Gulf Coast Air Lines CV 440s

When it was time to standardize Gulf Coast Air Lines' regional fleet, which at the time consisted of the aging aircraft brought over from the merger, the airline ordered 25 of an eventual 60 Convair CV-440s for immediate replacement in November 1948, the first of which was delivered five and a half months later.

The CV-440 was the backbone of GCAL's regional fleet, connecting cities large and small throughout the southern US with the airline's Mainline services to the Northeast and the West Coast. It also operated on the Gulf Shuttle service, multiple daily flights between GCALs hubs, some of them operating hourly.

During its long service with the airline, the CV-440 enjoyed a popular following in the southern US, so much that in 1956 it replaced the Constellation as the aircraft of choice in all promotional material, including films, sponsorship deals and airline-branded products; this continued well into the Jet era until its retirement in 1970.

Convair CV-440, NC2619L.

Delivered Gulf Coast Air Lines Co., September 9th 1950.

Sold to Caulson Air, April 29th 1968.

Stored at Pinal Airpark, Marana, AZ, June 17th 1990.

Restored to airworthy condition, on display at Fantasy of Flight, Polk City, FL, February 28th 1996.