La historia del Convair 990: ¿Cómo la velocidad arruinó este jet icónico?

Video from the channel Dwayne's Aviation en Español about Convair, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 3:39. Language: Spanish. Video type: Documentary.

The video reviews the history of the Convair 990, conceived to be the fastest commercial airliner in the world and turned into a commercial failure.

American Airlines asked for a jet capable of crossing the United States at least 45 minutes faster than any other. Boeing declined and Convair accepted, which was already building the 880. To reach the required 635 miles per hour, it adapted the 880's engines as turbofans, with 40% more power, and gave the wing 39° of sweep and anti-shock bodies.

After its first flight, in January 1961, it failed to reach the promised cruising speed, and American reduced the order and lowered the guarantee to 620 miles per hour. Convair solved the problems, but arrived late against the 707 and the DC-8 and lost nearly 500 million dollars on its jets.