Founded by Reuben H. Fleet in 1923, Consolidated Aircraft Corporation (later Convair) became one of the most significant aircraft manufacturers in American History. For roughly 60 years this prolific company was synonymous with San Diego. Convair was responsible for the PBY Catalina, B-24 Liberator, F-102 Delta Dagger, as well as the Atlas missile.

The last complete aircraft to be built by Convair was the Model 48 Charger. The Navy had issued a requirement for a new counter-insurgency aircraft. Convair proceeded with the manufacturing of a prototype. By the time it rolled out of the factory on September 29, 1964, the navy had decided on another design. However, the Army and the Marines preferred the Charger, so a flight test contract was awarded. Before a scheduled “fly off” could take place, the Model 48 was destroyed during a test flight by a navy pilot; another example was not built.