Convair 880

1959


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Announced in April 1956, the Convair 880 was produced as a medium-range jet transport. It was built in two versions: the 880 Model 22 basic model with 49.8kN General Electric CJ-805-3 turbojet engines, flown for the first time on 27 January 1959; and the 880 Model 22-M with 51.8kN CJ-805-3B turbojets, power-boosted rudder and four leading-edge slats. The first 880 Model 22-M flew on 3 October 1960. Most 880s had been withdrawn from service by their original operators by 1973.

FACTS AND FIGURES

� The engines were a civilian version of the J79 as used in the F-104 Starfighter and F-4 Phantom.

� The seating arrangement of five seats per row gave more passenger comfort but reduced profitability compared to the Boeing 707 and the Douglas DC-8.

� The CV-990 had latge aerodynamic fairings, named 'Küchmann Carrots', on the trailing edges. These created the 'area rule' effect, allowing a higher Mach number, and the CV-990 was rhe fastest subsonic airliner ever.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1346 x 678)

Specification

CREW	5
PASSENGERS	88-110
ENGINE	4 x GE CJ-805, 51.8kN
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight	87540 kg	192994 lb
Empty weight	42185 kg	93002 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan	36.6 m	120 ft 1 in
Length	39.4 m	129 ft 3 in
Height	11.0 m	36 ft 1 in
Wing area	185.8 m²	1999.93 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Cruise speed	990 km/h	615 mph
Range w/max.fuel	7100 km	4412 miles
Range w/max payload	6400 km	3977 miles

Comments

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Bryce McDonald, e-mail, 25.04.2011 04:27

In 1980 /81 I was working for Cav-Air FBO at Ft. Lauderdale executive airport. I helped with the ground handling of an aircraft I remember to be the Lisa Marie. If anyone has any info that could confirm the aircraft being there at that time I would very much like to hear from you. I fueled the aircraft and operated the start cart. I remember the smoke when she started and the trail she left on takeoff.

Greg S, e-mail, 02.04.2011 20:27

As a young boy growing up in Cleveland, I remember watching 880's takeoff from Hopkins airport in the 1960's and early '70s. One takeoff sticks vividly in my mind. A Northeast Airlines 880 departed and layed down a smokescreen that blew my father and me away. After the aircraft had turned and was departing the area, the black smoke came boiling across Brookpark Road, on the boundary of Hopkins airport, where cars would line up to watch the big jets takeoff and land. It was amazing. The things they fly today are too sterile. Give me the smoke and noise of those early jets. Those were real airplanes!

Ray Jensen, e-mail, 12.03.2011 06:33

I worked at DL operations ord 1959-1992 worked all the ground handeling jobs on the 880, including loadplanner
later became a crew scheduler and scheduled the ord base
880 pilots. I think this was the sharpest looking aircraft in the DL fleet

Richard Hinkley, e-mail, 22.02.2011 03:36

I flew engineer and copilot for 3 0r 4 years on the 880 for Delta. You could tell it was around by the black exhaust smoke on takeoff. Only bad flying characteristic was Dutch roll. After a while it never happened to you. A little cross control eliminated it. Or you could turn on the yaw damper after takeoff, but not during. You could drop it out of the sky with main landing gear speedbrake and spoilers but it was easy to catch the cabin and have to slow the descent rate. Some controllers didn't realize you were going to be doing about 160 knots on approach and would get you to close to the guy ahead of you. No slats. Had instant power with single spool engines.

Gary Walter, e-mail, 14.02.2011 01:59

Elvis Presley's CV-880 was ship 804 which was purchased from Delta Airlines... It presently sits across the street from Graceland in Memphis Tn. at the E.P. museum. I was with Delta from 1962-1995 and flew on this plane out of ORD and also out of DTW between 1962-and 1968.

Ken, e-mail, 11.02.2011 17:56

Worked operations for DL 1969-2001. If you could put it in the cargo bins, this acft would get it off the ground. Best airliner I ever flew in. Thanks for the memories

John zeigler, e-mail, 11.02.2011 01:12

Worked for DL 1963-2001. Great plane agree with what you all said above .
I was even hijacked when traveling as a non rev

Jim Davenport, e-mail, 05.02.2011 02:43

I flew the 22M model...had been a testbed for FAA until they gave it to the navy. It was converted into a tanker for the F-18 test and development program and later used for other tests out of Patuxent NAS, MD. I was a contract pilot for Flight Systems, Inc. at the time. Enjoyed the airplane.

James, e-mail, 31.01.2011 08:06

Does ELVIS have thee last remaning non derelict cv880 on earth? thank you EPE for keeping up a legend two to be exact!

Freedom Fighter, e-mail, 12.01.2011 23:07

Elvis' own pet bird. You can still find this beauty in Graceland.

richard f. green, e-mail, 11.01.2011 00:09

I flew the CV-880 with T.W.A. during my 33 year career; best handling of the eleven types I experienced; very sensitive and was a dream to fly; no leading-edge devices resulted in very high approach speeds but marvelous landings; best commercial aircraft in my estimation.

Anton Castrillo, e-mail, 26.12.2010 19:59

I flew the CV-880-22 as Captain with LANICA (Nicaraguan ailines) from July 1971 to to the end of 1977. I logged 4800 hours. Simple put: the best jet I have ever flown. I was trained by TWA in Kansas City, MO. It felt like a fighter plane. Good memories!

TOBY CANLAS, e-mail, 16.12.2010 01:46

Convair 880 Civil Air Transport , 1963 . The best aircaraft I ever flew in the Far East. Sleek and Fast.

Brian Rose, e-mail, 12.12.2010 04:55

I was an air traffic controller at LAX 1971-1973. TWA flew some CV880's. To the controllers they were called "water wagons" due to the water injection used on takeoff, thus creating a teriffic smoke trail from each engine.

Janet Walmsley, e-mail, 15.11.2010 01:34

ah, the convair 880.....as a reserve f /a out of ny, i was assigned to cover a flight out of ord and lucky enough to fly this beauty.....what a great aircraft......"thanks for the memories"

David Oakes, e-mail, 08.10.2010 09:19

Fine Aircraft. Had the pleasure to work on the assembly line in San Diego. My job was to crawl up inside the wing section and tack rag the whole inside which was used as the fuel cell. Interesting design

M. Mangan, e-mail, 29.09.2010 22:36

I flew the CV-880 back in 1959 for Northeast Airlines. I was on it for two years as a cleck airman and line pilot. We introduced Jet travel to the East Coast-Florida market.M.

Ed Brent, e-mail, 08.09.2010 15:20

My father flew the Convair 880 in the mid 1960's. He loved it in every way. He said on a go around with the wheels up when you added full power the jet would throw
the crew back in their seats like a fighter jet. The aircraft responded to the slightest touch much like a sports car would. Glad to see this site promoting the Convair 880. Remember Elvis had one also.

Mickey Small, e-mail, 10.08.2010 05:10

My father Jess Small was a career Delta Pilot and flew the
880.

Ed Woerle, e-mail, 11.08.2010 20:38

Anyone touring Graceland in Memphis can see /tour Elvis' 880, N880EP "Lisa Marie". It is said that this is the only aircraft The King felt safe in. Notice that the paint scheme is basically the original Delta fuselage stripe with the "TCB" emblem on the tail.

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