A fortnight on from my last shot and now the CL44-O just ports one Tyne and the swing tail has been completely removed.

Atmospheric shot of the CL-44-O taken at around 07:00 that day ...

The CL-44-O was towed onto the European ramp yesterday and is believed to be heading for SWAM at St. Athan. The tail and outer wings have been removed but can be seen on the ground on the right of this image.

Built in 1961 as a CL-44D4-2, converted in Guppy by Conroy Aircraft Co in 68. Last airworthy CL-44 worldwide, its last flight taking place on the 18 april 2003.

This CL-44 was originally delivered to Flying Tigers as N447FT in August 1961. The plane went on to fly with Transmeridian Air Cargo (as N447FT), British Cargo Airlines (N447FT), Heavylift Cargo Airlines (EI-BND), Buffalo Airways (EI-BND), AZAL and Baku Express (both as 4K-GUP) before becoming 9G-LCA in August 1999. The plane was first stored at Smyrna (MQY) and ferried to BOH in December 2002 for a major overhaul. In December 2006 the plane rejoined Heavylift and was registered RP-C8023 but stored due to regulatory issues. It has since been re-registered N447FT but with an uncertain future.

Photographer unknown

photographer unknown

arriving on a rainy and windy afternoon - landing runway 28

On display at the Paris Show with code "99".

Flying Tigers flew this CL-44 in standard configuration 1961 - 68. Sold to Conroy Aircraft, it was converted to the specialized CL-44-O Conroy Skymonster and leased to Transmeridian Air Cargo in 1970. Variously leased and stored over the years as EI-BND, 4K-GUP and 9G-LCA, the aircraft was schedule to be scrapped in 1999, but was instead prepared for another lease as late as 2002. It remains stored at Bournemouth, UK at the time of uploading, grounded due to air regulations issues.

slide taken by Norbert Kröpfl. - N447T was modified from a standard CL-44 to carry oversize loads and performed its first flight as "Guppy version" on 26/NOV/69. Withdrawn from service, it has been in storage at Bournemouth since 2002 and was last reported there in 2022, still intact but intended for scrapping.