CL44 Association & Guppy restoration
 

The CL44 Association is to hold its reunion at the RAF Club London on the 7th and 8th June 2013.
Non members are welcome to apply.
All-to-obvious is the restoration work being carried out not only on the Conroy Guppy (S/N16) at Hurn but also on the Airbus Guppy at Bruntingthorpe.
Given the hundreds of reasons we can think of why the 44 Guppy cannot fly again, the learn-ed members seem to think that both aircraft are being made ready for a tv or film on the type.
Can anyone expand on that theory.

Any chance of reviving the 'Skymonster' name for the Conroy CL-44-O and saving 'Guppy' for the Strat conversion?

Skymonster
 

The Association is in constant touch with Jack Conroy's family in California.Of course, it was Diana Dors who christened her on behalf of dear old Mike Keegan.

During the time that I was associated with it in the UK, I didn't ever hear anyone involved with the operation of the CL44-O refer to it as the Skymonster . It was always, sometimes even affectionately!, referred to as 'the guppy'.
Attractive? No. A great propliner? Certainly.

CL44-O
 

Next newsletter carries living proof that work continues on the Guppy to this day.
Tail is swung-still no #1 engine hung though.

Guppy v Skymonster
 

The Guppy WAS indeed christened Skymonster-written for all to see. We have a photo with Dave Priest plus the one featuring Diana Dors. (There is a website also).

Saw the Guppy last week. Is there still any work going on to get her complete/airworthy?

Spotter hat on, what new reg? :confused:

CL44-O
 

The CL44 Association comprises of over 150 forty four members drawn from as long ago as Tigers,Slick, RCAF thru Transglobe, Tradewinds, TMAC to Transvalair, Affretair, UAA, Redcoat, and the many American operators.
The Presidents are former Captains from Wrangler and TMAC whilst the Chairman saw a 'bit of service' with Jack Malloch in Rhodesia, UAA in TIP and more recently, with Johnsons Air on the Guppy.
In fact, when the old girl was finally withdrawn to BOH all those years ago, the final owner, sold the aircraft to the Chairman only for the Australian 'gentleman' to come along to declare his intention to return the aircraft to the skies.
Many years have passed since this statement was made and despite the work now being made (both on the aircraft and with various 'bits' of paperwork in the USA, the Chairman and the Association prefers to steer well clear of conjecture, instead noting that when, all those years ago, the centre tank was removed, a major amount of corrosion was very, very evident.
The Grounding Orders, continue to be active whilst the many questions regarding the availability of legitimate parts, together with the identity of crew members is also a matter of discussion.
Commercially, does a market exist for the Guppy or has her day gone?
This Association has written many times to the alleged owner in Australia but to no avail.
The CL44 Association has recently held its reunion in London during which the subject of the Guppy was discussed at length-we, like most others, await the outcome of the current work. In the meantime, should any reader wish to speak with the Chairman, do please note that he can now be found at Brooklands most weekends.

FAA Investigate
 

I was in the FAA office in Miami and a manager who was a CL44 Captain stumbled onto the subject we were initially talking about my recent 777 type rating. He said the CL44 was going nowhere Anne the FAA have it pending as there is no record of it being Philippine registered and the Ghana documents do not add up. it was being registered to a Harlan guy down in Lady Lakes but the Feds say it's a front, this same Harlan guy was stopped moving a DC3 N65388 out in Australia with no paperwork.

He mentioned the Feds have photos of the people working on it last week and know all t the old engines being installed, props and components run out, corrosion etc.

He laughed said it was very clear in the FAA regs the flight engineer of any aircraft US registered private or otherwise HAS to be current on type ( not so the pilot ) so how they going to do that and there is no FAA or rep involved in this aircraft for maintenance ferry or operations.

I guess the association will in fact end up with her this time complete ?? :ok:

P.S. It was said the UK CAA Gatwick have two orders grounding in place and are working with the Feds

Hi 4Holer
 

Agree with all the points you make-in fact all of the paperwork is on my desk at this minute being acquired shortly before our reunion.
Our 'man on the spot' has taken many photos this past few days and 'yes' we do know the guys who are working on the aircraft.
Of course, several puzzling factors do exist. Firstly-who is paying them?
Secondly, although most of the Association members are engineers, I question the value of the Guppy from a commercial point of view given the Russian equipment now operating.
Thirdly, who WILL train anyone on type? My two Presidents certainly would NOT.
Let us suppose the aircraft does depart BOH !! To what destination and to what Alternate?
We are keeping a daily eye on activity and our next Newsletter will contain photos. It costs only $20 a year to join us and maybe we can initiate some private emails.
I recall clearly that when we were given the a/c by Farhad, the engine in the hold-and well out of hours was given to the New Forest Museum-wonder if they want any more?
Lastly, we have all the Manuals here-they make damn fine chocks !

Current work on the CL44-O
 

At least, all of the work being done at BOH gives us something to fill the Newsletter with.
Could also write a book (a comedy maybe?) on the Oz who allegedly 'fronts' this operation.
Our USA PR President has written to the individual named on the Bill of Sale in Lady Lake Florida, but so far-no reply.

CL44 Bournemouth
 

OOooooooooooooh! Handbags at dawn!

You are new here, aren't you?!

Hang on while I pull up a chair and grab some popcorn:E

Spotting, I suppose you know that there is no such thing in UK as a "civil crime"? Or perhaps you don't...
Either it is either a civil offence or a crime, one or the other.

Also, being a free country there is NO law preventing "photographing people unaware" or virtually every photograph ever taken would be illegal, wouldn't it?

You're not really up on the most basic legal aspects, are you?

Gonna have to do a whole lot better than that for your second post!

False ownership documents.
 

Aircraft Stripped in 2008 for scrap, all hard time components, engines and props time expired. Structural wing to body casting cracks, spar corrosion in tank 3 and 6, all ADs due, wheels are slave units, no STC for TAWS nor GPS and TCAS not installed.
The airframe has no manufacturer to support it and the CAA have cancelled the RR Tyne type certificate for commercial ( non military ) operators.

No crews etc

The FAA will not have it and the UKCAA have it grounded its not going anywhere, if those who are working on and playing with themselves are happy whatever ???

FAA sent the correct ACTUAL AIRFRAME owner paperwork to review such as a deregistration from Ghana from 1999 yet it was flying 9G till 2003, the false buyer ( Harland ) has signed the sellers bill sale dated 1999 and the name of seller's company with spelling incorrect ?? This Harlan guy signed the bill of sale dated 1999 and ALSO the application to register in his name same signature dated 2013 ( brain surgeon ). This was all done at the direction of a G Leach, but he being a weasel was smart enough to throw the dumb ones under the bus. He won't get stung working on the CL44 that's why the FAA are chasing his robot Alan Rash for his A&P, they are also chasing his front man Harlan for the false application to registry as he is using Harlan as the US citizen component to get around US TSA and FAA ownership requirements := ?? If you put in false documents to the FAA its a Federal offence ? If you work on a US registered aircraft without proper documentation current manuals and approved parts you are going to loose your A&P mechanics license.:D

This is all public record on the FAA website and registry. Its post 9/11 no stealing old airframes and installing dodgy parts .

Just scrap it or give to a museum before the pensioners all end up in jail. :{

In A Nutshell
 

Nicely summarised Heavy Cargo.

CL44-O Recent Happenings
 

Recent visitors to Bournemouth and the subsequent issuing of further CAA documentation upon the owners representatives, clearly demonstrate that the aircraft is going nowhere!
The further taking of photographs at Hurn will, no doubt result, in the Tarring and Feathering of the Photographer. Given a liberal coating of those feathers, he stands a much better chance of flying than N447FT.

CAA ground/US Court transfer back to Heavylift
 

RR,

Had a beer and heard Feds here had ground order issued to the aircraft by UK.Said they continue working on plane and put a fence around to stop "photos" they think pretty funny,4th engine and prop on but they said Fed court here are transferring theCL44 back to Actual owner if registered and when registered by FAA.
Seems they have a big mess your 3 buddy's are working on it.

4holer

CL44 Guppy
 

The progress (?)involving the Guppy at Bournemouth did indeed culminate last week when the CAA issued a further Grounding Order. Whilst we are well aware who was present when this Order was issued, it would be interesting to discover if the new owner in Florida has been made aware of this 'setback'
It is also relevant to clarify here that the aircraft has NOT been re-registered as N447FT-it has simply been ALLOCATED that identity. But lets not get carried away! We could ask hundreds of questions at this point, most of which readers already know the answer to.
In the meantime, Press and Individual Photographers continue to visit the site and take some wonderful photographs-indeed, several colour shots (I am told) will appear in the August edition of the Swingtail Newsletter.
We can reveal that all of the TMAC Spares Manuals (many TMAC guys will recall the size of 'em) are in the possession of an officer of the Association. They make great chocks for doors.