into the airliner market while simultaneously suffering one of the greatest financial losses in US corporate history – losing $450m (£335m) at 1962 prices. It would spell the end of the aerospace firm’s involvement in the civil airliner market.
