After the abortive attempts to bring
the Convair Tradewind into some sort of long term position with the U.S. Navy
the aircraft were offered for sale, but few buyers were willing to take over
what had been regarded as a plumber’s nightmare. The airframe was sound and
tough, but the Allison T40 engines were dangerously unreliable. The T38 on which
the powerplant was based eventually became the reliable T56, but mating two of
them to produce the T40 introduced problems which could not be resolved in time
to prevent the Navy from abandoning what had started as a very ambitious
project. The intended 5,500 horsepower output was never achieved, but the
aircraft still performed well at the lower powers available.
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Canadair had shown an initial
interest in the aircraft, and their engineering department concluded that
it might be possible to replace the Allisons with the Armstrong Siddeley
Double Mamba developed for the Fairey Gannet. The 4,000 hp of the Double
Mamba was more than sufficient to allow the airframe to meet almost all of
its original design parameters, and after convincing the Canadian
Government that it was a viable proposition the company acquired some
funding toward the purchase of one airframe for the test installation and
an option to purchase two more. A separate team was formed to attempt to
resolve the problems with the Allison powerplant in case the Double Mamba
idea did not work, but this eventually proved unnecessary.
After the expected fiddling to fit the new engines, successful ground tests
and taxi trials indicated that the idea was eminently workable, and on May 19
1960 the aircraft left the water and performed a 45 minute flight. Over the next
few weeks the trials proved the concept beyond question, and procurement of the
two on option was finalised. Service with the Royal Canadian Navy commenced in
1961 and they went on to perform sterling service in the search and rescue,
resupply, and evacuation roles.
As they neared the end of their military careers Canadair once again
investigated further uses, and firebombing was an obvious choice. The Government
of Newfoundland and Labrador bought one example as a high-speed responder to
attack outbreaks ahead of the arrival of the purpose built but slower CL-215
fleet. Its bulbous nose contours meant that it was immediately saddled with the
nickname Moose, but other than that there was no joking about the prestige
attached to flying it into action.
Dave
Bailey
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