The Argus MPA was an `adapted` brit fitted with wright turbo-compound engines - one held the recorded for un refuelled flight - 31 hours till one of those plastic planes took the record.

I have it on good authority that the Guppy is to be registered RP-C-8023
For service with Heavylift in Australia.
Be lucky
David

Interesting
 

All I can say is very interesting, on an earlier thred I did suggest the aircraft going to Heavylift in Australia to join the Belfast.

To remind some of us this is where the second Belfast which is being prepared for flight at the moment at Southend is destined for so, if the information is correct there must be a lot of oversized work going on down under.

Good to see there is life in the old dogs yet as the saying goes.:ok: :ok:

How many aircraft built today will be still able to earn money in 2051?
The Guppy has ventured out of the hangar after an engine change and inspection, and has been seen (and heard) doing a high speed run on the BOH runway. The airframe first took to the sky 45 years ago (as a D4-2) and it looks like it will be back in its natural element before the new year.

Is it coming to SEN ?

Which is now of course, famous for its new routes to Aussieland.

:E :E :E :E

Airborne
 

Sounds good to hear how well things are going with the aircraft before we know it will be airborne with a new certificate to fly going to pastures new.

If the aircraft is on the way to Aurstralia there must be the work out tfor this type of aircraft as well as the Belfast at Southend which is due to go there when it is fit for flight.

Perhaps a clue
 

Learned contributors,
Heavylift Cargo 727-51C RP-C8017, which was previously registered 9L-LFJ, has been based at the former Clarke AFB cargo hub since recent reregistration. Could this be why RP-C was chosen for the guppy. Their other B727 remains 9L registered as does the first Belfast.
Hope it helps
Be lucky
David

Please excuse ignorance on this but when was her last flight as 9G-LCA
Much appreciated
Be lucky
David

Thought to have last taken to the air August 2003

Can't confirm August, but can say it did a glorious low level airtest across Dorset on the afternoon of Good Friday (18.4) that year.
Freeman

What is the status of the Guppy now. I was under the impression that BASCO where working on it. I seem to recall BASCO were intending to cease trading on 22 December.............

Although I can't confirm the August flight, 9G-LCA carried an airtest over Dorset on the afternoon of Good Friday (18.4) that year, which included a glorious pass over Blandford Forum.

On 22nd of this month RP-C8023 was sat outside BASCos.

Freeman.

Have the fuel leaks been fixed?

I understand from the Engineer involved with the mx at BOH that a team was bought in to do the fuel leaks and after lots of work the fuel leaks were fixed!
Good luck guys. I am sure the old girl could go skywards again:ok:

The only alternative was to include the fuel leaks in the performance graphs.

As I understand it the guppy has no type certificate not even a BS one like the Belfast. How will it be operated?

The certification would be the responsibility of the country of registration. As far as the CAA is concerned a Type (ie one of a series) certificate was issued 13th June 1969 (ARB ref FA3) The variant D4 was added as this was the only variant on the UK register. The -0 and the -J models were never added. There is only one CL44-0 variant, it is unique, so it could hardly be regarded as a supplemental 'Type' anyway, whereas the Belfast is a Series Type in its own right, a military aircraft that was 'civilized'.
I would think that CAP733 Permit to Fly, para 1.3, would cover the Guppy's present situation.

CL44 Guppy Departure BOH Monday 15th ?
 

This was posted on the Flying Tiger Website last night: As some of you know, she was within a week of being scrapped when a white knight came along and rescued her. The white kight came in the form of a heavy lift Australian airline that plans to use her in Australia and for inter island carriage in the Southwest Pacific. She has been sitting on the ramp at a Bournemoth, England maintenance facility for about 5-6 years. The facility finally ordered her removed or be scrapped so the reprieve came just in time. The engines have been run several times and she's been taxi tested. The avionics are all working now but that was a problem. Sitting on the ramp at a costal city took it's toll. Some canon plugs had to be completely re-pinned. An engine was found in Africa so the #1 engine was replaced. Another engine will be picked up enroute to Cairns, Australia. The Planned routing will be through Middle East with a few stops. The center tank, tank 6, will not be used so range will be reduced. The -44 is a very long range airplane so this shouldn't be a problem and should still provide a range of 3-4 thousand miles. The Captain has over 10,000 hours in the plane. The FO has little -44 experience but the engineer has thousands of hours. The crew's average age is 67. Malcolm will accompany the flight as Loadmaster. He has over 15,000 hours in the -44. In a brief email today, he told me that she's ready to fly and his bags are packed. Perhaps they're a bit ahead of schedule; the departure from Bournemouth had been set for the 15th. They plan to takeoff and remain in the area long enough to determine that all systems are up to the task and, if so, they plan to head for Australia. She now has Philippine registry RP-C 8023. She was N447T when we flew her prior to being converted into a guppy.

Full text: http://www.flyingtigerline.org/_06/00000617.htm

Any comments and confirmations welcome...

Swingtail,
Thanks for a very informative first post. Welcome to PPRuNe.
Be lucky
David

Well Done Guys.
Where about's in the Middle East you planning to stop?
You know where I am operating from at the moment and perhaps we could all meet up for a beer:ok: