History

Aircraft By Type

Aircraft Make & Model:

Convair 340

MTOW:

Range:

Speed:

270 mph

Seats:

44 passengers

Length:

79 ft.

Wingspan:

105 ft.

Height:

28 ft.

Engines:

2 Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp R-2800-CB16

HP or Thrust:

No. flown by DL:

RoutesFlown:

Advantages:

Drawbacks:

First Delivery:

December 18, 1952

First Scheduled Service:

March 1, 1953

Reason Aquired:

Faster and more comfortable than the DC-3 and DC-4, but able to serve Delta's smaller cities.

Last Retirement:

1970

Reason Disposed:

Replaced by jet aircraft.

Narrative: Convair 340 1953-1970

Delta Museum - Delta History

Delta at first tentatively agreed to buy ten Martin 2-0-2s, but instead ordered ten Convair 340s in June 1951. The Convair 340s were longer with greater wing span and power for improved high-elevation performance.

Delta's final ten Convair 340s were initially ordered by Chicago and Southern Air Lines (C&S). C&S merged with Delta on May 1, 1953.

Delta used the Convair 340 to promote its nighttime "Owl" discount coach services on its southern routes.

In 1956, Delta acquired the Convair 440, which was the same size as the Convair 340 but had improvements to reduce cabin noise level and increased operating weights. Delta retroactively modified all its Convair 340s to the -440 standard.

More Information

1953 Delta Convair 340 Brochure: Promotes the "living room ease" of flying in the Convair 340.
Delta's Convair 340/440 Fleet Lists: Ship, registration and serial numbers and service history for each aircraft.
Know the Difference Between a Convair 340 and 440?: Find out in this 1956 Delta Digest article that helped employees recognize these two planes.

Pictures

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