Convair CV-580 "Fire-Bomber" C-FHKF
A couple of photographs of a new and fabulous addition to the British Columbia Aviation Museum in Victoria. The story is probably best written up by the article www.key.aero/article/convair-fire-bomber-flies-retirement:
"Canada’s BC Aviation Museum experienced a first on September 23 [2022] – the simultaneous retirement to the museum of both an aircraft and its pilot. The aircraft was Convair CV-580 C-FHKF, a machine that spent more than 20 years fighting fires – and making his farewell flight at the controls was Grahame Wilson, who has some 40 years’ experience in the role. In Grahame’s capable hands, the aircraft made a final flight from Abbotsford to the museum’s home at Victoria International Airport. Kilo-Foxtrot will now be put on static display, with Grahame volunteering as a tour guide, explaining to visitors how aviation shaped the province. Originally built in 1955 as a CV-440 ‘Metropolitan’ – an all-metal airliner – it first flew with Sabena Air of Belgium. Eventually exported to Canada, it was converted to an air tanker and began operations with Abbotsford-based Conair from 2000. Grahame fondly recalls that every year he spent with Conair was “special”, and that of all the aircraft he flew, the CV-580 was the most enjoyable and fulfilling."
From the aviation museum's webpage at www.bcam.net/the-modern-era-1970/, we have a history of this beautiful aircraft:
"Convair CV580 T[anker] 55 spent more than 20 years as an air tanker fighting fires in British Columbia and abroad. The aircraft was built in 1956 as a Convair 440 ‘Metropolitan’- a twin piston-engine, 34 passenger, all-metal airliner with pressurized cabin. In 1956 it entered service with Sabena Air of Belgium, where it operated for 12 years before being sold in 1968 to Frontier Airlines of Denver, Colorado, and modernized to a turboprop airliner designated the Convair 580. Frontier operated the airliner for 17 years until sold to Sierra Pacific Airlines of Tucson, Arizona, with whom it remained for a further 15 years. Exported to Canada, it was then converted to an air tanker configuration and in the year 2000 entered operations with Conair of Abbotsford, British Columbia. At the end of the 2022 fire season and following 22 years as an air tanker, the Convair 580 T[anker] 55 was donated to the BC Aviation Museum by Conair Group Inc."
Convair CV-580 "Fire-Bomber" C-FHKF
A couple of photographs of a new and fabulous addition to the British Columbia Aviation Museum in Victoria. The story is probably best written up by the article www.key.aero/article/convair-fire-bomber-flies-retirement:
"Canada’s BC Aviation Museum experienced a first on September 23 [2022] – the simultaneous retirement to the museum of both an aircraft and its pilot. The aircraft was Convair CV-580 C-FHKF, a machine that spent more than 20 years fighting fires – and making his farewell flight at the controls was Grahame Wilson, who has some 40 years’ experience in the role. In Grahame’s capable hands, the aircraft made a final flight from Abbotsford to the museum’s home at Victoria International Airport. Kilo-Foxtrot will now be put on static display, with Grahame volunteering as a tour guide, explaining to visitors how aviation shaped the province. Originally built in 1955 as a CV-440 ‘Metropolitan’ – an all-metal airliner – it first flew with Sabena Air of Belgium. Eventually exported to Canada, it was converted to an air tanker and began operations with Abbotsford-based Conair from 2000. Grahame fondly recalls that every year he spent with Conair was “special”, and that of all the aircraft he flew, the CV-580 was the most enjoyable and fulfilling."
From the aviation museum's webpage at www.bcam.net/the-modern-era-1970/, we have a history of this beautiful aircraft:
"Convair CV580 T[anker] 55 spent more than 20 years as an air tanker fighting fires in British Columbia and abroad. The aircraft was built in 1956 as a Convair 440 ‘Metropolitan’- a twin piston-engine, 34 passenger, all-metal airliner with pressurized cabin. In 1956 it entered service with Sabena Air of Belgium, where it operated for 12 years before being sold in 1968 to Frontier Airlines of Denver, Colorado, and modernized to a turboprop airliner designated the Convair 580. Frontier operated the airliner for 17 years until sold to Sierra Pacific Airlines of Tucson, Arizona, with whom it remained for a further 15 years. Exported to Canada, it was then converted to an air tanker configuration and in the year 2000 entered operations with Conair of Abbotsford, British Columbia. At the end of the 2022 fire season and following 22 years as an air tanker, the Convair 580 T[anker] 55 was donated to the BC Aviation Museum by Conair Group Inc."