Built 1956 and delivered to Sabena June 1956. To Aviaco as EC-APT in 1959 and then to Transporte Aéreo Militar in Bolivia as TAM-44 in May 1972. On 27 October 1975, it departed Tomonoco en route to La Paz-El Alto Airport, carrying military officers and their families. Flights departing Tomonoco to La Paz must climb to FL100 to cross the peaks of the Andes Mountains. Because it was overloaded, it failed to attain that level and crashed in the Cerro Colorado Mountains NE of La Paz. The aircraft was destroyed and all 67 occupants killed. It was the worst Convair 440 accident.

Initially delivered to Sabena 19 June 1956 (OO-SCJ), it was bought by Avaico 6 November 1959. Sold in 1973 to Bolivia Air Force (TAM-44). Crashed at Cerro Colorado, North East of La Paz 27 October 1975.

Delivered in 1956 and operated until sold to Frontier as N73162 in 1968 then converted to CV580. On 1 September 2008, while registered N587X, it crashed on take-off from Columbus/OH (KCLK) due to the elevator trim tab being rigged in reverse during maintenance.

Later N73165 with Frontier and other users. Photo from: Sabena

Delivered to Sabena 10 December 1956.

Sabena's Metropolitan arrives at Ringway from Brussels. It served the airline from July 1956 until January 1968 when it was sold to Frontier Airlines and converted to CV580 standard.

Delivered to Sabena in December 1956, serving them until sale to Frontier Airlines as N73168 in June 1968. In the background are LOT Il-18 SP-LSA, Aer Lingus Dakota EI-AHG and various BEA types.

Taken during my first visit to Spain when I was just 15. Stayed in a villa a short walk from the boundary fence and would be woken by the sound of the early morning Convair starting up for the service to Madrid. Still one of my all-time fave shots