Convair CV-340

The Convair CV-340 was the lengthened development of the CV-240, the twin-engine pressurised airliner that Convair built after the war to succeed the Douglas DC-3. Convair redesigned the Super 240 after talks with TWA and Eastern broke down and United asked what could be offered, giving the 340 a longer fuselage with four more seats, wings of greater span for better performance at height and more powerful engines. It first flew on 5 October 1951. United ordered 55 as its DC-3 replacement, and orders followed from Braniff, Continental, Delta, Northeast and National and from abroad, where the type sold well in South America and flew with KLM. It earned a name for reliability and profit, and many were later converted to the CV-440 standard.