Consolidated-Vultee and Convair model numbers

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After Consolidated and Vultee-Stinson merged, a new system was set up to designate aircraft. Some of the old types received new numbers when they were still in production. Others continued to be refered to with the old model numbers.

The old Consolidated model list ranged from #1 to #40 (see here).
The old Vultee model list ranged from V-1 to V-90 (see here for now).
The old Stinson model list did not follow a strict alpha/numeral order.


The new Consolidated-Vultee model list started at #100 and, to the best of my knowledge, went no further than #118:

100 US Navy PB4Y-2 PRIVATEER (1944) [redesignated from Consolidated Model 40]
101 US Navy RY-3 LIBERATOR EXPRESS (1944) [redesignated from Consolidated Model 32]
102 USAF MX-480 and MX-796 > XP-81 PROPJET ('Silver Bullet') > ZXF-81 - Vultee design (1945)
103 SKYCAR (1946) - STINSON design; control-wing plane based on Spratt-Stout Model 8 SKY CAR = Stout SKYCAR IV
104 US Navy R2Y-1 LIBERATOR LINER (1944) [redesignated from Consolidated Model 39]
105 USAF MX-573 > XL-13 (1946) / L-13A (1947) / L-13B (1) (1947)
106 SKYCOACH - Stinson design
107 twin-engine 8/10-passenger civilian transport project
108 VOYAGER 125 / 108-1/2/3/5 VOYAGER - STINSON design (ATC-767)
109 USAF MX-583 > XB-46 [later redesignated as Model 1]
110 CONVAIR-LINER - prototype of the Model 240/340/440/540/580/600/640 series (2) (1946)
111 AIR-CAR - STINSON design; experimental easy-to-fly personal flying-car (1945)
112 USAF MX-423 > MX-716 > XA-44 (1945) > XB-53 - forward swept wing attack/bomber project (1948)
113 (3)
114 (3)
115 USAAF MX-813 > XP-92 DART - rocket-powered supersonic day fighter interceptor; not built (1946)
116 CONVAIR CAR - flying car designed by Theodore P. Hall (1946)
117 US Navy P5Y-1 TRADEWIND - patrol flying boat which evolved into transport variant R3Y [Model 3] (1950)
118 CONVAIRCAR - re-engined development of the Model 116 (1947)


NOTES:
(1) The Model 105 is NOT to be mistaken for the earlier Stinson 105 (also designated HW-75) VOYAGER.
(2) The CONVAIR-LINER / SAMARITAN / COSMOPOLITAN / T-29 / T-32 / C-131 family of aircraft received non-standard model numbers.
(3) Models 113 and 114 are still a mystery, but within the 1945-46 range, the only projects are the MX-774/A/B/C HIROC (High Altitude Rocket) and the OLD RIPPY (an undocumented pulse-jet powered anti-ship winged torpedo).
 
Although it continued to be called Consolidated-Vultee in military documents, the nickname Convair (CONsolidated-Vultee AIRcraft) stuck. In March 1953, when all of the Convair company was bought by the General Dynamics Corporation, it officially became the Convair Division within General Dynamics. On this occasion, yet another model numbering system was introduced. Some earlier aircraft such as the B-36 and Convair Liner series retained their initial model numbers, while a couple of the more recent ongoing programs were redesignated.

Contrary to the previous installments in this series, the post-1954 list is full of gaps and some assigned entries need to be properly confirmed and/or identified.


1 USAF MX-585 > XB-46 bomber [previously known as Model 109]
2 US Navy OS-114 > Y2-1 SKATE and OS-116 > Y2-2 > F2Y-1 SEA DART seaplane night fighter
3 US Navy R3Y TRADEWIND - transport version of P5Y [previously known as Model 117]
4 MX-1626 supersonic parasite bomber > MX-1964 (WS-102) > B-58 HUSTLER supersonic bomber
5 US Navy OS-122 > XFY-1 POGO-DART* VTO convoy fighter (*name not accepted)
6 planned double-deck civilian development of B-36 (production version of Consolidated Model 37/C-99)
7 USAF MX-1593 (WS-107A) > X-11/-12 > XB-65/A/B > XSM-65A/-65B ATLAS A/B single-engine test vehicles (1)
8 USAF MX-1554 (and WS-201) > F-102 DELTA DAGGER and F-106 DELTA DART supersonic fighter series
9 USAF MX-1589 > NB-36H CRUSADER
10 Logistic transport project (1952)
11 USAF YB-36G > YB-60 JET PEACEMAKER (also found as "Model WMS" in official USAF document)
12 possibly allocated to planned tactical versions of the F2Y SEA DART
13 ?
14 ?
15 DART; four-engined pressurized 60-passenger airliner with four Rolls-Royce Dart Turboprops
16 USAF B-58A interceptor version; also once found to designate the SUPER HUSTLER project
17 further B-58 HUSTLER study
18 N-2 large turbojet airliner design for TWA (project SOUTHERN COMFORT); led to the Model 22
19 six-engined derivative of Model 18
20 large four-engine double-deck transport project
21 ?
22 SKYLARK > 880 GOLDEN ARROW jet airliner
23 US Navy nuclear-powered supersonic attack seaplane projects
24 US Navy TS-143 > XP6Y-1 Open Ocean ASW Seaplane; cancelled
25 USAF WS-125A CAMAL nuclear bomber proposal; cancelled, replaced by Model 54
26 ?
27 USAF LV-3B ATLAS D, former SM-65D modified as ATLAS/MERCURY booster
28 ?
29 ?
30 990/A CORONADO jet airliner, initially known as Model 22M
31 planned version of the Model 22 with enlarged fuel capacity
32 ?
33 ?
34 ?
35 ?
36 might have been skipped since the Consolidated Model 36 PEACEMAKER was still in service at the time
37 ?
38 640?? transport project similar to Fokker F-28
39 ?
40 ?
41 ?
42 ?
43 ?
44 ?(2)
45 ?
46 ?
47 ?
48 CHARGER; US Army COIN submittal for OV-10 competition
49 ducted rotor tailsitting VTOL for Advanced Aerial Fire Support System (AAFSS) competition
50 ?
51 ?
52 ?
53 ?
54 USAF WS-125A CAMAL nuclear bomber proposal > NX-2 (chosen, then cancelled)
55 CENTAUR space vehicle project
56 ?
57 ?
58 series of SST transport projects derived from the B-58 bomber
59 ?
60 short haul airliner derived from Models 880/990 (a version is said to have been another "Convair 49")
61 JET TRANSPORT airliner project
62 supersonic transport aircraft, stretched version of Model 58, could accommodate 52 passengers
63 ?
64 ?
65 ?
66 ?
67 ?
68 ?
69 USAF SLV-3 ATLAS Standard Launch Vehicle (SLV) (different from Model 27?)
70 proposal for USAF's A-X program (3)


NOTES:
(1) The much earlier XF-92A DART prototype was NOT the Model 7 as has been assumed. It may have been the Model 115-7002.
(2) The Model 44 VFX contender, which competed against F-14,is much later and can't be part of this numbering system.
(3) There could have been numbers beyond "70" but they are not documented.
 
LIST OF AS-YET UNDESIGNATED CONVAIR PROJECTS/PROGRAMS OF THE SAME ERA:

* the ATLAS C missile
* the VP (HL) land-based aerial minelayer submittal for US Navy's OS-128 specification
* the RIM-2 TERRIER (1951) and TARTAR missiles
* the NB-36H CRUSADER [MX-1589] (could be just another Model 36 variation) found to be Model 9
* the X-6 nuclear bomber project [MX-1589-A] (could be just another Model 36 variation)
* the YB-60 (formerly YB-36G) JET PEACEMAKER development of the B-36 found to be Model 11
* the GEBO 1 project
* a design study for a new USAF strategic fighter [MX-2140]
* the XGAM-71 BUCK DUCK missile [MX-2224] (1955)
* the SKY SCORCHER weapon project with a two-megaton warhead (1956)
* the BETTA 1 / BETTA 2 (Y4) flying-boat jet aircraft project
* the CUDDA, a swept-wing, twin-jet powered transonic bomber project
* the DUCK, SUPER HUSTLER, DIAMOND WING, FISH and KINGFISH programs
* a series of WS-110A designs for the XB-70 competition
* the PYE WACKET lenticular missile for the B-70 bomber [WS-740A] (1957)
* the MER (Manned Earth Reconnaissance) USN program (1956-58)
* the OUTPOST four-man space station (1958)
* the nuclear powered Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft program
* the FENICE??? missile project (seems to be the same as the Temco Corvus); no confirmation yet
* the nuclear powered Saro PRINCESS
* proposal for tactical strike reconnaissance weapon system (1958)
* a proposal for the MISSILEER competition (1958)
* the LITTLE JOE test launch vehicle for the Mercury program (1959)
* proposal for Weapon System 138A [WS-138A] (1959)
* the SCAT-16 variable swing trijet proposal (1959)
* the FIM-43 REDEYE (1960)
* a proposed Study for a Flying Submersible ASW Vehicle (report HP-62-016, from 1962)
* the APOLLO three-module lunar-orbiting spacecraft (1962)
* the lenticular manned spacecraft for Apollo (1962)
* the PD-104 GETOL (Ground-Effect Take-Off and Landing) project (1962)
* the LITTLE JOE II test launch vehicle for the Apollo program (Model 12-50) (Convair drawing 12-1.045) (1963)
* the STILT ("sea stilt") conversion of a Martin Mariner with vertical floats as ASW platform in rough seas (1961-1964)


Any information / addition / suggestion is of course most welcome!
 
Hi All!

12---TFX/F-111A...
21---VSX/S-3 competition
31---Version of C-22/CV-880, enlarged fuel capacity
44---VFX-1/F-14 competition

70---proposal for USAF's A-X program (competitor of A-10 thunderbolt ?) (source ?)

GEBO 1---could be Model 4 (my opinion)
 
nugo said:
Hi All!

12---TFX/F-111A...
21---VSX/S-3 competition
31---Version of C-22/CV-880, enlarged fuel capacity
44---VFX-1/F-14 competition

70---proposal for USAF's A-X program (competitor of A-10 thunderbolt ?) (source ?)

GEBO 1---could be Model 4 (my opinion)
Click to expand...

Nugo, Models 12, 21 and 44 are part of the next installment, which is the new GD- numbering system. This started in the late 1960s and took over. As for Model 70, you probably saw the first version of my list; I quickly edited to add the A-X, which I found while researching earlier today... ;)

Only true addition to this list, therefore, is Model 31, which I'd never heard about. Problem is, the "31" slot also designates a missile in the NASA archives, so we'll have to investigate the matter further. Thanks anyway!
 
My dear Stargazer,

I knew that the Convair Model-31 was a variant from CV-880
as A-Z and Flightglobal magazines,and this is confirm the NASA
model are not the same company's designation,for Flightglobal
please see and read;


(Since the 880 was first announced—as the "Skylark 600," later
"Golden Arrow"—the maximum weight has grown steadily and the
heavier of the two CV-880s now offered scales 203,400 lb. This
is the long-range or international Model 31 similar in size to the
domestic variant, the Model 22, but with capacity for an additional
3,100 U.S. gal of fuel in a centre section tank and capable of
considerably longer range.This was the version originally ordered
by Swissair and S.A.S.).

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1959/1959%20-%203071.html
 
hesham said:
My dear Stargazer,

I knew that the Convair Model-31 was a variant from CV-880
as A-Z and Flightglobal magazines,and this is confirm the NASA
model are not the same company's designation,for Flightglobal
please see and read;


(Since the 880 was first announced—as the "Skylark 600," later
"Golden Arrow"—the maximum weight has grown steadily and the
heavier of the two CV-880s now offered scales 203,400 lb. This
is the long-range or international Model 31 similar in size to the
domestic variant, the Model 22, but with capacity for an additional
3,100 U.S. gal of fuel in a centre section tank and capable of
considerably longer range.This was the version originally ordered
by Swissair and S.A.S.).

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1959/1959%20-%203071.html
Click to expand...

Hem... I'm still not convinced. This could very well be a typo for "Model 30", which happens to be the Convair 990 Coronado, a long-range derivative of the Model 22...
 
My dear Stargazer,

why we always insist on the wrong info and we don't deviate
on it,here is all info from A-Z magazine,hope to help.
 

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Well, considering this article, and the fact that they clearly give Model 31 as a distinct product from Model 30, I guess we can add it to the list. Thanks a lot for this scan, hesham!
 
From Mr. Tony Butler's book;American Secret Projects: Bombers,
Attack & ASW aircraft;

Model 9 was NB-36H
Model 11 was YB-60
Model 17 & 19 were a further B-58 studies,during 1950s.
 
Excellent information, hesham. Thanks a lot! Since Model 9 was MX-1589, I wouldn't be surprised if the X-6 project [MX-1589A] was Model 10... but we need to find proof of this.
 
Model 18---a large turbojet aircraft similar to the Boeing and Douglas products.
Model 19---six-engine Model 18.
Model 20---a large four-engine double-deck transport.
"This design gave way to the Convair Model 18, a large turbojet aircraft similar to the Boeing and Douglas products, but tailored to the needs of TWA. The Model 18 led to the six-engine Model 19, which was later supplanted by a large four-engine double-deck transport designated the Model 20."
Source: AW&ST,1962, Vol.77, N 17, Octomber 22, page 47.
 
As I heard,


Model 70 was a seaplane project,I will check.
 
Just found out that the NX-2 nuclear bomber was actually the Model 54, not the Model 25.
I suppose the first WS-125A may have been the Model 25 but that the final (and approved) project was Model 54.

"...to fly a plane similar to the Convair model 54 design (later designated the NX-2 airplane) at a speed of between Mach 0.8 and 0.9 at an altitude of about 35,000 feet, which would have a potential life of about 1,000 hours..."
Click to expand...

Source: http://www.fas.org/nuke/space/anp-gao1963.pdf
 
Stargazer2006 said:
No it wasn't!
Click to expand...


I know that very well,

from Tony Buttler book; Model-70 San Diego AX project to full design competition,8.70.
Lost to Fairchild Republic YA-10 and Northrop YA-9.

But also I know that the Model-70 was a seaplane project,I will search in my papers
about it.
 
Hi All!
Convair Model 10---Logistic transport project.
Source: American Aviation, 1952, Vol.16, Number ?, page 58 (Google books...).
 
nugo said:
Hi All!
Convair Model 10---Logistic transport project.
Source: American Aviation, 1952, Vol.16, Number ?, page 58 (Google books...).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reminder. I had forgotten to update the list with that and also the Model 17. It's done now.
 
Apparently when Convair was taken over by General Dynamics, a new numbering system was started, but it's difficult to find much about it.


MODEL 12 US Air Force F-111 swing-wing fighter (also as GD-12)
MODEL 14 Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) MK 7 MOD 6, standard underwater transport used by UDTs and SEALs (also found as the GD-14)
MODEL 21 ASW aircraft project similar to Lockheed S-3A (VSX program)
MODEL 23 may have been allocated to a pre-F-16 fighter design (needs confirmation)
MODEL 44 design proposal for F-14 competition (VFX program)
MODEL 100 a.k.a. VX-11 or 'COLD PIGEON' flying wing prototype for USAF (HAVE KEY program)
MODEL 104 V/STOL HATOL fighter proposal for US Navy (RALS program)
MODEL 200 VTOL Sea Control Ship fighter
MODEL 201 CTOL Sea Control Ship fighter
MODEL 205 V/STOL fighter proposal (E-205)
MODEL 210 Next Generation Trainer, contender for replacement of T-37 (M-210)
MODEL 218 conventional take-off and landing variant of Model 200, submitted for F-18 competition (VFAX program)
MODEL 300 Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) proposal (1972)
MODEL 310 US Navy Type A proposal
MODEL 311 alternative US Navy Type A proposal (A-311)
MODEL 400 early form of what became the F-16
MODEL 401 series of designs that became the F-16 (LWF program)
MODEL 402 alternative LWF proposal
MODEL 603 advanced trainer for US Navy (VTX-TS program)


Other designations exist but they don't fit in that continuity:
  • Models "205C", "785", "786" and "1401", for instance, are all LWF related and correspond to sub-versions of the Model 401.
  • SX-106, LV-106, SX-107 PATHFINDER, Y-107, LV-107, SX-109 PATHFINDER, Y-109, LV-109 MILLENIUM EXPRESS are all SSTO vehicles from 1991 and about.
 
hesham said:
May be that is Convair Model-29,a Titanium Development Program,
Click to expand...

The number and year certainly fit perfectly: Model 27 Atlas D/E/F is 1960, and Model 30 Coronado is 1961...
 
hesham said:
And may be (only my suggesting) that is Convair Model-57,an Aluminum Alloy development;


http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/401336.pdf
Click to expand...

I don't think so. Reports beginning with a two-figure number followed by a hyphen (such as "57-" here) are often an indication of the year the report was written.

Besides, the model number of the project is clearly given here: "Model Rea 8218" (certainly not the same numbering system as the aircraft!).
 
Steve Pace said:
According to a CS document I have the XC-99's model number is 37. -SP
Click to expand...

Er... Thanks Steve, but this is old news and probably appears already earlier in this topic. The Model 37 applied to the XC-99, but also to its projected civilian version, the unbuilt Clipper, and even the flying boat variant of the same.
 
AM said:
in http://www.abcdlist.nl/cv240.html T-39D have C/N 52-nn and C-131A have C/N 53-nn.
may be it's Model 52 and Model 53 ???
Click to expand...

Careful: it's the T-29D, not the T-39D!

Yes, I came to the exact same opinion myself a couple of years ago but hesitated to share it here for total lack of evidence of model numbers between 41 and 51.

I have found that the only indication with some model number significance can be found in the ZP- prefixes used for DESIGN PROPOSAL reports.

ZP-44 was for a Class VP Patrol Seaplane with four R-2800-14 Engines
ZP-46 was for a VB Class two-engine carrier-based heavy bomber to OS-106
ZP-51 also found but not identified

However, even the above are so far inconclusive as possibly indicating models 44, 46 and 51 to 53 because these could also be dates when the design was conceived. I have searched the Bradley books about these but if he hasn't found anything by getting his hands on plenty of original documents, I guess coffeetable researchers such as I have very little chance to get much closer to it!
 
The Convair Model 14 was a high-speed (likely supersonic) jet refueling tanker, as shown on the proposal model carry-box. Based on the box handle design, this project had a delta wing, as did all Convair combat aircraft at the time (F-92, F-102, F-106, B-58, Sea Dart, etc.)
 

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A delightful chronology from Flying, June 1954:
 

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Stargazer2006 said:
Well, considering this article, and the fact that they clearly give Model 31 as a distinct product from Model 30, I guess we can add it to the list. Thanks a lot for this scan, hesham!
Click to expand...
I have a lot of material from Convair including the CV-880M and it’s always classified as model 22. No CV-880 model 31 has ever shown up on any folders. My son owns the CDL’s for the CV-880 and CV-990 and he has all the information on this series of aircraft. He also own a complete CV-880 and CV-990 as well as two other 30 ft CV-880 cockpit sections on loan to museums.
 

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