FAB-74.- Naturally these platforms are also full of interesting operational aircraft, a couple of which could be considered classic. One of these examples is FAB-74 a CL-66B (cn. 4) taken up on 22FEB06 and put into airworthy storage on September 2007. The history of this particular unit, possibly slanted to re-enter service as a cargo feeder follows (G.A):

-          11154 ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE. Taken on charge, 27 Apr 60. Del to 412th Sq, Transport Command, CFB Uplands, 26 May 60. Cvt to executive interior, Nov 60, Attached to 101st Sq, CFB Shearwater... 60. Del to:

-          Pac Air, 16 Nov 66, & cvt to CV580, 'No 90'. R.T.S, 10 Apr 67. Cur with H.Q. NORAD, at Peterson Field AFB, Colorado... 67. Re-named CANADIAN ARMED FORCES, 1 Feb 68. Re-ser. 109154, 26 May 70, ‘Smokey 02’. To DELIR... 87, for cockpit modernization by Kelowna Flightcraft. Tsfd to 412th Sq, Training Command at CFB Uplands, Ottawa. W.F.U Jun 94, std at CFB Trenton. U.F.S.: Sold to:

-          NORTH CANADA CORP, (NORCANAIR) C-FNCT, regd 15 Oct 96, ( TT 18752 hrs): Painted up as CP-2388, sale N.T.U. Sold to:

-          SANKAIR INTL, 9Q-CLU, Feb 01, opd as:

-          INTER TRANSPORT: Sold to:

-          CENTRAL AFRICAN CARGO, 9XR-NB, 13 Jun 01: Sold to:

-          AEROPERLAS, HP-1468APP, Apr 02: R/R HP-1468, Dec 03: Sold to:

-          PARKWOOD FINANCIAL CORP, YV-191T, Mar 06: Lsd. To:

-          FUERZA AEREA BOLIVIANA, FAB-74, 14 Feb 06. Cur VVI, Apr 06.

That's a bit more electronics than a Convair is used to, nonetheless this humble airplane started the current TAM modernization program!

Additional Articles.- Aviones Convair CV-440 y CV-580 de la Fuerza Aérea Boliviana / Seis Convair para la FAB - El primer ferry del '72

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