Guppy To Die

preservation plea?

http://www.pprune.org/freight-dogs/402022-end-legend.html

Just some help here for the unitiated. I thought old Guppies were based on Strats but the photo seems to be a Britannia. Please clarify. And on that point are any Britannia’s flying anywhere? Thanks.:)

Just some help here for the unitiated. I thought old Guppies were based on Strats but the photo seems to be a Britannia. Please clarify. And on that point are any Britannia’s flying anywhere? Thanks.:)

Yes you’re correct in thinking that the “Guppy” series was based on the Stratocruiser. This particular aircraft is a ‘one off’ conversion of a Canadair CL-44 (the Canadian version of the Britannia that was slightly stretched and had RR Tyne engines). It was really called the Conroy “Sky Monster”, so how it got called a ‘Guppy’, I have no idea. More info here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conroy_Skymonster

..and NO, there are no Britannias left flying anywhere.

An update – last week the CL-44-0 (outsized?) was still intact, minus engines, so scrapping seems to have been delayed.

It doesn’t help in this particulr case, but isn’t there a Guppy preserved in the States at Pima Air Museum?, Tucson, Arizona
I believe it to be a Stratocruiser/C97 version
Dai Lee

Yes you’re correct in thinking that the “Guppy” series was based on the Stratocruiser. This particular aircraft is a ‘one off’ conversion of a Canadair CL-44 (the Canadian version of the Britannia that was slightly stretched and had RR Tyne engines). It was really called the Conroy “Sky Monster”, so how it got called a ‘Guppy’, I have no idea. More info here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conroy_Skymonster

..and NO, there are no Britannias left flying anywhere.

An update – last week the CL-44-0 (outsized?) was still intact, minus engines, so scrapping seems to have been delayed.

Thanks for that AMB – interesting. Sad about the Britannia, although I had a feeling there were none.

It doesn’t help in this particulr case, but isn’t there a Guppy preserved in the States at Pima Air Museum?, Tucson, Arizona
I believe it to be a Stratocruiser/C97 version
Dai Lee

Or closer to home – F-BTGV at Bruntingthorpe www.superguppy.co.uk

Jon

Guppy?

Ahem…I thought it was a Conroy Skymonster conversion from the CL-44 🙂

CL-44 SOLD?

http://swingtail44.blogspot.com/

according to the association. any idea’s?

It would be nice if something positive could happen! Too often the U.K becomes a graveyard for transport aircraft .

Lets not hold our collective breath. There have been many false dawns with this one…

Just love to see the insurance premium for any attempt at flight…………………….

A logical deduction, but contrary to rumour……………………

…or three engines run so that they can be inhibited prior to removal?

Old threads and Guppies never die, apparently! Three engines were run this week and the rumour is that she will fly away this year!!

http://swingtail44.blogspot.com/2009_12_01_archive.html

Change of ownership?

What’s the latest on the CL-44 at Bournemouth?

cheers

Taken from Pprune.org , posted tonight… 🙁

Despite the best efforts of several groups/individuals, it is increasingly likely that the Guppy WILL be scrapped within a short time-frame.
The CL44 Association’s August Newsletter carries little news of the aircraft simply because there is no ACTUAL news-simply the slow, onward cruise to the inevitable.
One European Group DID indeed lodge interest but failed to provide hard evidence of its intentions (these will be included in the Re-Union ‘Live News’ on Saturday 1st November at the RAF Club. The Bournemouth Aviation Museum’s move to its new site looks likely not to happen within the near future and with no other viable proposals-it looks like the end for the old Skymonster.
Thanks to the MD of Heavylift and to his UK Rep for all the help during the past few months-alas, we note that the Belfast has already begun its last trip from SOuthend to the Skip. The good news is that a film unit from Short Bros together with the Heavylift Rep and a CL44 Association member met up to make a ‘short’ documentary on the aircraft.
One RR Tyne prop blade is for sale at BOH-buyer collects.

A very devout CL-44 fan from my side of the North Sea tried to get things moving regards the Guppy CL-44-0.
Alas, all his efforts came to nought… 🙁

He wouldn’t mind now if someone else stepped in. 😉

The CL-44 Association is a very strict “No No” as this association will be wound up in a couple of months, see http://www.cl44.org/ for that.

In the past some organisations have put a superficial interest in perhaps saving the cockpit of this “one-of-a-kind” bird plus perhaps some spare parts.
If someone/an organisation still has a genuine interest into preserving at least part of the Guppy, then please contact Heavylift at Fax + 61 2 9232 4668 .

General contact details as found at http://heavyliftcargo.com/contact.htm

Post
PO Box Q596
Queen Victoria Building
NSW 1230 Australia
Phone
(61 2) 9232 4660
Fax
(61 2) 9232 4668
Email

We faxed a letter to Heavy Lift a couple of weeks ago but haven’t heard anything yet. We’ve offered a home to a large portion of the aircraft. I think we’ll give them a call tomorrow and see what thier thoughts are! – I cant say too much about it yet, but if anything comes of it, then I’ll be sure to let you all know!

CL-44 Association will be closed down…

A very devout CL-44 fan from my side of the North Sea tried to get things moving regards the Guppy CL-44-0.
Alas, all his efforts came to nought… 🙁

He wouldn’t mind now if someone else stepped in. 😉

The CL-44 Association is a very strict “No No” as this association will be wound up in a couple of months, see http://www.cl44.org/ for that.

In the past some organisations have put a superficial interest in perhaps saving the cockpit of this “one-of-a-kind” bird plus perhaps some spare parts.
If someone/an organisation still has a genuine interest into preserving at least part of the Guppy, then please contact Heavylift at Fax + 61 2 9232 4668 .

General contact details as found at http://heavyliftcargo.com/contact.htm

Post
PO Box Q596
Queen Victoria Building
NSW 1230 Australia
Phone
(61 2) 9232 4660
Fax
(61 2) 9232 4668
Email

RAF Millom, this contact No from classic propliners web :-
” Contact Fax + 61 2 9232 4668 ” I am not involved in any way ! Keith.