Thursday, January 21, 2021

Convair XP5Y-1 Tradewind

The Convair XP5Y-1 was part of a new generation of US Navy flying boats, the program was intended to utilise the technology of laminar flow wings and the new turboprop technology then being developed. The airplane, powered by 4 Allison XT40 turboprops driving 15 foot contra rotating props, first flew in spring of 1950. 

 Originally intended to be a patrol aircraft, the Navy soon changed its mind and asked for a redesign as a cargo and passenger version. Convair experimented with a landing craft version, and an inflight refueling tanker version was also tried but the era of the military flying boat had passed.

 In all, 11 aircraft were built, but the continuing unreliability of the Allison XT40 engines caused a number of crashes and was the cause of the program being cancelled in 1958. The planes were all scrapped.  

More here.



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