Coming out of maintenance here in Los Angeles, this early Convairliner crashed on take-off from Palm Springs on a Las Vegas - Palm Springs - San Diego service on 13 February 1958. The right wing leading edge came off. The aircraft landed in the desert at high speed and hit some boulders. It caught fire and some of the 18 passengers were seriously injured. Photo from: SFO Museum

With both the museum and the airport closed, the future of this lovely classic Convair looks to be slowly fading and rusting away at the airport.

Another early photo of this CV-240, this time in colour at the new LAS airport, which took over the name McCarran Field on 19 December 1948. Old McCarran Field became Nellis AFB in 1950. McCarran International Airport was renamed Harry Reid IAP in 2021. Photo from: Axis & Allies Paintworks

San Diego in the old days. The old terminal stood on the north side of the airport. This early CV-240 was delivered in June 1948 and it must be still fairly new here, given the NC registration. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum

Still on display here but the airport has now closed and the museum also.

A test flight after an overhaul went wrong as the elevator control cables had been reversed. One of the crew killed. Ex 41-20117. Photo from: Los Angeles Times / University of California, Los Angeles

Located in the yard of the Proud Bird, an aviation-themed restaurant close to runway 26L. The aircraft was in a very much better state when it was first displayed there circa 2007 and it's disappointing to now see it like this. Originally 42-15552 with the US Army. With Pennsylvania Central Airlines Apr 45 to Apr 48 as NC19915. With Capital Airlines from Apr 48 to Jun 61 and then a short time with United Air Lines. After that it operated by a number of corporations and also private owners. It never flew for Western Air Lines.

Delivered to Western 30 December 1948.

Delivered to Western on 18 January 1946. Sold in 1947 to TACA as YS-02C, serving until retirement in 1972. Photo obtained from Douglas.

This classic airliner is now on display outside the Planes of Fame Museum at Valle.

Delivered to Western Airlines on 28 June 1948. Sold to Hughes Aircraft Co in February 1961. This pre-delivery shot was obtained from Convair over 60 years ago.