What is this airplane?

[EatSleepFly]

Can someone please tell me what this is? I wrote down the tail # so I could look it up, but lost it. I took this in STL last week. Looks like it keeps the mechanics busy.

[BCTAv8r]

It looks like a Convair to me.

[MikeD]

Looks like an ATL-98 Carvair. Conversion of the DC-4/C-54.

[EatSleepFly]

[ QUOTE ]
Looks like an ATL-98 Carvair. Conversion of the DC-4/C-54.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good call. I plugged that into A.net, and came up with this. Same airplane.

Thanks!

[BCTAv8r]

I was kind of close.

It looks like a 747 beaten with the ugly sitck.

[EatSleepFly]

Next time I see it I will get a closer up pic of the nose art. It's pretty cool...

I want to get some nose art painted on the planes I fly. I'll have to run that by the boss...

[USMCmech]

What was the purpose of modifying the DC-4 into that configuration?

I recall that the "supper guppy" was modified from a Boeing stratocruiser to cary rocket parts for NASA. And of course the A-300 Beluga, and the soon to be 747 converted to carry 787 fusealages.

However that puffed up DC-4 dosent' look like it could carry oversized cargo. What's the story.

[aloft]

[ QUOTE ]
Looks like an ATL-98 Carvair. Conversion of the DC-4/C-54.

[/ QUOTE ]

The fact that you knew this strikes me as being more than a tad geeky.

[blee256]

Thats a real plane???!! i thought it was a photoshopped 747.

[EatSleepFly]

Man, I wish I was that good with Photoshop!

[SteveC]

There's one sitting on the ramp in YIP, too.

edit to add: looking closer, I'm sure that is the same plane that I saw at YIP on 5/24.

[ QUOTE ]
What was the purpose of modifying the DC-4 into that configuration?

I recall that the "supper guppy" was modified from a Boeing stratocruiser to cary rocket parts for NASA. And of course the A-300 Beluga, and the soon to be 747 converted to carry 787 fusealages.

However that puffed up DC-4 dosent' look like it could carry oversized cargo. What's the story.

[/ QUOTE ]

It looks like the cockpit was raised so the nose can pivot open to greatly ease loading. It may not be large enough for rocket fuselages, but having a straight shot loading cargo is surely a big time saver. That's my guess.

[EatSleepFly]

That's the one Steve.

I took the pic in STL, but a day or two before, I saw it sitting at YIP.

Not too much time goes by between trips in to good 'ol YIP.

[SteveC]

Speaking of loading freight:

Loading Freight into Carvair

[flyboy04]

In a word... Ugly

[mastermags]

I believe that is Bob McSwiggan's old plane. Most ATL pilots or CFI's probably know him. I've taken all of my checkrides with him.... he has a DC3 for sale.

[GatorFC]

"dakovich" has a pic of that plane as his avatar. I always thought it was a 747 photochop also.

[ananoman]

[ QUOTE ]
What was the purpose of modifying the DC-4 into that configuration?

[/ QUOTE ] They were made in the UK and were used to ferry cars across the channel, hence the name 'Carvair'.

[Doug Taylor]

Retro. Mike is the last guy I'd characterize as geeky my friend!

[SteveC]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
What was the purpose of modifying the DC-4 into that configuration?

[/ QUOTE ] They were made in the UK and were used to ferry cars across the channel, hence the name 'Carvair'.

[/ QUOTE ]

Cool stuff!

Some more info from airliners.net:
[ QUOTE ]
History

Aviation Traders developed the Carvair in response to Channel Air Bridge's requirement for an air ferry capable of transporting passengers and their cars between the United Kingdom and continental Europe.

Although its external appearance is quite different, the Carvair is a conversion of the Douglas DC-4 airliner (or C-54 Skymaster in military guise), large numbers of which were available after World War 2. The airframe from the wings rearward is that of a standard DC-4, except for a lengthened vertical tail for enhanced controllability. The major modifications performed on the forward fuselage centred on a new lengthened nose section with a hydraulically operated cargo door and an elevated flightdeck (similar in appearance to that which would appear on the Boeing 747 several years later) which allowed nose loading for cars.

First flight of the Carvair conversion was on June 21 1961, the type subsequently entering service with British United Air Ferries (into which Channel Air Bridge had been merged, it later became British Air Ferries and was known as British World Airways, which ceased trading in December 2001) in March 1962. Deliveries to other operators included three for Aer Lingus of Ireland and two for Aviaco of Spain, with other aircraft operated by French, Australian and Luxembourg carriers.

Aviation Traders also proposed a Carvair type conversion of the Douglas DC-6, DC-6B and DC-7, with the option of reengining with RollsRoyce Dart turboprops, although these plans were never carried through.

In 1998 one Carvair was operated by Hawkair Aviation in British Colombia, Canada, registered C-GAAH. Another operates from Bear Creek/Tara Field in Georgia in the USA, while a third is stored in South Africa. All are ex Ansett machines.

[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Capacity
Flightcrew of two. Maximum seating in a passenger configuration for 85 at five abreast at 86cm (34in) pitch. When used as a car ferry it was typically outfitted to carry five cars plus 22 passengers in the rear cabin.

Production
Total Carvair conversions number 21, the last of which was completed in 1968.

[/ QUOTE ]

[mastermags]

[ QUOTE ]
Another operates from Bear Creek/Tara Field in Georgia in the USA,

[/ QUOTE ]

That is the one is the picture

[flyover]

[ QUOTE ]
What was the purpose of modifying the DC-4 into that configuration?

[/ QUOTE ]


[ QUOTE ]
First flight of the Carvair conversion was on June 21 1961, the type subsequently entering service with British United Air Ferries (into which Channel Air Bridge had been merged, it later became British Air Ferries and was known as British World Airways, which ceased trading in December 2001) in March 1962.

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, I think this pretty much explains it. Although the ostensible reason for the mod was to load and unload cars, the real reason this was done is because the British can't stand to see an airplane without a hump on the front. And it has to be an ugly hump, not something flowing and graceful like the 747.

[dakovich]

same airplane on my avatar. from what i was told, that same plane was in a James Bond film. they had to make a stopover here in Buffalo because of Mx issues this past winter so i got all excited and snapped a bunch of pictures. someone had said they actually had one of the old James Bond cars up front in the nose and they were cruising around the country doing appearances and what not. if i remember the plane is called "FAT ANNIE".

[MikeD]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Looks like an ATL-98 Carvair. Conversion of the DC-4/C-54.

[/ QUOTE ]

The fact that you knew this strikes me as being more than a tad geeky.

[/ QUOTE ]

Operation Noble Eagle, aircraft ID flash cards......

[hattrick]

we have a few convairs up here in fairbanks, Ak. dont see them fly much but when they do its well worth taking the time to look. dont know how you all could call that ugly. i just want to fly it.

[Doug Taylor]

Didn't I catch you at one of the ERAU NIFA open houses, Mike?