The Conroy Skymonster CL44 Guppy. Only one built and it’s a swingtail! Stored at Bournemouth Airport, England - still there!
Posted by GlennQuagmira1n@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 17 comments
Based off the Canadair CL44 which is a Canadian Bristol Britannia and basically used like the Beluga and SGuppies for transporting RB211 engines for the Lockheed TriStar. This wasn’t logistical as this was slow and the RR Tyne engines weren’t suited for the task. It’s very small and dirty when you get up close to it, unfortunately my phone completely went and my iPad overheated so I couldn’t get any photos of it last year. It’s still there though! Built by the same mastermind behind the genius Super Guppy, which I’ve seen #1 and #2 which are amazing machines too!
munoz2105@reddit
My father was the last commercial captain of the CL-44 guppy. Here is an article to learn more about it:
https://www.oldjets.net/klm-goes-guppy-for-a-night.html
New-Garlic-9414@reddit
Unfortunately she is due to be broken up for parts next week
GlennQuagmira1n@reddit (OP)
Yep! I knew about it last night… I am close to many involved parties, can’t say much about what’s happening until next week. Watch this space…
New-Garlic-9414@reddit
Oh I really hope there's some positive news to come 🙏
Turb0Rapt0r@reddit
I didnt know there was a non-super Guppy. Thanks for sharing.
KeeganY_SR-UVB76@reddit
This is a different species of Guppy. The Super Guppy is built off of a Boeing 377, as is its non-super counterpart, the Pregnant Guppy.
Turb0Rapt0r@reddit
Neat. Thanks for the info.
gev1138@reddit
While I'd never investigated, I just assumed (yeah yeah) there was a plain ol' guppy somewhere. Very glad to see it here.
MightyOGS@reddit
For some reason, this plane always looks to me like a dog poking its head out of a sausage
OGRuddawg@reddit
That mental image gave me a chuckle, thanks for that lol
ComprehensiveDingo53@reddit
I go to school next to Bournemouth airport and can see that from the campus, always wondered what it was
GlennQuagmira1n@reddit (OP)
Now you know!!
Gutbucket1968@reddit
And knowing is half the battle!
Tomato-of-the-sea@reddit
Skymonster fits well
EarlyMB@reddit
It is indeed, 50.78545314935814, -1.843630024032776 on Google Maps
nafarba57@reddit
Glad it’s still extant❤️
Lutcheskra@reddit
Eu acho este avião muito legal.