USAF Convair C-131A Samaritan

Additional Information:

The Convair C-131 Samaritan is a twin-engine military transport produced from 1954 to 1956 by Convair. It is the military version of the Convair CV-240 family of airliners and was one of the last radial engine aircraft in US service. The design began life as a production requirement by American Airlines for a pressurized airliner to replace the Douglas DC-3. Convair’s original design had two engines and 40 seats and was designated the CV-240. The first CV-240 flew on March 16, 1947, and production aircraft were first delivered to American on February 28, 1948.

The CV-240/340/440 series was used by the United States Air Force (USAF) for medical evacuation and VIP transport and was designated as C-131 Samaritan. The first model Samaritan, the C-131A, was derived from the CV-240 model, and was delivered to the USAF in 1954. The C-131A was capable of carrying 39 passengers on rearward facing seats, or 20 stretchers and 7 seats and 26 aircraft were eventually built.

This Convair C-131A, 0-37804, aircraft was attached to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque New Mexico for a test guidance program. The aircraft was specifically modified to include two pods, tear drop shaped under the wing and a revision to the interior radar in the nose. The program was conducted from 1970 to 1972.

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