A nice low sun on the first-ever Convair 5800, originally delivered as a US Navy C-131F (BuNo 140993) in 1955. It was stored at MASDC in 1980 before being sold in 1982 and registered as N3982Y in 1984. Acquired by Kelowna in 1989 as C-FKFS for conversion into the Convair 5800 prototype, and rolled-out as such on 5 Nov 1991. Used as a demonstrator and flew as N5800 in 1992, before reverting to C-FKFS. In 1998, it was acquired by the IFL Group, where it has been successfully operated ever since.

140993 on one its last flights before being retired to Davis-Monthan. It was sold as N3982Y and later became the prototype for the stretched Convair 5800 developed by Kelowna Flightcraft. Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

The aircraft was retired to MASDC in July 1980, its last USN duty being with the Naval Air Reserve Unit Naval Air Station North Island, hence the NARU NORIS markings. It was civilianised as N3982Y July 1983 and converted to CV580 configuration becoming C-FKFS with Kelowna Flightcraft. Selected as the prototype for the CV5800 stretch conversion it was re-registered N5800, making its first flight as such in November 1991. After testing was completed, it reverted to C-FKFS and operated for Kelowna until June 1998 when was sold as N381FL with Contract Air Cargo with whom it still serves.

An escapee from MASDC, previous identity 140993 with US Navy. The airframe is still active in September 2022 as Convair 5800(F) N381FL.

Still operating for the IFL Group in Dec 2020.

This Convair 5800 used for crossborder flights from northern Mexico. Picture taken from the terminal building, Chihuahua Airport.

The very first Convair 5800 converted by Kelowna Flightcraft and seen here in their house colors.