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In
1944, the US Navy asked the industries to enter a design competition for
a 105,000 pound patrol boat powered by four radials. At the end of the
war,
two Blohm & Voss Bv.222 flying boats were captured by US forces.
Convair
acquired one for evaluation at Naval Air Station, the intensive studies
leading to the hull design of their Model 117. In early 1946, Convair
received a requirement from the US Navy for a large flying-boat using
the new laminar flow wing and the developing turboprop technology. They
submitted the Model 117, and was awarded a contract for two prototypes,
designated XP5Y-1 Tradewind. The first aircraft first flew in 1950 at
San Diego. It set a turboprop endurance record of 8 hours 6 minutes. The
second prototype was never flown and the decision was made to continue
testing the first aircraft until all engines on order were depleted.
However, before this happened, the first aircraft crash in 1953. The
Navy decided not to proceed with the patrol boat version but directed
that the design should be developed into a passenger and cargo aircraft.
The Tradewind program was redesignated R3Y-1.
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