Convair CV-580 of North Central Airlines
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The Crew (all work is Copyrighted)
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- Final AFX modifications and North Central paint by Frank Safranek
- Allison Nacelles by Kevin Trickle, modified and adapted to wings by
Frank Safranek
- Original CV-340 AFX by Keith Waugh. Improved by Tom Gibson with
further improvements by Dave McQueen
- Radar nose by Frank Safranek
- Flight Dynamics Model by Mike Vidal, some modifications by Tom Gibson
and Kevin Trinkle.
The Aircraft
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Over 230 examples of the Convair 240/340/440 family were converted to
turboprop power. Several programs were undertaken between 1955 and
1967 to give the sound structural design of the basic aircraft a new
lease on life through the improved performance and operating economics
of the turboprop engine.
The CV-580 was the second of four programs to mate the airframe with
turboprop engines. Known as the Allison-Convair, the Super Convair,
and eventually the Convair 580, it was a Convair 340/440 powered by a
pair of 3,750 shp Allison 501-D13H turboprops -- each turning four
hugh rectangular blades. The work was done by PacAero (Pacific
Airmotive) of California with the first flight on January 19, 1960.
Following further development and certification, the first delivery to
an airline service was to Frontier in June 1964. 130 Convair 580s
were produced through the conversion program.
The initial operators of the type (per 1978 data) were Allegheny, Lake
Central (eventually merged into Allegheny), Frontier, North Central,
Avensa, and SAHSA-Honduras. By the mid 90s as many as 19 carriers had
applied their livery to the CV-580.
The specific CV-580 represented in this Flight Simulator aircraft is
North Central's N4804C (fleet number 514). This aircraft began flying
for North Central in February 1969 after being converted from one of
their CV-440s. It was inspired by a photograph taken by Bob Polaneczky
at Chicago O'Hare International in August of 1975. North Central became
operational in 1952 when Wisconsin Central changed its name. In 1979,
North Central merged with Southern to form Republic. Republic was later
merged into Northwest in 1987.
Specifications
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Wing Span: 105 ft 4 in.
Wing Area: 920 sq ft
Fuselage Length: 81 ft 6 in.
Fuselage Height: 29 ft 2 in.
Max Takeoff Weight: 53,200 lbs (optional to 57,000 lbs)
Max Landing Weight: 50,670 lbs
Range with 8,000 lb payload & reserves: 1,540 miles
Range with 5,000 lb payload & reserves: 2,270 miles
Takeoff Field Length: 4,700 ft @ max wt.
Landing Field Length: 4,400 ft @ max land. wt.
Pilot's Manual (Flight Tips)
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Most turbo-props in Flight Simulator want to takeoff and climb too
quickly. The flight model has been tweaked in an effort to tame this
tendency. Although the initial takeoff and climbout has been slowed
for accuracy, once you get it cleaned up it will get to cruise speed
rather quickly. So watch your speed below 10,000 feet. With a little
practice and some trim adjustment you'll be able to obtain an accurate,
slightly nose up, attitude while cruising at altitude.
To get an approach that's closer to reality, the Flight Model stall
speeds have been set to 90 kts for 0 flap and 70 kts for full flap.
Pattern flying should be at 150-170 kts with 1 or 2 notches of flap,
approach the Outer Marker at 130-150 kts with 3 notches of flap, gear
down at beginning of descent, 120-130 kts on final, and go to full
flaps, 120 kts at around 1000 ft AGL. Taper your speed at 500 ft AGL
to about 100 kts at touchdown, and you should have a nice landing.
Apply reverse pitch to the props with the F2 key after touchdown.
Remember to retract the flaps as you taxi off the active runway.
Visit the Classic Airliner Website for the latest suggestions on how
to fly these classic planes more realistically.
Installation
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Copy the CV580NC.AIR file to your FS5 \PILOTS directory
Copy all CV580NC.?AF files to your FS5 \TEXTURE directory
See the next section, North Central Airlines Color Notes, for instructions
on installation of the revised color palette.
If using FS6 or FS98 copy all of the above to a temporary directory
and run the files through the MS Flight Shop Converter.
North Central Airlines Color Notes
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North Central colors during the period that this aircraft represents were
white with a broad aqua-blue band and a thinner dark blue band running the
length of the fuselage sides. All lettering was black. The problem with
Flight Shop and Flight Simulator (because we've been using the same color
palette since FS5.0a) is that there is no color in the color palette that
approximates the aqua band. This aircraft zip file includes Kevin
Trinkle's KT_PALET files, a modified palette to give proper coloration.
To install this palette:
1. Rename and backup your current FS5.PAL (located in your \fs__\texture
directory)
2. Copy KT_PALET.PAL into your \fs__\texture directory
3. Rename KT_PALET.PAL to FS5.PAL (for ALL versions of FS, 5.0 and up.)
4. Rename and backup your current FS5.HAZ (located with FS5.PAL)
5. Copy KT_PALET.HAZ into your \fs__\texture directory
6. Rename KT_PALET.HAZ to FS5.HAZ
To uninstall this palette:
1. Rename FS5.PAL in your \fs__\texture directory to KT_PALET.PAL
2. Rename FS5.HAZ in your \fs__\texture directory to KT_PALET.HAZ
3. Copy your backed-up FS5.PAL & FS5.HAZ (you DID back it up, didn't you?)
to your \fs__\texture directory. Make sure they are named FS5.PAL and
FS5.HAZ respectively.
There have been changes to default building colors as a result - an
example is in the FS98 Las Vegas scenery, where the terminal building at
McCarran becomes pink. Some of the office buildings at Chicago reflect
this too. The Microsoft Broadf.R8 texture (broad leaves in fall) is also
affected. These changes are a byproduct of the palette change and cannot
be overcome.
The revised blue color sequence is copyrighted 1995 by Carlos Coimbra.
The pink/purple color sequence is copyrighted 1997 by Kevin Trinkle.
KT_PALET.PAL may not be sold on any CD or disk. If you wish to use it in
your own aircraft, please contact Kevin at the address below.
Connections (Email and Websites)
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Keith Waugh - silvrbld@yournet.com
Tom Gibson - tgibson@sunstroke.sdsu.edu
Classic Airliner Page - http://members.aol.com/TGFltsim/
Dave McQueen - dmcqueen@pop.ccnet.com
Airliners from the Past - http://users.ccnet.com/~dmcqueen
Mike Vidal - mavidal@shadow.net
Kevin Trinkle - trinkle@flash.net
The PSA History Page - http://www.flash.net/~trinkle/
Frank Safranek - safranek@owl.csusm.edu
Pre-Flight Checklist - http://www.compuflight.com/pre-flight/
Bob Polaneczky - bobpo@concentric.net
BobP's Airliners - http://www.concentric.net/~Bobpo/
Legal Stuff:
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ENJOY, AND FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
I INTEND ON OFFERING A FEW MORE LIVERIES OF THIS AIRCRAFT MYSELF. THE
AFX/PCX FILE IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST AT THE CLASSIC AIRLINER WEBSITE.
KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU ARE EXPECTED TO MAINTAIN ALL COPYRIGHTS LISTED
ABOVE AND IN THE *.AIR FILE INTACT.
THIS AIRPLANE IS THE PROPERTY OF THE AUTHOR(S) LISTED ABOVE, AND
CANNOT BE RE-SOLD OR PACKAGED WITH ANY PRODUCT FOR SALE, WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHORS. THIS IS FREEWARE!!
YOU MAY UPLOAD THIS PLANE TO ANY OTHER SERVER THAT HAS A FREE
DISTRIBUTION POLICY. IF THIS PLANE IS UPLOADED TO RESTRICTED SERVERS
(I.E. COMPUSERVE FSFORUM)(NOT THE AUTHOR'S INTENTION), IT MAY BE
DOWNLOADED AND UPLOADED TO OTHER SERVERS. THIS NOTICE CONSTITUTES THE
AUTHORS PERMISSION TO DO THIS. THIS ENTIRE TEXT FILE MUST BE INCLUDED
IN ANY DISTRIBUTION.
THE AUTHORS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY LIABILITIES THAT YOU MIGHT INCUR AS
A RESULT OF USING THESE PRODUCTS. YOU ASSUME THE RISK OF USE.
