Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Forgotten Transport That Revolutionized Air Cargo; the Canadair CL-44 'Swingtail' and CC-106 Yukon

In the late 1950's and early 1960's Canadair developed one of most competitive long haul transport aircraft of its kind. In its military role it ferried cargo and personnel to and from European bases. In its civil version it revolutionized how cargo companies operate and left a lasting legacy.

The video chronicles of the history of this unique multi-purpose aircraft.

Posted by Polyus

Conroy Skymonster (CL-44-0)

I love it whenever I can find a unique aircraft with a fascinating history. While watching this issue's "Featured Video', I noticed one unique aircraft that has been preserved at Bournemouth Airport in England since 2010. However, it has been scheduled to be scrapped several times and its current status is unsure. There have been rumours of a donation to a museum in Germany. 

The 'Conroy Skymonster' is a specialized cargo aircraft designed by John M. Conroy, based on the Canadair CL-44 freighter, modified with an oversize fuselage (resembling a 'Guppy" appearance) during 1968/69. It is the only prototype ever built. 

Its original purpose was to ferry Rolls-Royce RB.211 engines from Belfast to Palmdale, California to be installed on Lockheed L-1011 Tristars.

As per PlaneLogger.com the aircraft was registered in the United States as N447T and was originally delivered to Flying Tiger Line in 1961. After the modification it was leased by Transmeridian Air Cargo where it got its nickname, 'Skymonster'. 

As per Wikipedia, after a long period of storage, activity was again seen around the Skymonster during the summer of 2013. In July 2013 it was registered N447FT in the United States to a Jordan Harlan Wayne, but has since been deregistered.

As of May 2021 the Skymonster remains at Bournemouth International Airport, moved from its original parking spot to make way for airport development. 

N447FT at Bournemouth Airport.

Photo by aceebee @ commons.wikimedia.org

Terry Baker, co-founder of the NetLetter scours the internet for aviation related Trivia and Travel Tips for you, our readers, to peruse.

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Posted on Facebook from Propliner 2023 edition April 14, 2023.

This beauty graced the apron at RAF Northolt in June 1968. U.S. Marine Corps Douglas C-54R/R5D-4R Skymaster 90414 (c/n 27370) looking absolutely stunning in the sunshine, later served as a freighter with Toronto-based airline Millardair as C-GQIB.

Recently purchased by the Aviator Brewing Company of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, the aircraft is due to become part of a new restaurant complex.

C919 Enters Service With Maiden Revenue Flight

China's domestically produced jet airliner went into revenue service on May 28, 2023, although it's a stretch to call it a Chinese aircraft.

The China Eastern Airlines C919 launched from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport with about 130 passengers (it seats 164) for Chengdu and will be assigned to that route. Government officials and state-run media all gushed over the accomplishment with confident predictions of a bright future for indigenous airliners in a market that is served entirely by Boeing and Airbus now. "In the future, most passengers will be able to choose to travel by large, domestically produced aircraft," state broadcaster CCTV said.

The plane is built by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), but it's more accurate to describe COMAC's participation as final assembly. COMAC builds the mostly aluminum airframe but CFM International supplies the engines and a Who's Who of Western aviation companies build the avionics, cabin systems and flight controls, among other things.

It will likely be more than a decade before China can produce an engine to replace the ultra-efficient LEAP-ICs. The company says it has 1,200 orders for the plane, most, if not all, from Chinese airlines.

Source: AVWeb.com

Air Inuit to Introduce Boeing 737-800's

Nunavik airline Air Inuit has announced that they will be replacing some of their old Boeing 737-200 series with more modern versions over the next 24 months. In a press release dated July 3, 2023 the airline said they will be acquiring three B-737-800's that will be modified through the installation of cargo doors to create combination passenger/cargo aircraft.

The airline currently owns five of the -200 series models which, although equipped with relatively inefficient and highly polluting engines, are capable of landing on gravel airstrips, still commonly found in Northern Canada. The newer models lack that capability.

The Quebec-based airline is wholly owned by Makivik Corporation. Both entities were created in 1978 to serve the interests of Quebec’s Inuit people. Air Inuit operates a fleet of 24 aircraft and flies to 21 destinations. Other than the Boeing 737's, the company also operates numerous Twin Otters and Dash 8's, which will be used to service destinations incapable of receiving the B-737-800's.

Source: CanadianAviator.com