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Convair 580 to Valdez
                               By Jan Koppen               


When working for KLM Cargo, one is always surrounded by the modern screaming jets. Once a while, the need for some aviation nostalgia must be fulfilled. Nowadays, the choice is limited. Fortunately, Alaska is a land with still a good number of operational Big Props. In April 2000, I decided to visit this Greatland.
 
The pics are digital copies of paper photos, so quality low, but what does it matter? It goes about the experience! ​

​
Foto
Era Aviation was an airline based in Anchorage, Alaska, United States. It operated a network of services from Anchorage as part of Alaska Airlines Partnerships. Its main base was Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Era Aviation has since been renamed Corvus Airlines who currently do business as Ravn Alaska. The company slogan was FlySmart. FlyEra.

Era Aviation was established and initiated operations in 1948 when Carl Brady flew the first commercial helicopter to Alaska for contract work supporting a mapping project for the U.S. government. Fixed-wing aircraft were then acquired by the company in addition to helicopters with rotorcraft being operated in Alaska, California and Louisiana by the Era Helicopters division. Scheduled fixed-wing passenger services began in May 1983. During the summer of 1984, Era was operating scheduled services between Anchorage and Bethel, Kenai and Valdez. Era was a wholly owned division of the Rowan Companies. The airline formerly operated Convair 580 turboprops as well as de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and DHC-7 Dash 7 aircraft and then added DHC-8 Dash 8 turboprops. Most of the airline's scheduled passenger flights were code share feeder services for Alaska Airlines. Era used the two-letter "AS" airline code for its flight numbers on these services for Alaska Airlines. Beechcraft 1900C and Beechcraft 1900D turboprops were subsequently added to the fleet.

Effective February 27, 2009, Era Aviation, Inc. was bought out and became a subsidiary of The Frontier Alaska Group along with Frontier Flying Service and Hageland Aviation. The combination of the three air carriers resulted in the largest Alaska-based airline in terms of serving more destinations and passengers operated with the largest airplane fleet in the state. The three airlines then operated under the marketing name of Era Alaska/Frontier Alaska (Hagland Aviation and Frontier Flying Services) which has since changed the marketing name of all the airlines to Ravn Alaska/Ravn Connect brands.

Era Aviation previously operated Convair 580 turboprop aircraft as well as de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and DHC-7 Dash 7 turboprop aircraft. The Twin Otter and Dash 7 are short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft. The company also operated a Lear 35 business jet; however, this aircraft was not used in scheduled passenger airline operations. A flight seeing air tour service with Douglas DC-3 aircraft was also operated from Anchorage as Era Classic Airlines.

After being bought and sold several times over the years, Era filed for bankruptcy in 2005. In 2009 the company was acquired by rival Frontier Alaska Group and the Frontier Flying Service Part 121 mainline operation was in the process of being merged into Era Aviation's certificate. In 2010, Era Alaska was formed using the assets of Frontier Alaska Group, Frontier Flying Service, Era Aviation, and Hageland Aviation. In 2014, Era's parent company changed its name to Corvus Airlines d/b/a Ravn Alaska.

Foto
The Convair 580 is a conversion from the Convair CV-340 (Allison Prop-Jet Convair 340) or CV-440 aircraft with two Allison 501 D13D/H turboprop engines with four-blade propellers, in place of piston engines with three-blade propellers, an enlarged vertical fin and modified horizontal stabilizers. The conversions were performed by Pacific Airmotive on behalf of the Allison Engine Company. The conversions took 60 days. The CV-580 served with the original Frontier Airlines (1950-1986), Allegheny Airlines and North Central Airlines for many years and was also the first aircraft type operated by American Eagle on behalf of American Airlines in code sharing feeder service. 

Foto
N566EA Convair 580 Era Aviation, at ANC during the last week of April 2000. The Convair, which was manufactured as a '440' in 1956, is ex Sabena Airlines . Later with Frontier and then a whole bunch of odds & ends after that until acquired by Era in May 1989. In October 2005 she was sold to Air Chathams as ZK-CIF. 


Foto
Immaculate Era Aviation Convair 580 N566EA parked alongside the airline's headquarters at Anchorage on April 29, 2000.


Foto
Era Aviation Inc. - Flying at its best!


Foto
Era's pristine Convair 580 shows off heer smart red, black and white livery at her Anchorage base.
​

Foto
Welcome Aboard!
 

Foto
The propeller has lift on one side and drag at the other. At the tip "induced drag" is created, which means that lift and drag meet and balance out. This create tip vortices, which are accountable for most noise - When compared, rounded tips create less induced drag than square tips and thus less noise.
​

Foto
Big paddles of the Allison 501-D13H.


Foto
​​This Convair started life as a '340' in 1952. She previously served with Frontier Airlines and Aspen Airways, before she started working for Era Aviation in 1980. In May 2003 she was sold to Kelowna Flightcraft in may 2003. In 2010 she was seen partly dismantled at Kelowna airport. 


Foto
The might of those powerful Allisons turboprops is shown off the great effect in the shot of Era Aviation Convair 580 N569JA.


Foto
After nine years of operations with United Airlines as a '340', the aircraft was converted to ‘580’ status in early 60's. In 1982 she was acquired by Era Aviation as N569JA. In 2010 she was sold to Kelowna Flightcraft for part-out & scrap at Kelowna airport.


Foto
Era's Convair 580 N569JA close-up with a fantastic mountain view dropback.


Foto
The bright colors of Era Aviation Convair 580, caught by the camera, on a quiet sunny day at Anchorage.
 
​

Foto
N565EA looks great in Era Aviation livery.


Foto
Fatigue and corrosion problems are constant enemies of classic turboprop airlines.


Foto
The formidable paddle-bladed propellors of Era Convair 580 N569JA are awaiting another day's action.


Foto
N569JA chilling at the Era ramp, ready to take on another assignment. 


Foto
Economy Helicopters & Rotor-Aids make-up Era Aviation Inc.


Foto
N568JA was almost 47 years old when captured on film in April 2000 and had seen service with Frontier Airlines, Gem State Airlines and Golden Gate Airlines, before beginning a long career with Era Aviaiton. In May 2003 the sturdy Convair went to Conair Aviation in January 2004 to become Air Tanker 47.
​

Foto
N568JA Era Aviation Convair 580 in C—check at Era's maintenance, April 2000.


Foto
Nose-on shot of N568JA.


Foto
This beauty is a Douglas Commercial C—47B-50-DK was delivered by Douglas Aircraft Company to the USAAF in 1945. When her military career was over, her civilian life started. With Era Classic Airlines she operated sigh-seening flights from Merrill airfield, where I photographed her on April 30, 2000. Presently she is touring the world in the old Pan American World Airways colors as N33611.


Foto
"Spirit of Alaska" a time capsule of aviation history.


Foto
Clearly happy in their work, Captain Gale Amstrong and co-pilot Paige Lewis, relax for a brief moment before commencing flight ERA 4800 to Valdez.


Foto
A view on Cook Inlet!


Foto
Allison turboprops at work!


Foto
Another quick turnround for N538JA as it disembarks passengers from Anchorage, at Valdez.


Foto
Dramatic scenic backdrop at Valdez Airport.


Foto
Morning departure to Anchorage.


Foto
Breath-taking views from Convairliner N538JA during flight ERA 4801.
​  

Foto
... and back at ANC!


Foto
Lining-up in beautiful light conditions.


Foto
 Era's pristine Convair 580 N566EA runs-up her powerful Allison engines prior to departure from Anchorage runway 14.


Foto
Convair 580 N566EA, the perfect blend of beguiling beauty and brutal shattering power.


Foto
Trip down memory lane - N566EA taking off from Anchorage in April 2000, with the Chugach Mountains are in the background.
​


- The End -





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  • Home
  • OldJets
    • San Juan, PR. / 1980
    • LAX - area, April 1980
    • Russia-Ukraine-Belarus >
      • Russia-Ukraine-Belarus
    • Houston International - April 1980
    • Fort Lauderdale - April 1980
    • Russian hardware
    • Worldwide Oldjets & Props II.
    • Lviv - Ukraine
    • Cochabamba, March 2005
    • North-Korea >
      • IL-62 to Pyongyang
      • Pyongyang airport
      • IL-18 to Samjiyon
      • An-24 over Pyongyang
      • Tupolev 134 to Hamhung
    • Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago
    • MD-83 Farewell flight
    • My first flight, my first emergency
    • We lost the engine
    • My Last 707 flight
    • Groundhandling AMS
    • Cargo -in-Cabin >
      • Cargo in Cabin China - Part 01.
      • Cargo-in-Cabin China - Part 02.
    • Amsterdam OldJets
    • BIG Jets at Amsterdam
    • Schiphol Jets 2.0
    • Sharjah, March 1997
    • Mexico City Airport in 1987
    • Flutter around the Dutch Antilles >
      • Curaco-Hato Airport
      • Bonaire by Divi Divi Air
      • ATR42 to and Beech 1900 from Aruba
      • Jetair, Curacao
      • Maho Beach, St. Maarten
      • Another day at SXM
      • Twin-Otter to Saba
      • A couple of hours at St. Eustatia
    • YAK-42D to Yaroslav
    • Tu-154M to Minsk
    • Guatemala, January 1987
    • Zarkani 707's
    • Albania, 2017
    • Iran, 2006
    • 134 to Kaluga
    • On the ramp at AMS
    • Medan Polonia Airport
    • MOTOWN Cargo Carriers
    • Jakarta - Kemayoran
    • South-African Oldjets
    • Sofia '79
    • Zaïre
    • Sahara Cocaine Plane
    • 727 X-files
    • By Cedar Jet to Cyprus
    • Maverick Boeing 707 Ops
    • Jet Power 707-Ops
    • Colombian AF Boeing 727's
    • Above the Andes in a 727
    • Bogota Boeing 727's
    • Classic Jets over Iran
    • Flying the Big Q
    • Singapore -80's
    • Athens Ellinikon
    • Convair 880 Freighter Ops
    • Fuerza Aerea Argentina F-28
    • SLM DC-8 crash
    • Working the Hadj
    • KLM DC-8 memories
    • Syrian OldJets
    • VFW-614
    • Biman DC-10-30 to Chittaqn
    • Pelgrimage to Mashad
    • Austral MD80 saved
    • Flying Tigers DC-8
    • Part-out & Scrap of a Queen
    • Moscow bound Tu-154
    • Saving a Trident
  • OldProps
    • Saint Thomas, April 1980
    • Opa Locka, April 1980
    • Naples, FL. - April 1980
    • Zaporazhye - Ukraine
    • Odesa - Ukraine
    • Dnipropetrovsk - Ukraine
    • Legendary DC-3 book
    • La Paz - El Alto, February 1985
    • Belfast to Dublin
    • Herc to Helsinki
    • AerCaribe Antonovs
    • Aeroejecutivos Flight 501
    • Rutaca of Cd. Bolivar, Venezuela
    • Venezuela - Once a DC-3 Hot-Spot
    • 580 to Valdez
    • Reeve Aleutian, Alaska
    • Everst Air Cargo - Alaska
    • Brooks Fuel, Fairbanks, Alaska
    • Northern Air Cargo - Alaska
    • KLM goes Guppy for a night
    • Good Old Argosy
    • Belize, 1987
    • Oaxaca, Mexico
    • Zorg & Hoop, Paramaribo
    • Chaiky airfield, Ukraine
    • Villavicencio, Colombia >
      • Villavicencio Vanguardia
      • Aliansa
      • Sadelca
      • Selva
      • Bomberos
      • Allas
      • Air Colombia
      • Aerolineas Llaneros
      • Wrecks & relics
    • East-Midland mid-80's
    • MERCHANTMAN TO AMSTERDAM
    • Northern Air Cargo DC-6 Flight
    • An affaire with beautiful Delaney
    • DC-3 to Gabarone, Botswana
    • Inbound Jan Smuts
    • Antonov An-12 Flight
    • Cuban An-2's
    • Surinam Ag-Cats
    • Chernoye An-2 Works
  • Bush-planes
    • Ontario Bush-planes >
      • Kenora
      • DeHavailland DHC-2
      • Minaki
      • Nestor Falls
      • Fort Francis
      • Vermillion Bay
      • Ear Falls
      • Red Lake
      • Sioux Lookout
      • Ignace
      • Selkirk & Gimli
      • Winnipeg
    • Quebec Bush-planes >
      • The Montreal area
      • The Three Saints
      • Along Riviere St. Maurice
      • Saguenay
      • Laurentian Mountains
  • Mike Zoeller article's
    • Good guys went bad
    • Gemini Air Cargo
    • Perfect Air Tours
    • Aero America
    • Aeropa
    • Air Viking
  • Museums
    • Museo Aeronautico de Malaga
    • Malta Aviation Museum
    • Korea War Memorial Museum
    • Buenos Aires, Moron Air Force Museum, 2013
    • Montevideo, Uruguay - 2013
    • New Dehli - Plane s & Trains
    • Nieuw-Vennep Transport Museum
    • Colombia Air Force Museum, Bogota.
    • Datangshan, China >
      • Datangstan, China - part 01.
      • Datangstan, China - Part 02.
    • Monino, Moscow >
      • Monino, Moscow - part 01.
      • Monino, Moscow - part 02.
    • Shenyang Aviation Museum, Chin
    • Hatzerim, Israel >
      • Hatzerim AFM, Israel - Part 01.
      • Hatzerim AFM, Israel - Part 02.
    • Theran Aviation Museum
    • Wrecks & relics in the Lowlands
    • PS Aero revisted in 2019
    • Kiev Technical School
    • Kiev Museum 2008
    • Kiev Aviation Museum 2018
    • Kiev Memorial
    • Minsk, Belarus
    • DOSAAF - Borovaya, Belarus
    • Le Bourget Aviation Museum
    • Aeroscopia Toulouse
    • Old Wings Toulouse
    • Istanbul Aviation Museum
    • Canada Aviation Museum
    • Aviation monument in Cuba
    • Colombo Airport
    • Winnipeg
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