Convair-Canadair Convair Cv-580/600/640, C-131h

Twin Turboprop· 2 globally registered

The Convair 580 represents one of aviation's most successful second-life stories: a 1950s piston airliner reborn as a turboprop workhorse that outlasted its original design by decades. Beginning in 1960, hundreds of Convair 340s and 440s were retrofitted with Allison 501-D13H turboprops, transforming fuel-thirsty piston twins into efficient regional haulers. The conversion added 50 knots to cruise speed, dramatically improved single-engine performance, and extended service life by generations. While the type disappeared from scheduled passenger service in North America by the 1990s, it found enduring purpose in cargo operations, particularly across Canada's vast distances where its 2,500-nautical-mile range, rugged construction, and ability to operate from shorter runways made it ideal for freight and charter work. The CV-580's operational envelope reflects its hybrid heritage: a maximum operating speed of 289 knots IAS, approach speeds around 110 knots, and a 58,140-pound maximum takeoff weight that allowed substantial payload capacity. Its pressurized cabin and all-weather capability made it a reliable performer in harsh northern climates. Today the type serves primarily with Canadian cargo operators, where airframes built in the Eisenhower era continue flying night freight routes that would be uneconomical for modern turbofans. SkyMeter has tracked 26 flights across 4 airframes and 3 operators, with IFL GROUP INC the largest observed operator.