What Guppy?
I too thought that his handle was inspired by the above Stratocruiser conversions, but when I asked - this is what he said (July 2009).
Quote:
Does your PPRuNe handle mean you knew Statocruisers?
Actually, no, though I've been asked that before. It's a reference to the Sorrell SNS-2 Guppy, a small spruce and fabric reverse staggerwing single seat biplane I've had under construction for the last fifteen years or so (one of those projects that had dragged on far too long). When I originally began using the handle on the internet, I typed it in wrong, and I've been using it that way on a lot of sites ever since, for simplification.
I worked on C-97's, and was in line to fly them, but separated from that operation before I had the chance. I believe we flew the last operational working aircraft of that type...so I'll never get that chance again. It was an impressive airplane.
So there you have it.