CONVAIR T-29 & C-131 SAMARITAN

T-29 & C-131 SERVICE

Manufacturer: Convair Aircraft Corp., San Diego, California, USA
(In 1954, became Convair Division of General Dynamics Corp.)
Models: CV-240, CV-340, CV-440
Designations: C-131; T-29; AT-29, R4Y, T-32
Names: Samaritan (C-131), Flying Classroom (T-29, unofficial)
First official flight: (XT-29) 22/09/1949
(MC-131A) 1954
Factory production period: 1949 - 1956
Primary service period: 1950 - 1970's
Last official flight: ?

T-29 & C-131 VARIANTS

Based on the Convair civil airliner, 1077 built from 1946 - 1958.
567 built as Covair 240 / 340 / 440 civil versions from 1946 - 1958:
Model CV-110  c/n: 1                          1 built     ff: 08/07/1946.
Model CV-240  c/n: mixed 1 to 178      176 built  ff: 16/03/1947.
Model CV-340  c/n: mixed 1 to 239      212 built  ff: 05/10/1951.
Model CV-440  c/n: mixed 312 to 510  178 built  ff: 06/10/1955.
510 built as T-29 / C-131 military versions from 1949 - 1956.

1949 Model CV-240-17 XT-29 2  
1950 Model CV-240 T-29A 46  
1952 Model CV-240-27 T-29B 105  
1953 Model CV-240-27 T-29C 119  
1953 Model CV-240-52 T-29D 92 Total: 364
         
1954 Model CV-240-53 MC-131A 26  
1954 Model CV-340-70 C-131B 36  
1954 Model CV-340-61/-68/440-61 C-131D 33  
1956 Model CV-440-61 C-131E 15 Total: 110
         
1955 Model CV-340-71 R4Y-1 36 Total: 036

Grand Total: 510

T-29 & C-131 PRODUCTION

XT-29
Prototype twin engined crew trainer.
Original designation was XAT-29.
Later converted to T-29A standard.
Produced 
Convair San Diego, California (CO)

49-1910, 49-1911 169, 179

Total: 002

T-29A 
As XT-29, navigator trainer, 4 astrodomes, unpressurized.
Produced
Convair San Diego, California (CO)

49-1912, 49-1913 180, 152  
49-1914 / 49-1945 181 / 212  
50-183 / 50-194 213 / 224

Total: 046

YT-32 - Projected bomber training version of T-29A, cancelled.

T-29B
As T-29A, navigator / radio trainer, 3 astrodomes,
engine upgrade, pressurized.
Produced
Convair San Diego, California (CO)

51-3797 / 51-3816 225 / 244  
51-5114 / 51-5172 245 / 303  
51-7892 / 51-7917 304 / 329

Total: 105

T-29C
As T-29B, engine upgrade.
Produced
Convair San Diego, California (CO)

52-1091 / 52-1175 330 / 414  
53-3461 / 53-3494 415 / 448

Total: 119

T-29D
As T-29C, bombardier training, no astrodomes.
Produced
Convair San Diego, California (CO)

52-1176 / 52-1185 52-1 / 10  
52-5812 / 52-5836 53-32 / 56  
52-9976 / 52-9980 53-27 / 31  
53-3495 / 53-3546 449 / 500

Total: 092

MC-131A
As CV-240, military passenger / medical transport, 37 seats.
Redesignated as C-131A(M) in 1962.
Produced
Convair San Diego, California (CO)

52-5781 / 52-5806 53-1 / 26

Total: 026
5 additional airframes cancelled.

C-131B
As CV-340, military passenger transport, 48 seats.
Produced
Convair San Diego, California (CO)

53-7788 / 53-7823 240 / 275

Total: 036

C-131C - Proposed SAC support aircraft, 61 on order cancelled.

C-131D
As CV-340 / 440, military passenger transport, 44 seats,
engine upgrade.
5 new built airframes, 28 factory converted from civil airliners.
Produced
Convair San Diego, California (CO)

54-2805 / 54-2825 mixed 183 to 238  
55-290 / 55-301 mixed 206 to 239

Total: 033

C-131E
As CV-440, ECM trainer.
Produced
Convair San Diego, California (CO)

55-4750 / 55-4759 337 / 346  
57-2548, 57-2549 476, 477  
57-2550 / 57-2552 480 / 482

Total: 015

R4Y-1
USN version of C-131D.
Redesignated as C-131F in 1962.
Produced
Convair San Diego, California (Y)

BuNo.140993 / 141028 276 / 311

Total: 036

R4Y-2Q - Projected radar CM version, 5 cancelled.
R4Y-2S - Projected ASW trainer version, 14 cancelled.
R4Y-2T - Projected trainer verion, 13 cancelled, 5 under
                 construction completed as the last 5 civil CV-440's.

Grand Total: 510

T-29 & C-131 CONVERSIONS

USAF

CT-29A 3 T-29A, cargo conversions.
GT-29A 1 T-29A, conversion to ground instructional airframe.
VT-29A 27 T-29A, staff transports.
NT-29B 1 T-29B, permanent conversion for test duties.
VT-29B 68 T-29B, 1952, staff transports.
(NVT-29B) 1 VT-29B, further conversion with cargo door fitted.
AT-29C 9 T-29C, conversions for airways checks.
(ET-29C) 9 1962, redesignation of AT-29C.
VT-29C 15 T-29C, staff transports.
ET-29D 11 T-29D, 1955, conversions for airways checks.
VT-29D 42 T-29D, 1953, staff transports, other models also converted to this standard.
VT-29E 1 T-29B, executive transport.
XT-29E 3 T-29B, projected turbo-prop conversion, cancelled.
HC-131A 23 C-131A(M), 1976-1982, transfers to the USCG, equipment changes.
Assigned USCG s/n: 5781 / 5796, 5798 / 5802, 5805, 5806.
(HC-131H) 1 HC-131A, conversion similiar to C-131H, also designated as HC-131G.
VC-131A 1+ C-131A, staff transports, redesignated C-131A after 1962.
JC-131B 6 C-131B, conversions for missile tracking.
NC-131B 1 C-131B, permanent conversion for test duties.
VC-131B 1+ C-131B, temporary conversions as staff transports.
YC-131C 2 Civil CV-340-56, 1954, conversions for engine upgrade tests.
Assigned s/n: 53-7886, 53-7887.
VC-131D 1+ C-131D(Model 340-67), temporary conversions as staff transports.
TC-131E 15 C-131E, ECM trainer conversions.
(RC-131F) 6 TC-131E, conversions for photo surveying and mapping.
(RC-131G) 1 TC-131E, conversion for airways checks and communication.
C-131H 1+ C-131D / E, equivalent civil Model 580 turboprop upgrades.
(VC-131H) 5 C-131H, 1965, staff transports.
(NC-131H) 1 C-131B, 1970, conversion incorporating a flight simulator for jet training.

US Navy

R4Y-1Z 1 Civil CV-340, conversion as staff transport with US Navy.
Assigned BuNo. 140378.
3+ R4Y-1's later converted to this standard.
(VC-131F) 1+ 1962, redesignation of R4Y-1Z.
R4Y-2 2 C-131E, aircraft in service with the US Navy.
Assigned BuNo. 145962, 145963.
8 additional new built aircraft cancelled.
(C-131G) 2 1962, redesignation of R4Y-2.
(VC-131G) 2 C-131G, staff transports.
(EC-131G) 1 C-131G, modified as an electronics trainer.

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