Role Narrow-body jet airliner
National origin United States
Manufacturer Convair
First flight January 24, 1961
Introduction 1962
Retired September 1987
(1994 with NASA)
Status Retired
Primary users American Airlines
Spantax
Swissair
Produced 1961–1963
Number built 37
Developed from Convair 880
American Airlines asked Convair to design an aircraft for coast-to-coast flights, able to fly nonstop from New York City to Los Angeles against the wind. They wanted a larger passenger capacity than the 880, which was the smallest of the first-generation U.S. jet airliners. It was known as the Convair 600 and was redesignated the Convair 990 in the month of its first flight. The 990 began flight testing on January 24, 1961. One change from the 880 was the large anti-shock bodies on the upper trailing edge of the wings, to increase the critical Mach by reducing transonic drag. The inboard shock bodies, which were larger, were also used for additional fuel tankage. Later during the design period, Convair modified the design to include fuel in the outboard pods as well, but during the initial test flights the extra weight caused the outboard engines to oscillate in certain conditions. The pods were redesigned once more and shortened by 28 inches (710 mm), causing increased drag. The inner set of pods were used to route the fuel-dump tubes from the fuel tanks, terminating in a prominent outlet
Ceiling
Combat RANGE
Aircraft Speed
Max Crew
The "Camel" may be regarded as the prototype of the Consolidated response to the USAAS's 1924 requirement for a new primary trainer. In the early summer of 1924.
When the major airlines retired their Convair 990s, they found a second life on charter airlines. Spantax of Spain had a large fleet until the mid-1980s, as did Denver Ports of Cal
The 990 did not meet the specifications promised, and American Airlines reduced its order as a result.