aviation
This photo is from a family reunion in Kansas City, Missouri dated 1953. Anyone know what aircraft they're posing in front of? And is anyone pro enough to recognize the airline livery too?
Discussion
Convair CV-240 family - Wikipedia with Continental Airlines.
Ties out time range wise, continental flew the CV-240 from 1948 to 1959, and the CV-340 from 1952 to 1959. The 340 is a bit wider and adds a row of seating, and uprated engines.
The 440 was introduced later in 1956 though many 340's were converted to the specification.
There’s a United 737 that’s painted in that livery today. You can google it and track it to see if it’s in your city eventually
Everybody is mentioning the Continental Convairliner in the center, but nobody seems to mention the Braniff Convairliner in the foreground.
As has already been mentioned, Continental flew the Convair CV-240, -340 and -440. The Convair CV-240 was in use with Continental from July of 1948 until May of 1953, with the airline leasing 3 aircraft from American Airlines between February and October of 1959. The Convair CV-340 came in in October of 1952 lasting until April of 1959. The Convair CV-440 entered service with Continental in February of 1956, lasting until April of 1959.
Like Continental, Braniff operated all three main variants, with the CV-240 serving from August of 1952 to mid-1953; the CV-340 serving from July of 1952 until March of 1969; and the CV-440 serving from November of 1956 until August of 1966.
The Convair CV-240 was designed with seating for 40 passengers in 10 rows of 4 seats (each row having their own window); the CV-340 was stretched so it could occupy one additional row. The aircraft in the center has 11 windows so that clearly identifies it as a CV-340.
Also note the aircraft in the background. Although it's out of focus, from left to right you can identify a C-46 and two L-749 Constellations on the left; and two DC-3s and another Convairliner (probably) on the right.
Cool beans, thanks for the heaps of info!
I flew on 440s in the early 90s. Scared the crap out of me for 5 years.
This question would have been answered correctly here even with only the left wing and a part of the engine visible.
The plane carrying Lynyrd Skynyrd that crashed in 1977 was similar but it was a Convair 240.
Continental Airways Convair 440
EDIT: probably a 340 based off the date of the picture.
https://www.airliners.net/photo/Continental-Airlines/Convair-440-35-Metropolitan/128851
This guy planes
But for real, thank you! I love to know this sort of thing with family photos
Np.
Our dad wasn't religious, but come Easter day Mom dressed us poor kids for the day and we 1963ish went to JFK outside the fences to watch takeoffs. Fond memories. Of course, we each got baskets...
Continental was my favorite airline before United ate them
I think this is true for most Americans.
Continental had a hub in Cleveland. You could call them for a ticket and you’d always get a human on the first or second ring. They would stay on the phone with you until they found you the best deal they had, or they would suggest trying at a time when better fares would drop. They always made sure you were happy and taken care of. I miss them terribly. After fucking United took over, they promised to keep Cleveland as a hub. That lasted a few months. Then they promised to keep a dozen or so non-stop routes as a consolation. That lasted another couple months. Then they only had access to the furthest gates from the main concourse. Now, I think they only connect via regional planes to Newark. They suck SO badly!
If it's 1953, then probably a 340.
[deleted]
Continental flew the 240, 340 and 440. To my eye this is the later, stretched so either a 340 or 440