Convair Propliners in South Africa
List of Convair propliners in South Africa and their histories
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Convair Propliners in South Africa

www.convairprops.co.za

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Twelve propeller-driven Convair aircraft have appeared on the South African register.

Click on the registration for photographs
c/n Model ZS- reg History
25 CV-580 ZS-SKG c/n 25

Built as a 340-31

F/F 30 Oct 1952

N73117 UNITED A/L. Del as 'Mainliner Denver' 25 Nov 1952
Sold to FRONTIER A/L, 31 Mar 1966
Del to PacAero, 3 Feb 1966, & cvt to CV580, 'No. 69'. R/T/S, 17 Jun 1966
Sold to ASPEN A/W, Dec 1979
Lsd to GOLDEN GATE A/L, 3 Jul 1980
Lsd to ERA HELICOPTERS, Nov 1980
Regd to GEM STATE ASSOCS, 16 Mar 1981
Csd ops 28 Aug 1981
Std. at MZJ, from May 1982/Jan 1983
Sold to SIERRA PACIFIC A/L, Mar 1983
Sold to METRO A/L, d.b.a. METROFLIGHT, & opd for AMERICAN EAGLE, Nov 1984
Traded in to SAAB AIRCRAFT HOLDINGS INC, 9 Feb 1988, regd Mar 1988
Sold to FREVAG N.V., & opg as EUROPEAN AIR TRANSPORT (E.A.T.), 20 Sept 1988, regd 22 Dec 1988, OO-DHG & opd for D.H.L.
Cvt to CV580F, del to REK-BRU 16 Apr 1989. (Canx from U.S. regr Sept 1988.)
Regd to DHL WORLDWIDE COURIER, 1 May 1989.
Lsd to SWIFTAIR, 25 Jul 1995. Regd EC-943, 10 Sept 1995
R/R EC-GDY 19 Nov 1995, opg for DHL
Cur std. at MAD, Jan 2005
Sold to SKYHAUL, ZS-SKG, opd for DHL
Cur std. at CPT
W.F.U., Nov 2009
Scrapped Mar 2012, at CPT
39 CV-580 ZS-LYL c/n 39

Built as a 340-38

F/F 24 Dec 1952

N4803C DELTA A/L Del as ‘F/N 303’, 16 Jan 1953. I/S 22 Feb 1953
Brought up to CV440 standard, ‘F/N 403’
Sold to NORTH CENTRAL A/L, ‘F/N 311’, 30 Mar 1962
Del to PacAero, 30 Nov 1968, & cvt to CV580, 'No 162'. R/T/S., 12 Mar 1969, ‘F/N 511’
Sold to FUERZA AEREA BOLIVIANA, TRANSPORTE AEREO MILITAR, TAM-70 (1), del to 712 Escadron/72 Grupo Aereo de Transporte at El Alto AFB, La Paz, 26 Nov 1974
Sold to AVIACION SANFORD INC, Jun 1979
Sold to MORGAN ROURKE AIRCRAFT SALES INC, N81MR, 4 Oct 1979
Sold to JAMES W. SMITH INC, & opd as GULF AIR, N511GA, del 10 Feb 1980
Name changed to TRANS OCEAN A/W, 1986
Sold to SUNBIRD AIR
Sold to AIR CAPE, ZS-LYL, regd. 25 Apr 1988. (U.S. regn canx 25 Apr 1988)
T/O & Name changed to SAFAIR LINES, Oct 88. Cur 1990
Lsd to REGIONAL A/L, opg as SOUTHEAST, 17 Mar 1992
Sold to COURT HELICOPTER COMPANY, Dec 1993, opd as COURT AIR
Cur at CPT, Nov 2010
Sold to TITAN HELICOPTER GROUP, .. .. .. . Cur.
Preserved at the Wijnland Auto Museum in Cape Town 33°50'02.4"S 18°44'20.0"E -33.833996, 18.738884. Arrived in September 2017.
135 CV-580 ZS-SKK c/n 135

Built as a 340-48

F/F 19 Nov 1953

PJ-CVB K.L.M.
Del to A.L.M., 'Bonaire', 14 Dec 1953
Retd to K.L.M., 'Jan Troop' PH-CGK, 31 Aug 1954
Brought up to CV440 standard
Sold to LUND AVIATION, CF-ECS, 6 Jan 1960
Sold to EASTERN CANADA STEVEDORING CO, del via PIK 13 Jan 1960. (TT 13,039 hrs)
Del to PacAero, 8 Jan 62, & cvt to CV580 'No 22'. R/T/S, 7 Apr 1962
Sold to NOTRE DAME AIR TRANSPORT LTD, Mar 1964
Sold to UNION OIL CO OF CALIFORNIA, N7600 (2) 21 Jul 1964, opd by HUMBLE OIL CO
Sold to ALLEGHENY A/L, N5812, 31 Dec 1965. (TT 29,380 hrs at 30 Apr 1973.)
Std. at MZJ, from summer 1974
Lsd to PHILADELPHIA AVIATION INC, & opd as SUMMIT AIRLINES
Sold to NAT. BANK OF DETROIT, & lsd to EVERGREEN INTL A/L, 'Eileen', 13 Oct 1976, on chtr to EMERY AIR FREIGHT CORP.
Cvt to CV580F by Hayes Intl.
Sold to PLYMOUTH LEASING CORP, & lsd to EVERGREEN INTL A/L, 6 Mar 78, on chtr to EMERY EXPRESS, Jun 1979
Sold to AIR TRANSPORT INTL, & lsd to INTERSTATE A/L, Mar 1980. R/R N582PL, 18 Jul 1981
Sold to AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE CORP, Aug 83, & opd as INTERSTATE A/L.
Std. at MZJ, from 1983
Lsd to SUMMIT A/L, Nov 1983
Sold to CORPORATE AIR, Sept 1985, still opd by SUMMIT A/L. R/R N536SA, Jul 1986, N.T.U.
Sold to AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE CORP, R/R N536SA, Feb 1987, still opd by SUMMIT A/L
Lsd to FREVAG N.V., & opg as EUROPEAN AIR TRANSPORT (EAT), & opd for D.H.L., OO-DHD, regd 16 Oct 1987, del via REK-NCL-BRU, 26 Oct 1987
Regd to DHL Worldwide Courier, 1.11.88.
To SEN, 24 Mar 1989 in E.A.T., colours
Repainted in D.H.L., colours, and retd to BRU, 4 Apr 1989
On 23 Oct 1992, CR on landing at BRU, when nose wheel jammed. No injuries to the crew.
Repd & R/T/S
Lsd to SWIFTAIR, EC-GKH, 12 Nov 1996, cur at PMI, 20 Nov 1996
Sold to SKYHAUL, ZS-SKK, 5 Jul 2005
Lsd to LIGNES AERIENNES CONGOLAISES opd as SKYCONGO, 23 Dec 2005
Retd to SKYHAUL
Std. at FIH (N'Djili Airport) Kinshasa, Congo 12 Sept 2009
141 CV-580 ZS-KEI c/n 141

Built as a 340-31

F/F 11 Dec 1953

N73144 UNITED A/L. Del as 'Mainliner Scottsbluff', 12 Jan 1954
Sold to LIBBY OWENS FORD GLASS CO, N144E, 29 Oct 1959
Brought up to CV440 standard
Sold to ALLEGHENY A/L, 1 Jun 1965, N8414H. (TT 18,257 hrs)
Del to PacAero, 12 Dec 1966 & cvt to CV580 'No 93'
R/T/S, as N5822, 31 Mar 1967. (TT 32,068 hrs at 30 Apr 1973) Std. at MZJ, from summer 1974
Sold to ONYX AVIATION, Dec 1977
Sold to NORTH STAR AVIATION N777DC, .. 1978
Sold to SUIDWES LUGDIENS (SOUTH WEST) A/W, ZS-KEI, del to Eros, 18 Apr 1978. I/S 27 Aug 1978
Name changed to NAMIB AIR, Sept 78, cur at CPT, 28 Oct 1978
Sold to FLITESTAR, opd as AIR CAPE
T/O & name changed to SAFAIR LINES, Oct 1988
Lsd to TRANSKEI A/W, i/s 19 Aug 1991
Lsd to REGIONAL AIR, SOUTHEAST, 17 Mar 1992
Sold to COURT HELICOPTERS, 1994, opg as COURT AIR
T/O by CHC HELICOPTERS (AFRICA) CORP. 00, opd as CHC AIR
Sold to EXECUTIVE AEROSPACE, 17 May 2002, (NTU ?) still opd as CHC AIR. Cur. Aug 2008
Sold to TITAN HELICOPTER GROUP
Lsd to NAMIBIA COMMERCIAL AVIATION, cur 2010
147 CV-580 ZS-SKH c/n 147

Built as a 340-63

F/F 8 Jan 1954

N7600 UNION OIL OF CALIFORNIA. Del 30 Jan 1954
Brought up to CV440 standard
Sold to STANDARD OIL CO.(ESSO), (TT 3,795 hrs)
Del to PacAero, 8 Sept 1960 & cvt to CV580 'No 12'. R/T/S., 23 Nov 1960
Tsfd to ESSO TANKERS INC, N100A, 20 Oct 1961
Sold to BUTTERWORTH SYSTEMS INC, 19 Dec 1962, & lsd to ESSO TANKERS INC.
R/R N200A, 10 Mar 1965
R/R N2006, 21 Apr 1966
Tsfd to ESSO STANDARD LYBIA INC, 1967
Sold to GENERAL MOTORS, N73158, 20 Apr 1967
Sold to LAKE CENTRAL A/L, 31 Aug 1967
T/O by ALLEGHENY A/L, R/R N5838, 1 Jul 1968. (TT 19,909 hrs at 30 Apr 1973)
Std. at MZJ, from summer 1974
Sold to GREAT LAKES A/L, C-GQHA, 20 Jan 1977
Name changed to AIR ONTARIO, 27 Jan 1981, opg for AIR CANADA CONNECTOR
Sold to FREVAG N.V., & opg as EUROPEAN AIR TRANSPORT (EAT), OO-DHF, & lsd to D.H.L. 7 Sept 1988, del 1 Dec 1988
Cur BRX, Oct 1996
Lsd to SWIFTAIR, EC-HJU, Feb 2000, & opd for D.H.L.
Sold to SKYHAUL, ZS-SKH, 12 Jul 2005
Sub-lsd to LAC SKYCONGO, chtd to PEACE A/L, Dec 2005
Cr & W/O by suspected missile, on finals to Amisi A/P, 27 Apr 2006. 3 crew + 5 passengers killed
186 CV-580 ZS-SKI c/n 186

Built as a 340-60

F/F 27 May 1954

N….  PIONEER A/L. N.T.U.
Sold to UNITED A/L. Del as 'Mainliner Ogden', 340-31, N73156, 26 Jun 1954
Sold to FRONTIER A/L, 'Sunliner Shoshone', 17 Nov 1959
Del to PacAero, 26 Jan 1965 & cvt to CV580 'No 43'. R/T/S, 17 Apr 1965
Sold to METRO A/L, d.b.a. METROFLIGHT, & opd for AMERICAN EAGLE, Sept 1981
Traded in to SAAB AIRCRAFT HOLDINGS, 25 Mar 1988
Sold to FREVAG N.V.  & opg as EUROPEAN AIR TRANSPORT (E.A.T), & opd for D.H.L., OO-DHH, 14 Sept 1988, regd 22 Dec 1988. Del REK-BRU, 27 Feb 1989
Cur 1995
Lsd to SWIFTAIR, 28 Mar 1996, EC-255
R/R EC-GHN, Jul 1996. Cur at PMI, Sept 1996
Sold to SKYHAUL, ZS-SKI, 29 Jun 2005
Lsd to LAC CONGO, Dec 2005
Damaged at FIH (N'Djili Airport), 24 Mar 2006, by an An-26, blown into it during thunderstorm
Std. at FIH (N'Djili Airport) Kinshasa, Congo 12 Sept 2009
215 C-131D ZS-BRV c/n 215

Built as a 340-67

F/F 10 Sept 1954.

54-2813 U.S.A.F.
Del as C-131D, 6 Oct 1954
Cur with 1299th PTSq, at Bolling AFB, 1954 to 1961
Cur with 1254th ATW, at Andrews AFB, Jul 1961
Cur with 1001st ABW, at Andrews AFB, Jun 1963
Cur with 1st CW/HEDCOM, at Andrews AFB, coded '8', May 1967 to May 1975
Cur with 137th TASS/NEW YORK ANG, at Westchester Co. A/P, Oct 1975
To M.A.S.D.C., 25 Jun 87, coded 'AACS0086'. Cur Oct 1989
Sold to ROMANOV SMIRNOW, N43891, Jul 1992
Sold to LINEAS AEREAS CANEDO, CP-2236, Jul 1992, cur at CBB, 4 Nov 1999. Cur at LPB, 26 Sept 1994
Lsd to JORGE T. LAVADENZ, opd as CARIBBEAN FLIGHTS, YV-913C, May 1996
Retd to L A CANEDO, CP-2236, Sept 1997
Sold to ROVOS RAIL TOURS opg as ROVOS AIR, ZS-OTD Jun 2001
R/R ZS-BRV, 15 Dec 2001. I/S Jul 2002. Cur 2007
Csd ops. 2009
Cur std. at HLA, Dec 2009, U.F.S. Std. in good cond. at PRY Jan 2011
Flown in February 2011 to Gert de Klerk “Freeway strip” and stored.
Ferried in June 2012 to Wonderboom Airport. Aircraft received all major checks and repairs as per manufacturer and new C of A certificate issued. Test flight planned for January 2013.
Destroyed in an accident 6km ESE of Pretoria-Wonderboom Airport (PRY), South Africa, 10 June 2018.
228 VC-131D ZS-ARV c/n 228

Built as a 340-67

F/F 18 Nov 1954

N8453H CONVAIR
Sold to U.S.A.F. del as VC-131D, 54-2820, 17 Feb 1955
Cur with 4600th ABW at Wright Paterson AFB Feb 1955 to 1971
Cur with 46th ADW/H.Q. ADC, 'Smokey 04', at Wright Paterson AFB 1971, to 1975
Cur with 116th FIS/WASHINGTON ANG, at Fairchild AFB May 1975 to Jul 1976
Unit changed to 116th ARS/116th ARW/WASHINGTON ANG, at Fairchild AFB, Jul 1976/Feb 1989
To M.A.S.D.C., 16 Feb 1988, coded 'AACS0090'. Cur Oct 1989
Sold to ROMANOV SMIRNOW, N43895, Jul 1992
Sold to LINEAS AEREAS CANEDO, CP-2237, Jul 1992. Cur at CBB 4 Nov 1999. Cur at LPB 26 Sept 1994
Lsd to JORGE T. LAVADENZ, opd as CARIBBEAN FLIGHTS, YV-914C, Jul 1986
Retd to LA CANEDA, CP-2237, Sept 1997
Sold to ROVOS RAIL TOURS opg as ROVOS AIR, ZS-OTE Jun 2001
R/R ZS-BRV, Aug 2001
R/R ZS-ARV Oct 2001. I/S Oct 2001
Csd ops. 2009
Cur std. at HLA, Dec 2009, U.F.S. Std. in good cond. at PRY Jan 2011.
Flown in February 2011 to Gert de Klerk “Freeway strip” and stored.
Ferried 19 June 2012 to Wonderboom Airport. Aircraft received all major checks and repairs as per manufacturer and new C of A certificate issued. Test flight planned for January 2013.
Departed Wonderboom 9 August 2016 for the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Illawarra Regional Airport, Australia, arriving on Sunday 21 August 2016.
376 CV-580 ZS-KRX c/n 376

Built as a 440-32

F/F 31 Oct 1956

N3433 BRANIFF. 20 Nov 1956
Damaged at SUX, 3 Nov 1958. Repd & R.T.S
Sold to ALLEGHENY A/L, 8 Sept 1966. (TT 24,479 hrs).
Del to PacAero 7 Jun 1967, & cvt to CV580, 'No. 113'
R/R N5831, 13 Sept 1967. R/T/S. 3 Nov 1967. (TT 37,370 hrs at 30 Apr 1973.)
Lsd to GREAT LAKES A/L OF SARNA, 25 Oct 1978
Name changed to U.S. AIR, 28 Oct 1978
Retd to U.S. AIR, 11 Dec 1978
Sold to C. Z. LEASING CORP, 20 Aug 1979
Lsd to GREAT NORTHERN A/L, N580GN, 21 Aug 1979. Csd ops 23 Mar 1980
Retd to C.Z. LEASING CORP, 29 Sept 1980
Sold to PLYMOUTH LEASING CORP, Sept 1980
Sold to FLITESTAR LTD, & opd as AIR CAPE, ZS-KRX, 12 Sept 1980
Lsd to AIR NAMIBIA, cur. 1980
Retd to AIR CAPE. W.F.U, & regn canx 23 Jul 1984
Sold to AIR ONTARIO, C-GQHB, 28 Jul 1984. Opd for AIR CANADA CONNECTOR
U.F.S., 1988/89
Lsd to CANAIR CARGO, regd 16 Apr 1991
Retd to AIR ONTARIO, regd 25 Feb 1993, & W.F.U
Lsd to CANAIR CARGO, regd 29 Jun 1993
Retd to AIR ONTARIO, 10 Jan 1994
Sold to CANAIR CARGO LTD, 29 Apr 1994.
Lsd to NOLINOR AVIA, arrived at YYZ  9 Aug 1995
Lsd to AIR INUIT, Jun 1996.
Sold to NOLINOR AVIA, del to YYZ, 13 Feb 1998
Retd to NOLINOR AVIA, Cur Oct 2011
385 CV-580 ZS-KFA c/n 385

Built as a 440-32

F/F 4 Dec 1956

N3435 BRANIFF. Del 3 Jan 1957
Traded in to LOCKHEED AIRCRAFT CORP, 9 Mar 1962
Sold to ALLEGHENY A/L, 16 Apr 1962. (TT 23,948 hrs)
Del to PacAero Jan 1967, & cvt to CV580, 'No 99'. R/T/S 1 May 1967
R/R N5826, 21 Jun 1967. (TT 37,422 hrs at 30 Apr 1973).
W.F.U. & std. at MZJ, from 1974
Lsd to GREAT LAKES A/L, Dec 1976
Retd to ALLEGHENY A/L, Feb 1978
Sold to NORTH STAR AVIATION
Sold to CONSOLIDATED DIAMOND MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA, Oct 1978, & lsd to NAMIB AIR,
ZS-KFA, ‘Oranjemund’, Nov 1978
R/R V5-KFA, Aug 1990, N.T.U.
Sold to KELOWNA FLIGHTCRAFT AIR CHARTER LTD, C-FKFA (1), regd. 10 Jun 1991
Cvt to CV580F
Sold to SNAS WORLDWIDE EXPRESS, & opd by DHL, HZ-SN11, Jul 1991
Del YWL-UAK-REK-BRU, 19 Jul 1991
Sold to AIR CHATHAMS, ZK-CID, 20 Sept 2004
W.F.U at PMR, Oct 2007, for spares
458 CV-580 ZS-SKL c/n 458

Built as a 440-97

F/F 21 Aug 1957

VH-BZH ANSETT A/W. Regd 23 Jul 57. Del 17 Sept 1957
Name changed to ANSETT-ANA (Australian National Airlines), 21 Oct 1957
Lsd to BUTLER AIR TRANSPORT, Mar 1959
Lsd to A/L of NEW SOUTH WALES, 19 Dec 1959. Opd by & in colours of A/L OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 'Col Wm. Light', 18 Jan 1961
W.F.U, 1 May 1962
Sold to ALLEGHENY A/L, 18 May 1962
R/R N8421H, 28 May 1962. (TT 19,890 hrs)
Del to PacAero 17 May 1967 & cvt to CV580, 'No 111'. R/T/S. 23 Aug 1967
R/R N5829, 30 Aug 1967. (TT 32,635 hrs at 30 Apr 1973.)
Sold to NATIONAL BANK OF DETROIT, 29 Nov 1976, & lsd to EVERGREEN INTL A/L, 'Jane', on chtr to EMERY AIRFREIGHT 13 May 1977
Del to Hayes International & cvt to CV580F. I/S at BOS, 20 May 1977
Damaged in landing accident at CLE, 20 Apr 1978. Repd & R.T.S.
Sold to PLYMOUTH LEASING CO, Jan 1979
Lsd to AUTO AIR CARGO INC, & opg as U.S. A/W, Jun 1979, for EMERY EXPRESS
Name changed to EMERY WORLDWIDE, 1 Jan 1980
U.S. A/W, name changed to INTERSTATE A/L, Mar 1980
R/R N583PL, 24 Jun 1981
Regd to AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE CORP, & opd as INTERSTATE A/L, 11 Jun 1982
Std. at MZJ, Jan 1983
Lsd to PHILADELPHIA AVIATION INC, & opd by SUMMIT A/L, Nov 1983
Sold to CORPORATE AIR & opd as SUMMIT A/L Sept 85.
Regd to SUMMIT A/L, 16 Nov 1985.
R/R N537SA, Mar 1986.
Sold to FREVAG N.V., & opd as EUROPEAN AIR TRANSPORT (EAT), for D.H.L, OO-VGB, 22 Sept 1987, regn N.T.U.
R/R OO-DHB, 22 Sept 1987. Del via REK-NCL-BRU, 22 Sept 1987
At ARL, 7 Oct 1987, in SUMMIT colours, with EAT, titles, opd for D.H.L.
Regd to DHL WORLD COURIER, 1 Apr 1988.
Lsd to SWIFTAIR, for D.H.L., regd EC-830, 6 Mar 1995. Del to MAD, 6 Mar 1995
R/R EC-GBF, Jun 1995
Cur at LTN, Jul 2004
Sold to SKYHAUL, ZS-SKL, Sept 2005
Cur at HLA, Nov 2009
Sold to TITAN HELICOPTER GROUP, CUR.
503 CV-440-75 ZS-JVO c/n 503

Built as a 440-75

F/F 3 Feb 1958

SE-BSY A.B.A., & opd by SAS. Del as 'Assur Viking' 19 Feb 1958. Opd last service EBJ-CPH, 31 Dec 1975, & W.F.U. at CPH 1 Jan 1976 (TT 35,449 hrs)
Sold to JOHN ROBERT INC, 5 Feb 1976
Sold to DESERT A/W (BOTSWANA), A2-BSY, & del ex CPH-MAD-LUN-GBN, 10/14 Mar 1976
Sold to AVNA RENNES, opd as AVNA A/W, Mar 1976
T/O by NATIONAL AIR CHARTER, & opd as NATIONAL A/W, 'Jet International', ZS-JVO, 6 May 1976
Lsd to KALAHARI AIR SERVICES & CHARTER LTD, Mar 1978. Regd, A2-ABH, 1 Apr 1978
Sold to COCHISE A/L, N8042W, Jul 1979. Csd ops 2 Jun 1982
Sold to FLIGHT TRAILS, & opd as AIR RESORTS A/L, 22 Nov 1982
Sold to WHISPERING PALMS RESORT, & opd as AIR RESORTS A/L, Feb 1984
Lsd to PACIFIC SOUTHWEST A/L, Jun 1996
W.F.U. at CLD, Nov 1996
Std. at CLD, Jan 1997
Sold to ASSOCIATED COMMERCIAL OFFICE INC. 31 May 2000. Del to MAL, 17 Sept 2000
Cur at MAL, Aug 2001/Mar 2005, still in Cochise colours
Seized by Malaga A/P, for non- payment of fees
To MUSEO NACIONAL DE AERO-PUERTOS Y TRANSPORTE AEREO, Malaga A/P, Spain, & psvd, in KAR-AIR colours, regd “OH-VKN”, Dec 2011
ZS-ARV
c/n 228
ZS-BRV
c/n 215
ZS-JVO
c/n 503
ZS-KEI
c/n 141
ZS-KFA
c/n 385
ZS-KRX
c/n 376
ZS-LYL
c/n 39
ZS-SKG
c/n 25
ZS-SKH
c/n 147
ZS-SKI
c/n 186
ZS-SKK
c/n 135
ZS-SKL
c/n 458
Australia Cr & W/O Preserved
Spain
Current Exported Exported Preserved Cape Town Scrapped Cr & W/O Stored
N'Djili
Stored
N'Djili
Current
Thanks to George Armstrong and Peter Riool for the bulk of the individual aircraft histories tabled below.