Guppy to Remain at Bournemouth

[Garry Russell]

It seems the work on restoring the unique Canadair-Conroy CL-44-O which ground to a halt a while ago has been abandined

There is hope though as it is on option to the Museum free if, of course, they can find space for it on the new site.

http://www.aviation-museum.co.uk/frameset.htm

Garry

[VEGAS]

Hi Garry,

was wondering what was happening with this just the other day. Shame if she does'nt take to the air again but I guess if she's donated to a good home then its far better than her being cut to pieces. :think:

Thanks for the HU.

[VEGAS]

Found a picture taken last month.Looks like she's already gone under the knife..Sob!


http://www.airliners.net/photo/Conroy-C ... 1354024/M/

[Garry Russell]

Hi Eddie.

That's her in store minus engines..the Museum did a deal since as far as I can tell and providing they can find some space it will be saved.

Hope so :think:

I've also heard the Southend Belfast is to be scrapped after all as well

Anyone???

Garry

[DaveB]

Hi Garry..

I know that the Southend Belfast team wanted the engines off APEP so if it's to be scrapped.. a shortage of engine spares will almost certainly end up being the cause :-( If that is the case.. what a shame Certain parts are out of hours and with no viable alternative.. it was always going to be an uphill struggle. Everything on EP is out of compliance so cannot be certificated and it's not possible to re-engine the Belfast with anything other than Tynes.

I hope the airframe can be saved.

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Garry Russell]

Hi Dave

Six months or so ago they seemed to be all out on getting the Belfast flying even though the odds seemed short.

Perhaps this was in lieu of the Guppy.

A lot has changed since and fleets are looking to reduce and save money. With such an unsure base to begin with perhaps that has just proved too much, it can't be worthwhile scouring the World for the last few bits to rebuild something they can't use and if they could only for a very short time..excuse the un intended pun.

It would be nice to save the frame. Bournemouth Museum want to use the Guppy as a store as well as an exhibit

Perhaps a museum could use a mobile hangar.......or maybe even a pub needing a beer store.....Dave

Seriously.....even grounded it could have a use :think:

Garry

[DaveB]

Yes.. a rather impressive beer store if ever there was one. It'd keep me going for years

HeavyLift actually HAVE scoured the world for Tyne spares mate which is how they eventually ended up enquiring if we'd sway ours for 'time expired' units. We also had the offer of enough fuel for 6 runs which was rather nice. However.. to my mind.. it was never going to happen and I saw fit to voice my opinions at the time. As it transpired.. my feelings were just about bang on with the rest of the team ;-)
They have at least 2 units in the Philippines which are also mostly time expired so they did try hard. I wonder if they ever tried Cosford?? I guess they did. Anyone who's 'into' Belfasts will know the fate/location of each one.

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Garry Russell]

Are Transall/Altalantic units any good?

Garry

[DaveB]

Hello Mate

I honestly don't know what the major differences are between the Tyne 12's fitted to the Belfast and the 22's fitted to the Transall other than in terms of straight oomph.. the Transall engines drop 165hp over the Belfast units. If they COULD be fitted into the Belfast.. you'd need 4 rather than the odd one and I've no idea what the spares situation is like for the 22's.

I suppose that when all things are considered.. engine spares (or lack of) was one of the factors considered by Hunting when they decided to pull ES and EP and how long ago was that!!

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Garry Russell]

With Hunting even earlier that that as they withdrew 'EM the best of the three to hopefully eek out the other two as thing we not looking too long term then.

Whatever is done eventually it will come to an end

With the Belfast they wanted to get another giant in service but Antonov have decided to complete the second AN.225 and that flies this year.

So perhaps they just stopped and thought if it was worth it or not.........it was always a bit of a tall order to re activate that Belfast but anything can happen given the money and the bits..justifying it in a commersial outfit is something else. :-(

Garry