UPDATED 13 FEB 2010

The Survivors

Out of the 39 aircraft none have survived airworthy. This page contains a list of the only 2 Airframes still existing.

1. Serial #13. The faith of the only CC-106 Yukon left was turned on last minute. Instead of being scrapped like so many CL44's, it was saved by the Ecuadorian Air Force. The intention was to restore it to display condition for use in a new Aircraft museum in Guayaquil. The aircraft was parked on the military area of Guayaquil airport. Ownership transferred to Ecuador Air Force in November 2000. In 2003, the Canada Air Museum in Ottawa was attempting to raise funds to have this aircraft returned to Canada. Airframe was bought for 1000 USD, but the the budget for dismantling and transport to Trenton was not reached and the aircraft was given back the Ecuadorians. At this moment the machine is parked painted all white at a remote corner of Guayaquil Airport. See Pictures. If you have news about this airframe or a better picture or video-footage, please send an E-mail at peter@cl44.com

2. Serial #16. After storage by ALG-First International AL at Smyrna Nashville TN, the Guppy was brought back to life early 2002. Test Flight from Smyrna was conducted at 23-05-2002. Delivery of 9G-LCA took place at 26-09-2002 and was done in daylight hours only. A landing and night stop was made in YQX, with final delivery to Teesside,UK the next day. The CL44 did some hours of flying for crew training 28-09-2002. 9G-LCA was repositioned to Bournemouth BOH. 9G-LCA arrived at Hurn from Teesside as JON03F on 31-12-2002. An extensive engine run took place on 17-04-2003, at a spot close to the perimeter road at BOH, next day a test flight was performed, during this flight engine #1 was shut down. (If any of you has photo's and /or Video Footage of these events, Please contact me !). Aircraft was put in open storage in front of the BASCO hangar.

01-10-2006 Aircraft sold to Heavylift Cairns. 31-10-2006 Aircraft into BASCO hangar performed a Landing Gear swing Test. 02-11-2006 Aircraft outside BASCO again, following day 03-11-2006 performed an underpower engine test. 04-11-2006 into BASCO again. 06-11-2006 9G-LCA performed another outside engine test with malfunctions occurring on #1 and #2 engine. Next day in BASCO hangar again. Two weeks later, engine #2 was replaced and 30-11-2006 saw a full power 1 hr engine test in front of BASCO's - facing south, no problems occurred. At 10-12-2006 the Guppy was Re-registered RP-C8023. Roll-out with new reg on 12-12-2006 performing another 1hr full power engine run at the old 17/35 runway just north of RWY 26. Into BASCO's again same day. 15-12-2006 pushed outside BASCO's again for the last time, BASCO closed 22-12-2006. Preparations were made for delivery flight. Around 10-01-2007 a flying ban on the CL44 was re-issued by the CAA. 16-02-2007 the machine was re-located from the BASCO platform to the taxiway near European. During November 2007, the CL44 was up for sale again. She performed another engine run at 28-11-2007.

The Guppy was abandoned by his new Australian owners due to financial problems. I undertook a serious attempt to persuade the German aviation museum in Sinsheim to take the machine and their interest was genuine. no-one expected a drastic measure taken by Heavylift Australia who ignored financial offers from some airlines to take the machine and the Germans and ruthlessly took her four Tyne engines and avionics for re-use on their only airworthy SC5 Belfast (engineers assured me they won't fit).

So since November 1st, 2008, the Guppy has been left to the elements, engines removed, a very sad sight.
Andrew Stevens kindly supplied me the following movie of the removal of the props: click here.

We are no sure what will happen next, but scrapping seems the only option left. There was a rumor that an Icelandic company bought the flight deck for preservation but that did not seem to have materialized.

Any movements, rumors or suggestions are welcome at peter@cl44.com

3. Serial #32. 5A-DGE was stored at a remote corner of Tripoli Airport, Libya in 1980. Since the the elements took their toll. We are not sure if the airframe is still in this position. See Pictures. If you have news about this airframe or a better picture or video-footage, please send an E-mail at peter@cl44.com

7. Serial #37.. This aircraft was bought by the Congolese government but has been stored at Brazzaville after a hard landing accident where #3 prop hit the runway and damage to the main landing gear. The last known registration was 7Q-YMS but has been erased from the Malawi register, but this reg. was still seen on it in 2008. Rumors go that is was broken up in September last year. Can anyone confirm this? Please email at peter@cl44.com