From historic to modern aviation, it has remained a constant fascination for many amateurs and professionals alike with its various wonders. This paper looks at the riveting history of the Convair 580 and juxtaposes that against the state-of-the-art Airbus A220.
The Convair 580, reaching back to the immediate post-war decades, still speaks to the robust engineering of its era. New Zealand-based Air Chathams is one of only a very few remaining operators flying scheduled passenger service with the venerable plane. Originally a piston-engined Convair 440-12, the Convair 580 was delivered to SABENA back in December 1956. Acquiring the aircraft was Frontier Airlines, which converted the aircraft into a Convair 580 through the installation of powerful Allison 501-D13 turboprops on its original engines.
With its increased horsepower and higher speeds of about 300 knots, the Convair 580 rightly deserves the name “muscle machine.” Equipped with 4-across seating and a retro cabin ambiance, it keeps on flying routes such as Auckland to Whanganui, providing one of the most uniquely retro yet performance-driven experiences among passengers.
The opportunity to take a flight on the Air Chathams’ Convair 580 is great because one will be able to see aviation history up close. ZK-CIF has quite a colorful past of serving various airlines before its final stop with Air Chathams in 2005. For all its years, the Convair 580 is still in excellent condition inside and out. It’s retro in the cabin, but well-maintained, and comfortable to fly in.
One of the unique things about flying with Air Chathams is the possibility of sitting in the cockpit jump seat privilege that hearkens back to a more relaxed era of aviation security. This gives one an intimate view of the aircraft’s operations and the skill of its pilots.
The Airbus A220-100 is in extreme contrast with Convair 580 as far as its modernity is concerned. Sleek in design, it had state-of-the-art technology installed in it, making flying an absolute delight for the passengers. Delivered in October 2018, the A220-100 planes are wide-bodied aircraft with large windows and the latest in-flight entertainment system.
This configuration of the A220-100 features four classes: Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+, Main Cabin, and Basic Economy. All the classes have different levels of comfort and amenities available in them, but the Main Cabin is relatively nice due to its comfortable seating and full IFE system featured.
Upon entering the Delta A220-100, one feels welcomed into a very modern, bright cabin with decent overheads and a high ceiling. Such advanced design has made passenger comfort number one, from big windows to a responsive touchscreen IFE system. From power takeoff to silky smooth cruise and land, this is a chance to sample what the A220-100 can offer on this two-class mainline flight from Dallas Fort Worth to Detroit.
The best feature has got to be the IFE system in the A220-100, fully equipped with a wide movie selection, live TV, and WiFi, keeping passengers entertained and connected during the flight. In addition, the quiet cabin and efficient performance add to improving the flying experience.
It is striking to note that, for years, there has been a juxtaposition between the Convair 580 and the Airbus A220, regarding their respective revolutionary updates in technology. The Convair 580 allows one to glance back in time with the romantic memory of an age past, while the Airbus A220 boldly offers the future in all aspects of airline travel service and performance. Each aircraft in its time continues to inspire and enthrall, emphasizing the timeless magic of aviation.