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Attraction size, aircraft, airplane, cargo, aviation vintage poster for the Canadair CL-44 "Forty Four Air Cargo" aircraft, a turboprop freighter known for pioneering the innovative "swing-tail" design. The poster was created around 1960 by the Swiss graphic designer Erik Nitsche as part of a series for General Dynamics, the parent company of Canadair.
Canadair CL-44 Details
Type: The CL-44 was a turboprop airliner and cargo aircraft based on the design of the British Bristol Britannia.
Manufacturer: It was developed and produced by the Canadian company Canadair, a subsidiary of General Dynamics.
Key Innovation: The cargo variant, the CL-44D4, featured a unique hinged rear fuselage that could swing open in 90 seconds, allowing for quick, straight-in loading of large items up to 84 feet long. It was the first large aircraft to have this feature.
Military Use: The aircraft was also used by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as a long-range personnel and logistics transport under the designation CC-106 Yukon.
Operators: Original commercial operators included the Flying Tiger Line, Seaboard World Airlines, and Slick Airways. A stretched passenger variant was used by Loftleiðir Icelandic Airlines.
Legacy: Although only a small number (39 total) were built, the CL-44 was very profitable for its operators due to low fuel burn compared to early jets and its large cargo capacity. |
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