Convair R4Y Convair Liner

The Convair R4Y, commonly called the Convair Liner, was a post‑World War II transport aircraft built by Convair for the United States Navy. Developed from the civilian Convair 240 series and later the C‑121 Super Constellation, the R4Y first flew in 1949 and entered service as a high‑capacity, pressurised cargo and passenger carrier. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney R‑2800 Double Wasp radial engines, the airplane could cruise at 300 knots with a range exceeding 2,200 nautical miles, and its spacious fuselage accommodated up to 50 troops or 30 passengers in a comfortable, climate‑controlled cabin. Several variants appeared, including the R4Y‑1 for general transport, the R4Y‑2 equipped with a dorsal radar dome for early‑warning duties, and the R4Y‑2V for electronic surveillance.

The R4Y’s significance lies in its role as the Navy’s first large, long‑range carrier‑on‑board delivery (COD) aircraft, providing rapid logistical support to fleet operations across the Pacific and Atlantic during the early Cold War. Its versatility bridged military and civilian concepts, influencing later transport designs such as the C‑131 Samaritan and the jet‑powered C‑130 Hercules. The Convair Liner demonstrated the value of pressurised, high‑speed transports for strategic mobility, setting a benchmark for subsequent naval and air‑force logistics aircraft.