XN3Y-1

The XN3Y‑1 was Consolidated Aircraft’s experimental twin‑engine transport prototype that first flew on 22 April 1947. Developed in the immediate post‑war era, the model was intended to bridge the gap between military cargo planes and emerging commercial airliners, incorporating lessons learned from the famed B‑24 Liberator and the C‑87 cargo version. Its sleek low‑wing design featured a fully pressurised cabin, tricycle landing gear, and a retractable nose‑wheel, while two Pratt & Whitney R‑1830 radial engines delivered 1,350 horsepower each, giving the aircraft a top speed of 320 mph and a range of 2,800 nautical miles. Innovative elements such as a bonded aluminum skin, fully powered flight controls, and a modular cargo door set new standards for structural efficiency and operational flexibility. Although only a single prototype was built before the program was cancelled in 1949 due to market saturation and the rise of larger four‑engine transports, the XN3Y‑1’s design concepts directly influenced Consolidated’s later Convair series, notably the Convair 240 and the famous CV‑240 family. The aircraft therefore remains a pivotal milestone, illustrating the transition from wartime production to the modern era of civilian air transport.