Aer Lingus Carvair loading a car at Bristol Airport, Bristol, England, in 1965
The Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair was a Douglas DC-4 converted to carry 22 passengers and 5 front-loaded cars. The aircraft configuration was similar to the Boeing 747 (i.e. cockpit on an upper deck). The power came from four Pratt & Whitney R-2000Twin Wasp radial engines.
The Carvair was used by Aer Lingus and British Air Ferries among others. British Air Ferries were the last operator in Europe of the aircraft, keeping them flying into the 1970s.
In accomplishing this deed, the Carvair ATL-98 began with a Douglas C-54/DC-4 and a major facelift on the forward one-third.
Ostensibly a long, hollow tube in which to carry oversize cargo—the planes would accept more than 18,000 pounds of goods through their hinged nose—influence by Aero Spacelines' Guppy series was apparent, but the concept and design of a separate, topside flight deck was novel, and would soon appear in the Boeing 747.
Aviation Traders developed the Carvair in response to Channel Air Bridge's requirement for an air ferry capable of transporting passengers and their cars between the United Kingdom and continental Europe.
It was bought by Aviation Traders (England) and rebuilt to ATL-98 Carvair.
The Carvair was used on a contract with Homestake Canada Inc to transport gold ore mined from the Snip Mine, picking up the cargo from Bronson Creek airstrip and making a 25 mins.
When the mine shut down in may 1999, it was the end for the Carvair (and almost for Hawkair, for that matter) and it was put up for sale, for usd 350.000.
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