The Convair C-131 Samaritan was an American military transport produced from 1954 to 1956.

History

The design began life in a production requirement by American Airlines for a pressurized airliner to replace the classic Douglas DC-3. Convair's original design had two engines and 40 seats, and thus it was designated the CV-240. The first 240 flew on March 16, 1947, and production aircraft were first delivered to American on February 28, 1948. Seventy-five were delivered to American, with another fifty going to Western Airlines, Continental Airlines, Pan American Airways, KLM, and Trans Australia Airlines.

Military variants

The CV-240/340/440 series was used by the United States Air Force for medical evacuation and VIP transport and was designated as C-131 Samaritan. The first model Samaritan, the C-131A, was derived from the 240 model, and was delivered to the USAF in 1954. A trainer model, designated the T-29, was also based on the Convair 240 to instruct navigators and radio operators. The T-29 was eventually replaced by the T-43. A planned bomber training version of the T-29 (designated T-32) was never built. The 340 model was used for most C-131Ds.

The United States Navy used the Samaritan as the R4Y. Nearly all of the C-131s left the active inventory in the late 1970s, but Air National Guard and Navy units operated a few until 1990. The C-131 was eventually replaced by the C-9 Nightingale.

A Samaritan was the first aircraft used as a flying gunship testbed in mid-1963, in a program known as Project Tailchaser. A C-131B (#53-7820) was given a gunsight for the side window, but instead of guns it had cameras in the cargo area. Eventually the C-131 was ferried to Eglin AFB in Florida and a General Electric SUU-11A/A 7.62 mm Gatling-style Minigun was installed. Live ammunition was used and both over-water and over-land tests were successful.

Variants

C-131A

United States Air Force version of the Model 240 with seats for 37 passengers, 26 built.HC-131A

Surplus C-131As transferred to the United States Coast Guard, 22 transferred.MC-131A

Temporary designation used before 1962 when a C-131A was used for medivac duties with 27 stretchers.VC-131A

Temporary designation used before 1962 when a C-131A was used as a staff transport.C-131B

A hybrid Model 240/340 with seats for 48 passengers, 36 built.JC-131B

C-131B converted for missile tracking, six conversions.NC-131B

One C-131B used for permanent testing.VC-131B

C-131B when used as a staff transport.YC-131C

Two Model 340s flown with Alison 501D-13 engines.C-131D

Military version of the Model 340 with seats for 44 passengers, 33 built.VC-131D

C-131D when used as a staff transport.C-131E

Electronic Countermeasures training version for Strategic Air Command, later designated TC-131E, 15 built and one conversion from C-131D, two transferred to United States Navy as R4Y-2.TC-131E

C-131E redesignated.C-131F

R4Y-1 redesignated.RC-131F

Conversions for photo-mapping and survey, six conversions.VC-131F

R4Y-1Z redesignated.C-131G

R4Y-2 redesignated.EC-131G

One C-131G modified as an electronics trainer.RC-131G

One C-131G modified as an airways aid checking duties.VC-131G

C-131G used as a staff transport.C-131H

Other models converted to Model 580 turboprop standards.NC-131H

One conversion with an extended nose incorporating a separate cockpit as a Total In-Flight Simulator,R4Y-1

United States Navy version of the Model 340 with 44 passenger seats, redesignated C-131F in 1962, 36 built.R4Y-1Z

United States Navy staff transports, redesignated VC-131F in 1962, one built and conversions from R4Y-1.R4Y-2

Two C-131Es transferred to the United States Navy, redesignated C-131G in 1962, an additional 13 cancelled.R4Y-2Q

Projected radar countermeasures version of the R4Y-2, five cancelledR4Y-2S

Projected United States Navy Anti-Submarine Warfare trainer version, 14 on order cancelled.XT-29

Prototype military trainer version of the Model 240 for the United States Air Force, two built.T-29A

Initial production version for navigator training, unpressurised cabin for 14 students, 46 built.VT-29A

T-29As converted for staff transport.T-29B

Pressurised version with room for 10 navigator and four radio operator students, 105 built.NT-29B

One T-29B used for permanent testing.VT-29B

T-29B converted for staff transport with seating for 29 or 32 passengers.T-29C

T-29B with 2500hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-29W engines, 119 built.AT-29C

T-29C modified for airways checking duties, redesignated ET-29C in 1962.ET-29C

AT-29C redesignated.VT-29C

T-29C converted for staff transport.T-29D

Bombardier training version of the T-29C with room for six students, 93 built.ET-29D

Airways checking conversion of the T-29D.VT-29D

Staff transport conversion of the T-29D.XT-29E

Proposed turboprop version of T-29B, none built.YT-32

Proposed bomber training version with transparent nose, none built.

Operators

• Paraguayan Air Force operated one former USAF Convair C-131D
• United States Air Force operated T-29 and C-131 aircraft.
• United States Navy operated R4Y and C-131 aircraft.
• United States Coast Guard

Specifications (240)

References

• Convair 240 - National Air and Space Museum
• C-131 Samaritan factsheet - National Museum of the United States Air Force
• C-131D Samaritan - March Field Air Museum
• C-131 Samaritan - GlobalSecurity.org
• C-131 Samaritan - The Aviation Zone
• Gunships - The Aviation Zone

See also