The lovely guppy! (2004 thread - now Beluga)

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I was playing out in my backgarden today when I looked up to see if I could see any planes, I looked to my side and saw a large plane which was still pretty high, [too high to be going into MAN] now, I've seen it pass before but never close enough to figure it out, I quickly got my telescope and looked and what was it...yes the super duper guppy!! My mum said that her boyfreind that used to work at queensferry said he saw the guppy land then, can anyone confirm that it was going to queensferry tonight? It was definaltly landing in the uk as it was going down and pretty low for a plane NOT landing at manchester,
thanks,
MANAIRPORTMAD!! :cool:

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20 years 1 month

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I was playing out in my backgarden today when I looked up to see if I could see any planes, I looked to my side and saw a large plane which was still pretty high, [too high to be going into MAN] now, I've seen it pass before but never close enough to figure it out, I quickly got my telescope and looked and what was it...yes the super duper guppy!! My mum said that her boyfreind that used to work at queensferry said he saw the guppy land then, can anyone confirm that it was going to queensferry tonight? It was definaltly landing in the uk as it was going down and pretty low for a plane NOT landing at manchester,
thanks,
MANAIRPORTMAD!! :cool:

You mean the Beluga? and where/what's Queensferry? :confused:

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No he means the "Super Duper Guppy".

Where is Queensferry? All I can find is that it is in Scotland, but I can find nothing about an airfield?

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http://efd.houstonairportsystem.org/images/EFD/efd_pg_gup.jpg

That's a Super Guppy, I didn't think they are still flying.

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sorry, I mean the beluga, is it to do with the guppy though?

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The Beluga transports Airbus parts, as the Guppy used to, it is basically it's replacement.
Where did Queensferry come from? :confused:

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The "Guppy" was just a nicknme I think, similar things though. They fly them between all the Airbus sites, so in the UK that is usualy only Filton and Hawarden.

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Yes, I think queensferry is somekind of airfeild for aircraft peices.

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Hawarden is near Queensferry. It's on the outskirts of Chester and the BAe factory there (think it's called BAe Broughton) manufactures many Airbus wings and other parts. The Beluga would have been going there.

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That a/c used to visit Filton on a regular basis. It took parts (mainly wings) that were made at Filton and flown to TLS for the Airbuses. I thought it had stopped flying and a jet version (a modified A330/A300) had replaced it.

Maybe it was going to Woodford. That's near to MAN isn't it? or to the other place in Wales where they produce Airbus parts.

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I believe it could have been the one with engines and I think it was going to the place near queensferry! thanks for the info!!

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Where is Queensferry? All I can find is that it is in Scotland, but I can find nothing about an airfield?

North and South Queensferry are small villages at their respective ends of the Forth Rail Bridge connecting Lothian to Fife. Nearest airfields would be Turnhouse and Drem I'd imagine?

Nowt to do with Airbus as has been explained. :)

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Just checked the BAe Systems website:

Airbus UK
Chester Road, Broughton, Chester, CH4 0DR, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1244 520444

They equip the A320 family wings there

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http://efd.houstonairportsystem.org/images/EFD/efd_pg_gup.jpg

That's a Super Guppy, I didn't think they are still flying.

NASA still operate one , based at Ellington Field , Houston. It is used for ferrying large bits of space hardware e.g. for the International Space Station

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I can confirm that it lands at our Chester site, Queensferry is located close to Broughton just in North Wales, Queensferry is near to where they ship the wings out by boat.

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I live 3 minutes away from Broughton in a place called flint and it is spelt Hawden and that is not the Airport the Airport is Broughton

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I live 3 minutes away from Broughton in a place called flint and it is spelt Hawden and that is not the Airport the Airport is Broughton

How can your location be Manchester if you live in Flint? I think you'll find 'Hawden' is spelt Hawarden and it is near Chester. Is Bae Broughton an airfield as well as a factory then?

Regards,

kev35

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I believe it could have been the one with engines and I think it was going to the place near queensferry! thanks for the info!!

Hi, Skylinerworld. Seeing as you mention the 'one with the engines' does that mean the other one is a glider?

Regards,

kev35

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i have seen this twice passing my house, quite high but easy to make out, and im in South Yorkshire

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Is Bae Broughton an airfield as well as a factory then?

Not sure, but there's a small RAF base at Sealand just up the road.

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OK, All Airbus wings are made at Broughton which is in WALES, it is given the address of Chester because years back thats what happen.
Queensferry is on the banks of the River Dee, and has two of the bridges that the A380 barge passes under on its way to Mostyn Docks for onward sea trip tp France.
Filton did equip A320 wings some years back, but only for a short time, they were taken by road from Broughton (as the basic structure, ie wing box) for the fit systems.
The Beluga flies into Broughton most week days

Paul