The aircraft was designed by Jack 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. The engines were to be installed on the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar Airliner.  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.

Conroy CL-44-0 Guppy, registration RP-C-8023, is a fairly unique aircraft and images are taken at Bournemouth airport UK in March 2007.

Conroy CL-44-0 Guppy

Conroy CL-44-0 Guppy

Conroy CL-44-0 Guppy

Conroy CL-44-0 Guppy

Conroy CL-44-0 Guppy

Conroy CL-44-0 Guppy

Robert Hodgson

All images- Robert Hodgson

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