Allegheny Airlines Convair 540  N540Z                     (c/n    15)

                                      

                                          In the early 1950s several studies were made with the view to modifying the basic Convair 240/340
                                          airframe to accommodate turboprops.  In 1954 six ex-United Convair 340s were fitted with Napier
                                          Eland N.El.1 turboprops and renamed the model 540.  These conversions were done by Turbo-Prop
                                          Conversions specifically for Allegheny Airlines, although were less than an outstanding success and
                                          all six were soon converted back to piston-powered 440 standard.     Seen above in this shot from
                                          the Leo Kohn collection is the first of the six 540s operated by the airline.