A Dive Into the Convair 990 Coronado

Video from the channel Mach 1 about Convair 990 Coronado, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 8:16. Language: English. Video type: Documentary.

The video looks back at the history of the Convair 990 Coronado, a four-engined jet airliner designed to be the fastest commercial aircraft of its time, which ended up a commercial failure. It explains its technical solutions and the economic reasons why so few were sold.

In the late 1950s, Convair, a small manufacturer compared to Boeing and Douglas, wanted to carve out a niche with a jet faster than the Boeing 707 and the Douglas DC-8. The 990 first flew on 24 January 1961. It burned more fuel, carried fewer passengers, and in service failed to reach its promised performance. This pushed it out of the market, and only 37 units were built. After being withdrawn from regular service, some aircraft flew as charters, and NASA used a modified example as a flying laboratory for aeronautical research.

Its most distinctive feature is the anti-shock bodies, fairings on the wing that weaken shock waves and reduce wave drag at near-sonic speeds. It was fitted with four General Electric CJ805 engines derived from military designs. It cruised at around 600 mph, below the promised 620 mph, and barely faster than its competitors. Some examples are preserved in museums.