Images of the past: Tradewind

Anno 2021 China’s latest four engined amphibian AVIC AG600 is still under development. It is remarkable to see that the country still has confidence in this concept, while the USA abandoned it 63 years ago. Images of the final US flying boat: the Convair Tradewind.

The US Navy ordered two prototypes of a new long range flying boat, designated XP5Y-1, in May 1946. The prototype first flew on 18 April 1950 at San Diego. After the loss of one of the prototypes, the development of the patrol boat version was cancelled.

On 25 february 1954, a dedicated passenger and cargo version, the R3Y-1 Tradewind, made its first flight. The armament of the XP5Y-1 was removed and a large cargo hatch on the port side added. The pressurized cabin could accommodate 103 passengers, 92 stretcher cases or 24 tons of cargo. They could also be used for inflight refuelling service. Five examples of the R3Y-1 were built ( BuNos 128445 to 128449) and delivered to US Navy transport squadron VR-2 on 31 March 1956.

The final six were built as the R3Y-2 variant with a lifting nose and high cockpit for heavier transport and landing-ship duties. The first one, BuNo 128450, was laid down as an R3Y-1 but before delivery converted into an R3Y-2.

The remaining -2s had BuNos 131720 to 131724. Unfortunately this version was almost impossible to hold in position during loading or unloading on a beach. So it was decided to convert the R3Y-2s into tankers for the inflight refuelling role. The converted R3Y-2 was the first tanker capable of refuelling four fighters at the same time.

But the T-40 turboprop turned out to be an unreliable powerplant: it was the cause of the loss of not only one of the prototypes but also that of three production Tradewinds. The US Navy was unable to solve the engine problems and so the remaining R5Y and R3Ys were grounded in 1958 and subsequently broken up.

Photos: Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie and Peter M. Bowers, both kindly supplied by AirHistory.net