There were at least 2 previous aircraft named "CANOPUS" in the 1930/40/50s.
1) Imperial Airways Shorts Brothers S-23 (or S.795?) Empire Flying Boat G-ADHL "CANOPUS"
Short Empire / S.23
BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) Boeing B-377 Stratocruiser G-AKGK RMA "CANOPUS" (This aircraft transported both P.M. Winston Churchill and H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth)
https://www.airteamimages.com/boeing...on_148524.html