Statement from the CL44 Association regarding the Guppy at BOH
Since accepting the aircraft from LCA Partners of Kansas City, every effort has been made to secure a permanent resting place for the aircraft. Several major museums declared a keen interest but the cost of a ferry flight dampened the most ardent of them! There is no current accurate estimate as to the likely cost of a ferry flight out of Bournemouth-the last licenced engineers estimate to achieve 'signing off for flight' was in excess of US$60,000 and this is now likely to have doubled.
Many of the parts needed to achieve such an undertaking ARE available and are currently held by vendors in the UK. Alas, monies owed prevent those parts from being returned to the aircraft.
We have focused our attention to transferring the aircraft to the Bournemouth Museum but they are unable to handle such a large aircraft although we had high hopes they would find room on the current picnic area.
Meanwhile BASCO, whose ramp the aircraft continues to be parked, is insistent that it is removed forthwith and more recent efforts have turned to the ramp area adjacent to Solent Helicopters (airside of the Museum) or to a landside site near to European Airlines ramp (near the Burger Bar).
But time has almost run out and a team of former 44 flight engineers is due to begin clearing the surplus parts such as u/s avionics and spare prop blades. We are inviting offers for the prop blades right now.
(Offers over £100 as is where is)
We have sufficient fuel in tanks and engine oil to run the Tynes one more time-if anyone can sponsor us an ASU and GPU!
No matter what the outcome, we are hopeful that the flight deck of the Guppy will be preserved-the Association contains several Conroy employees who put the thing together!
If anyone out there wishes to have a specific 'bit' off the Guppy, they should email
[email protected]