The lovely guppy! (2004 thread – now Beluga)

Thanks for that Derek.

F-GSTF Beluga No.5 went into Birmingham on Wednesday 7th Feb as I believe the crosswinds were limiting at Hawarden.

Anyone have any info on a Beluga landing at Coventry in the last day or so? A very grainy image has appeared on a photo site of one landing. Just wondered what it was doing there…

F-GSTF landed at Birmingham at around 11.45 and departed at 15.30. Weather divert from Chester. Disappointed I missed this at would have passed my office window at around 3000ft. Typical that I am on a site visit that day. I would have been more disappointed had it landed at Coventry as that’s my local.

Cheers

Shane

Wow pistonrob those photos are amazing, especially the second one with the reflection of the aircraft in the water. Thanks for sharing.:)

A Facebook friend (Matt Holmes) snapped these recently. Im sure he wont mind me sharing these becouse they are cracking shots.. He lives up that way and has a radar/call signs thing downloaded onto his pc and can watch the progress of the Big B as it comes n goes. He can also plan where to be for its approach 😀

Top marks to Denis for intelligent use of the ‘Search’ function.

Nevertheless, the title has been changed to avoid confusion

Moggy
Moderator

Confused me too, new thread required methinks! 😉

Christ, I was about 7 or 8 posts in before I realised this thread is 9 years old!
It was the user names “Ren Frew” and “Mark L” that tipped me off! For a fleeting moment, I thought they were back!

Excitement, followed by sadness. 🙁

I did try the search, but only found this old post from 2004. Anyone have any info on a Beluga landing at Birmingham in the last day or so? A very grainy image has appeared on a photo site of one landing. Just wondered what it was doing there…

Isn’t the Super Guppy called a Conroy CL-44 or something like that?

The Conroy was a Canadair CL-44 conversion along similar lines to the Super Guppy , although the fuselage was not enlarged to quite the same extent.
The Super Guppy itself was derived from the Boeing StratoCruiser.

There is a good web-site covering both types at www.allaboutguppys.com

I do actually live in Flint i put Manchester down as it is a place where people recognise rather than Flint

Yeah, my older brother remembers seeing it going over the house into MAN. Thanks for all your replies!!

Guppy never operated into/out of Broughton, all flights either went from Manchester or Liverpool.
The wings were taken by road from Broughton to either.
The Beluga is a derivative of the A300, currently 5 exist, all were new builds the top and forward section being removed from the airframe. A new nose, the cargo door and new fuse sections then added.

Paul

thanks

Erm,…..My username is MANAIRPORTMAD!!, your just bringing back bad memories, bad turn. I ment the one with engines because the other has Propellers. 😡

I have no bad memories whatsoever. Do you? Both aircraft have engines, the Beluga has 2, the Super Guppy has 4. I think you’ll find the Beluga has jet engines (is it a converted A300, A310 or A330?) and the beautiful Super Guppy has turboprops. Isn’t the Super Guppy called a Conroy CL-44 or something like that? They were regulars in UK airspace a few years ago. Used to see them on Amber One West occasionally, maybe going from broughton or wherever to Filton?

Interesting thread.

regards,

kev35 (who has never felt the need to assume a new identity)

Hi, Skylinerworld. Seeing as you mention the ‘one with the engines’ does that mean the other one is a glider?

Regards,

kev35

Erm,…..My username is MANAIRPORTMAD!!, your just bringing back bad memories, bad turn. I ment the one with engines because the other has Propellers. 😡

OK, All Airbus wings are made at Broughton which is in WALES, it is given the address of Chester because years back thats what happen.
Queensferry is on the banks of the River Dee, and has two of the bridges that the A380 barge passes under on its way to Mostyn Docks for onward sea trip tp France.
Filton did equip A320 wings some years back, but only for a short time, they were taken by road from Broughton (as the basic structure, ie wing box) for the fit systems.
The Beluga flies into Broughton most week days

Paul

Is Bae Broughton an airfield as well as a factory then?

Not sure, but there’s a small RAF base at Sealand just up the road.

i have seen this twice passing my house, quite high but easy to make out, and im in South Yorkshire

I believe it could have been the one with engines and I think it was going to the place near queensferry! thanks for the info!!

Hi, Skylinerworld. Seeing as you mention the ‘one with the engines’ does that mean the other one is a glider?

Regards,

kev35