1959 | CV-440

In the midst of the jet age, some propliners survived. The Convair 440 Metropolitan was operated from 1956 to 1969 without an accident. Aerostar configured the aircraft to hold 44 passengers throughout the 50s and 60s, until 1965, when all CV-440s in the fleet were upscaled to 52 seats. This was done by removing the carry-on luggage area. In 1968 Aerostar wanted to catch up to other airlines and become jet only by 1970. This was achieved. In 1971, however, Aerostar added the Fairchild Metro III to cover the routes that DC-9 aircraft were too large for. The Metro III would serve until 1984, as regional airlines began to pick up routes dropped after the passing of the airline deregulation act.

N439AR is shown circa 1967. All propliners in the 1959 livery were painted with blue door outlines. They were deemed unnecessary for jet aircraft. N439AR was delivered in 1959 and retired in 1969. She was sold to American Southwest Airlines in August of that year. When Aerostar bought American Southwest Airlines, this aircraft was one of three stored Convairliners. She was returned to her Aerostar paint job and put on display in Seattle along with one of the other CV-440s. In 1998 she began repairs to return to airworthiness. Today, she is one of the Aerostar Showgirls, one of eight Convairliners.

Showgirls:
#1 Aerostar 1947 Livery
#2 Aerostar 1959 Livery
#3 Aerostar 1983 Livery
#4 Aerostar 1998 Livery
#5 Aerostar 2009 Livery
#6 Eagle Air Ways 1942 Livery
#7 Huron Airlines 1943 Livery
#8 American Southwest Airlines 1952 Livery