Conroy Skymonster

Skymonster
Role	Large cargo aircraft
Manufacturer	Conroy Aircraft
First flight	1969
Primary users	Heavylift Cargo Transmeridian Air Cargo
Number built	One
Developed from	Canadair CL-44
Career
Serial	N447T, EI-BND, 4K-GUP, 9G-LCA, RP-C8023
In service	1970-1999

The Conroy Skymonster (CL-44-0) is a 1960s United States specialized cargo aircraft with an outsize fuselage.

Design and development

The aircraft was designed by John M. Conroy as a transport aircraft that could be used to ferry three Rolls-Royce RB.211 jet engines from Belfast, Northern Ireland, to Palmdale, California, United States. The engines were to be installed on the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar Airliner.^[1]

The Skymonster is based on the Canadair CL-44 freighter (itself a derivative of the Bristol Britannia). It features an enlarged fuselage, like the Mini Guppy which was produced by Jack Conroy's previous company, Aero Spacelines.

The conversion was performed outdoors, under covered scaffolding, at the Santa Barbara California airport.^[2] The nose section was built using foam covered with fiberglass, while the larger fuselage was constructed using conventional aluminum structure.

History

The Skymonster first flew on 26 November 1969, under the US registration "N447T". The CL-44 from which it had been converted also bore this same registration, and was previously operated by the Flying Tiger Line.

Only one prototype was built. Another one was ordered, but the CL-44 on which it was to be based crashed before delivery.

In 1970, the prototype was leased by Transmeridian Air Cargo, who gave it the name "Skymonster". Despite its being renamed "Bahamas Trader" later on, the name Skymonster stuck, and it is now commonly known as this.

The Skymonster at Bournemouth when it was registered as 9G-LCA

In 1978, it was bought by British Cargo Airlines.

In 1982, it went to Heavylift Cargo, who re-registered it with the Irish registration EI-BND.

The aircraft went into storage in 1993, but only 2 months later, it was bought by a leasing company, and was leased to Buffalo Airways.

Its next lease was to Azerbaijan Airlines in 1997, under the registration 4K-GUP.

In March 1998, it was leased to Baku Express.

In August 1998 it went to First International Airlines and was registered 9G-LCA.

In 1999, it was placed into storage, initially in the USA, but then it was flown to Bournemouth Airport, UK, where it was scheduled to be scrapped.

A museum in Germany then expressed an interest in taking on the aircraft.^[3]

In December 2006 the aircraft was registered in the Philippines (RP-C8023) and was being prepared for service in Australia.^[4] In March 2008, it was reported that the British Civil Aviation Authority had refused to lift an order grounding the aircraft which was made in 2006, due to concerns over the aircraft's maintenance. As of March 2008, the Skymonster was still at Hurn.^[5] In August 2008, it was reported that the aircraft was in the process of being scrapped,^[6] however as of September this was on hold amid further rumours about donation to a museum in Germany.^[6]

On 14th January 2010, Bournemouth International Airport Limited offered the aircraft for sale in the London Gazette.^[7]

See also

• Conroy Aircraft
• Super Guppy
• Mini Guppy
• Pregnant Guppy
• Bristol Britannia
• Aero Spacelines
• Airbus Beluga
• Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair
• Canadair CL-44

References

1. ^ All About Guppys
2. ^ http://www.allaboutguppys.com/
3. ^ CL-44 Association September 2006 Newsletter
4. ^ Photo Heavylift Cargo Airlines Canadair CL-44-O Guppy RP-C8023
5. ^ CL-44 Association - March 2008 Newsletter (public release version)
6. ^ ^{a b} All About Guppys - News
7. ^ Bournemouth International Airport Limited (14 January 2010), "NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF A CANADAIR CL-44-0 AIRCRAFT SERIAL NUMBER 016 KNOWN AS THE “GUPPY”", London Gazette (59306): 470, http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/59306/notices/1016426, retrieved 2011-06-01 

External links

• All About Guppys
• The Canadair CL44