C-990 American Scale Model (Free Shipping)

Item#: KC990AAT

MSRP Price: $221.95

Factory Direct Price: $159.95

Wing Span: 17.50
Length: 15.25

Manufacturer: Convair

FREE SHIPPING within the U.S. (additional rates apply for other destinations)

This Ready to Ship Convair 990 Coronado Model Airplane was handcrafted with absolute precision using the finest Philippine Mahogany and was sealed to last for generations. Working from our library of blueprints, reference materials and their exact photographs, Factory Direct Models master artisans recreated this Convair 990 Coronado into an amazingly detailed display model that you can display at your home, office, museum, tradeshow or any place you desire.

This Convair 990 Coronado Mahogany Airplane Model is a perfect gift for Aviation Enthusiasts, Pilot, Aviator or people who took part in developing this Airplane.

Please note that the stand shown in this photograph may vary or change with the model you receive.

Your model will be made exactly as shown in the photographs. If you would like to change this model in any other way, please visit Our Custom Model Gallery section of our website to commission a personalized model to be built.

Convair 990 Coronado History:

The Convair 990 Coronado was a jet airliner produced by the Convair division of General Dynamics, a "stretched" version of their earlier Convair 880 produced in response to a request from American Airlines. The 990 was lengthened by 10 feet, which increased the number of passengers from between 88 and 110 in the 880, to between 96 and 121 (depending on the interior). This was still considerably fewer than the contemporary Boeing 707 (110 to 189) or Douglas DC-8 (105 to 173), although the 990 remained some 25 to 35 mph faster than either in cruise.

American Airlines went to Convair seeking an aircraft suitable for coast-to-coast shuttle flights. The aircraft had to have non-stop capability westbound from JFK to LAX, in the direction where it would spend most of its time in a headwind. They also wanted somewhat larger passenger capacity than the 880, which was the smallest of the first-generation US jet-powered airliners. The 990 entered production in 1961.

One interesting change from 880 was the addition of large anti-shock bodies on the upper wings (often referred to as 'Küchemann carrots', after their designer at Convair), in order to increase their critical Mach and reduce transonic drag. This allowed the heavier 990 to go slightly faster than the 880, cruising at about Mach 0.91, making it the fastest passenger jet when it was built. Originally there were plans to use the bulges as fuel tanks, but during test flights the extra weight caused the tanks to vibrate excessively. Instead the inner set of bumps also served a secondary role as fuel dump for the fuel tanks in the fuselage.

The engines were also changed to the uprated General Electric CJ-805-23s, which were unique in that they used a fan stage at the rear of the engines, compared to the fan stage at the front of the engine as found in the Pratt & Whitney JT3D that powered the 990's competitors. The engine was a simplified civilian version of the J79, used in military fighters. Like the J79, the CJ-805 was very smoky. Although other early jet airliners were smoky, the 990 is especially remembered for it. There are stories of people calling fire departments after seeing a 990 fly over to report seeing an airplane on fire. Indeed, when viewed from an airport, where the point of view was looking the long way through the smoke trail, a 990 on final approach looked as if it were burning.

Like the 880, 990s were later modified with a "raceway" added to the top of fuselage to hold the wiring for additional instrumentation.