Thursday 31 December 2009

2010 re union

To: All members-and potential members.
Please note that since Christmas, I have been 'inundated' with requests for places at the re union. No problem with that,but our allocation of rooms at the RAF CLub is now filled. If you DO want overnight accommodation, the club will do its best to offer an alternative nearby, but it will NOT be in-house.
Happy New Year To All

Monday 21 December 2009

Pre Christmas Update

To all of the CL44 Association members, may I on behalf of our two Presidents and my Vice-Chairman extend my warmest Christmas wishes.
The 'Passenger List' for the 2010 re union looks exceedingly healthy and whilst we DO have a few rooms left at the Royal Air Force Club, these are, with the exception of one, single rooms.
If you have the intention of coming to the event (Sat 22nd May) PLEASE do book without delay. Of course, if you do not want HOTAC, then no problem, we have around 18 places available for the informal get together in the Members Bar (4pm onwards) and Dinner (7.30pm).
Next Newsletter will be mailed around the end of January-if you haven't paid your Subs for over 12 months (there are one or two outstanding) do please get in touch.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

Saturday 5 December 2009

UPDATE

2010 Re-Union
If you haven't booked yet-DO PLEASE NOTE that we are still accepting bookings-but rooms at the RAF Club are as scarce as the proverbial-SO DO make sure you get your reservation form in asap.

CL44-O
Looks like the date for the change of ownership may be sooner than we thought. Certainly, news received recently, means that the next Newsletter will be sent to all members in late January 2010.

Has anyone been to Jakarta lately? If so, is the old ex BAYU 44 still in 'one' piece there?

Tuesday 10 November 2009

CL44 Association 2010 re-Union

Reservations for the re-union to be held 22nd May, continue to arrive-today was Tradewinds and Transglobe 'day'-thanks everyone.
This is NOT a SALES pitch-but I do not want anyone disappointed when they apply only to find that all of our rooms quota has been filled. If you DO intend to be at the event, do please apply soon. If you have emailed me to say you will be attending do please forward your booking form with payment for the dinner asap (room charges are paid upon arrival at the Club)
Mike Zoeller and myself are also asking for more 44 'tales from the flightdeck and photos for the March Newsletter.

Friday 30 October 2009

Mail Strike! What mail strike?

Update on Re-Union Bookings so far!

WOW! In one word. Thanks to all who have responded with dinner or dinner and HOTAC bookings already. The tickets will be on their way next week.
To those of you who are thinking about it-let me just repeat my previous note about rooms-better you book now than wait only to find 'we ain't got any left'.

Malcolm

Tuesday 27 October 2009

Re Union

Hi everyone-members and visitors. Firstly, as you will have worked out, the picture is that of a Britannia not a 44! As a member of the Britannia Preservation team at Kemble, my job is to arrange group visits to the aircraft which is now gleaming in its former RAF Transport Command livery complete with its original reg of XM496 'Regulus'.Hopefully, the next Newsletter will contain more details of such a visit for us during which a former RAF Britannia Pilot will be on hand to show you around the flight deck.
Thanks to the many of you who have returned your re-union booking forms-do please remember that overnight 'HOTAC' is limited, so the earlier you return your booking form-the better.

Cheers all

Malcolm

Tuesday 20 October 2009

Association Update

To All CL44 Association members.
The November Newsletter is now complete and will be mailed to you all together with the 2010 Re-Union Booking Form, during the next week or so. DO please remember though, that a UK National Postal Strike may affect its prompt delivery.

One of our newest members has embarked upon writing the story of Jack Conroy. Anyone able to assist in this, please do get in touch with me and I will supply further details.

Best regards to all and I DO hope to see you in the RAF CLub on the 22nd May.

Sunday 6 September 2009

ALTERNATE

As none of us will be clambering aboard a Forty Four over the Battle of Britain Weekend-hows about this for Alternate One?

Kemble Airfield has a two day Battle of Britain Display (19th & 20th September)
The Bristol Britannia-ex RAF Transport Command-ex 99Squadron Lyneham XM496 will be open to receive you. I shall be there both days, so PLEASE do come along.
Gates Open at 9am and the flying starts at 2pm (I believe a Hunter wil be airborne)
When you drive onto Kemble Airfield, you will see a red Hunter-turn right there and hey presto, just around the corner, its us! Do come and see us-the Cafe/Bar called AV8 is close by too!!!!
Malcolm

Monday 17 August 2009

CANADAIR FORTY FOUR ASSN 2010 RE UNION

THE DATE AND VENUE OF THE 2010 RE UNION IS NOW FIXED-SATURDAY 22ND MAY AT THE ROYAL AIR FORCE CLUB PICCADILLY LONDON.
RESERVATION FORMS WILL BE MAILED TO ASSOCIATION MEMBERS IN LATE SEPTEMBER BUT IF YOU ARE READING THIS AS A NON-MEMBER AND WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND-NOW'S THE TIME TO REGISTER WITH US-IT MAY PROVE TO BE THE LAST OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SO MANY 'FORTY FOUR' PEOPLE TOGETHER.
DO GET IN TOUCH AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST.

TYNE 515 ENGINES

To all Association members/non-members world-wide.

CAN ANYONE PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION AS TO THE LOCATION OF ANY TYNE 515 POWER PLANTS?
CONDITION UNIMPORTANT.

THANKS

Sunday 9 August 2009

August 2009 Newsletter

TO ALL ASSOCIATION MEMBERS:-

FIRSTLY-THE NEWSLETTER WILL BE MAILED OUT TO YOU ALL ON WEDNESDAY 12TH AUGUST.
IT HAS MORE DETAILS OF THE 2010 RE UNION-AND ALSO CONTAINS THE LATEST UP TO DATE NEWS OF THE GUPPY-AND ITS ALL GOOD NEWS TOO-SO IF YOU WANT TO GET THE LATEST-EMAIL ME!
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE THERE ARE ANY CL44 PARTS? IF YOU DO, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH ASAP.

PS-WE HAVE OUR FIRST RE UNION BOOKINGS BY THE WAY-AMONGST THEM IS ONE FORMER FLYING TIGER VETERAN-IF YOU WANT TO ENSURE YOUR PLACE AT THE DINNER-LET ME KNOW!

WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ASKED TO CO-OPERATE IN A NEW CL44 DVD THAT IS BEING MADE THIS YEAR-I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED.

Tuesday 9 June 2009

CL44 Videos

I have several copies of the video left on a First Come First Served basis.
£3.00 to inc P&P (UK only)

Wednesday 3 June 2009

UPDATE ON THE GUPPY-THE LAST CL44

I HEARD YESTERDAY FROM NICK LEACH MD OF HEAVYLIFT CARGO AIRLINES IN CAIRNS AUSTRALIA THAT OWNERSHIP OF THE ONE-AND-ONLY GUPPY (C/N 16), HAS PASSED TO BOURNEMOUTH AIRPORT IN HAMPSHIRE UK. THIS IS (ALMOST) CONFIRMED BY BOURNEMOUTH WHOSE INTERPRETATION IS THAT THE AIRCRAFT IS SUBJECT TO LEGAL ACTION DUE TO UNPAID PARKING CHARGES. SHOULD BOURNEMOUTH BE SUCCESSFUL IN ACQUIRING PWNERSHIP, I AM TOLD THAT THEY WILL SEEK THE BEST PRICE POSSIBLE FOR THE AIRCRAFT.
ANYONE, MEMBERS OR NON-MEMBERS, WHO HAVE IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN HELP PRESERVE THIS TRULY ONE-OFF AIRCRAFT, PLEASE DO GET IN TOUCH WITH:- Swingtail44@aol.com

Sunday 31 May 2009

FOR ASSOCIATION MEMBERS ONLY

FOR SALE: HISTORICAL AVIATION BOOK

'FILTON AND THE FLYING MACHINE'(Published in 1995)
Compiled by Malcolm Hall
Wonderful historical pictorial record of the Filton site
£5.00 plus Postage

Members must be 'current'
Contact-Swingtail44@aol.com

Sunday 24 May 2009

CL44 ASSOCIATION-MEMBERSHIP

2010 WILL SEE THE FINAL RE UNION-AND THE DISOLVEMENT OF THE FORTY FOUR ASSOCIATION.
DO NOT MISS THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET UP WITH 44CREW MEMBERS FROM SUCH EVOCATIVE AIRLINES SUCH AS THE FLYING TIGER LINE, SLICK AIRWAYS, TRANSMERIDIAN AIR CARGO, ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE (437 YUKON SQND) TRANSGLOBE, TRADEWINDS, TRANSVALAIR, AER TURAS, CYPRUS AIRWAYS, UNITED AFRICAN AIRLINES, AFFRETAIR, CARGOLUX AND MANY OTHERS.
IF YOU WISH TO JOIN THE ASSOCIATION-GET IN TOUCH WITHOUT DELAY
swingtail44@aol.com

Friday 22 May 2009

44 Nostalgia (it ain't what it used to be)

Journey Log Book for CL44-J now sold and collected.
Ops Manual (Heavylift) Bid stands at £20
Canadair Parts Manual Bid Stands at £10
Prop Overhaul Manual Bid Stands at £10
Main Gear Overhaul Manual Bid Stands at £10

We will NOT post them-too darned heavy I'm afraid

Newsletter is in the mail-look out for some great Transvalair Photos

Wednesday 20 May 2009

ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

We are almost ready to publish the newsletter-but we realise that one or two of you may not receive it! This is due solely to the fact that you may not have paid your 2009 subscription! So please, get in touch with our Treasurer and ensure that your subs ARE paid. No subs-no re union!
The aircraft journey book for the CL44-J is still under offer from one of our members-it has until this weekend to attract further bids-if not-its on its way to the lucky lad in Ireland!!!!!!
The Parts Manual/Heavylift Ops manuals are still here-a non-member has bid for them but needs to collect them asap.

Cheers all

Monday 18 May 2009

CL44-J Log Book

One member has bid for the log book (+ one non-member)

Sunday 17 May 2009

FOR SALE-MEMBERS ONLY

I have a (battered) piece of 44 nostalgia that may be of interest to members.
ONE CL44 JOURNEY LOG BOOK-AIRCRAFT No 35-CL44-J REG 5A-DGJ AND 9Q-CQS
Dated: 15/01/1980 The first entry is pre dated and is 08/9/1979 A test flt for UAA with Capt J.P. Graf, F/O Lattman and F/E Grienenberger.
Thereafter, the pages show all flts made from Tripoli and feature Capts such as Jim White, Jock Hutchinson, Colin Rhenius, J.J. Vivien, Mike Savill, Brian Williams, etc etc. F/O's include Mike Quinn, Keith Huggett, Tony DeJesus. F/E's inc Sammy Samuels, Mal Granville.Many other familiar names also appear.
If anyone IS interested in acquiring this unique reminder-Lets open the bidding at £10.00 plus postage.All bids to swingtail44@aol.com

Saturday 16 May 2009

NEWSLETTER

The contents of the forthcoming Newsletter have been listed below together with their authors:-

Nick Newell (Canada) Ref his father Fred who designed the 44's swingttail hinges.
Flt Engr Jim Townsend-ex Rhodesia
Details of our new member-Alan Clare
Flt Engr Bryan Grace (BOAC)-and the 'Posh' Britannia
Michael Zoeller-'Intraco'
F/O Ian Runnalls-Transglobe-Late Again

A major Article on Transvalair

'Swiss Co-Pilots' by Capt Phil Brown

Watch out for this film-details from Elgen Long (FTL)

Major photo Album

Should be in your mail box by the end of June everyone!

Any more articles on 44's for the next edition???????

Malcolm

Friday 8 May 2009

Summer Newsletter

Many thanks to those members who sent us material and photos for the Summer edition-we are now also working on some CL44 slides in the hope that we can produce a CD for members to buy -we'll keep you posted on that.

We seem to have 'mislaid' the following members-any ideas anyone?

Caroline Atkinson (Tradewinds) Malcolm Coates (Transglobe/Tradewinds) Richard Hart (TMAC).

Tuesday 5 May 2009

2010 re union

The 2010 Re Union IS now booked and 35 rooms at the Royal Air Force Club in Piccadilly London are reserved (20 doubles plus 15 singles). Please make a note of the date which is

SATURDAY 22ND MAY

The next edition of the Newsletter will be ready for distribution at the end of June. If you have omitted to send us your 2009 membership subscription-you won't receive it!

We have created something of a bumper issue featuring Transvalair (the Swiss Cargo Carrier)
Thanks to Markus Seiler for the photos used in that article and to Phil Brown, Mal Granville, both

Friday 6 March 2009

DON'T MISS IT

Despite recent rumours of my demise ( I had a bad car smash last week), I AM working on:-
1. The next Newsletter (due out in late March)
2. The 2010 re union.
With regard to the 2010 re union, the Committee's aim is to attract a FULL HOUSE-that means 140 of us sitting down together.
No reason why we cannot make that target-we have an adequate and enthusiastic membership well in excess of that number and we do have enough time to get you all organised into attending.

Thanks to Jeff Seideman (Flying Tiger Line) Malcolm Granville (TMAC, Transvalair, UAA) Bob Morgan (Slick Airways) and others for articles for the Newsletter-and one of Mike Zoeller's photos this time round will be a nose-mounted Tyne engine-with one of our Assocation members (F/Eng Bryan Grace-BOAC) on board.
All worth the £10 annual Membership fee we think.

Thanks to all of you you sent best wishes to Di and myself.

Monday 2 March 2009

CL44 Association Happenings

We do hope to have the next edition of the Newsletter 'in the mail' to you all in late March or early April. However, it is NOT too late to let us have YOUR recollections of a particular flight or 44 colleague. DO please note that the Newsletter will be MAILED to you all-it will not appear on the website.
I just heard from Don Young (former Transmeridian Air Cargo Manager in Hong Kong). He's fit and well and is in touch with former Flying Tigers CL44 pilot Luis Salazar who is now living in Florida. This gives me an opportunity to mention that we do have lots of USA members from the days of Flying Tigers, Seaboard & Western-as it was initally before becoming Seaboard World, Slick Airways plus of course, latter days operators of the 'Forty Four' such as Wrangler/Blue Bell and AEI(Aeron).

Friday 27 February 2009

The 2010 CL44 Association Re-union has now been booked at the RAF Club 126 Piccadilly London for SATURDAY 22ND MAY 2010. All Association members are invited and reservation details will be included in the Winter edition of the Newsletter.
The next Newsletter is now scheduled for mailing in 6-8 weeks time. Mike Zoeller has produced another fine 'Photopage' and thanks to several members for their contributions.
May I take this opportunity to remind everyone that 2009 MEMBERSHIP FEES are now overdue. Payment should now be made to our UK Treasurer or to our USA President if you are in the USA or Canada. Further details from swingtail44@aol.com.
WE ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOK OUT FOR CL44 PHOTOS AND ARTICLES

Tuesday 10 February 2009

Looking for Ron Pickler

We are trying to locate one of our Assn members Mr Ron Pickler in Canada-can anyone help or tell him to contact the Association Chairman-thank you

Sunday 8 February 2009

UPDATES

TO ALL MEMBERS:
WE NEED YOUR COMMENTS, ARTICLES, PHOTOGRAPHS ETC FOR THE JUNE EDITION
MIKE ZOELLER WILL BE PRODUCING A 'SPECIAL' PHOTO SECTION AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY ORIGINAL 44 SNAPS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN YET, SO PLEASE-LET'S HAVE 'EM.

Friday 6 February 2009

Latest CL44 News

To all CL44 Association Members.

Right now -things are happening- News of the Scrapping of a CL44-D4 in BZV seems to have aroused many of you-non-member Mike Snow has let us have amended details of the aircraft in question (thanx Mike-good to hear from you)
We are in discussion with an aviation Society hoping that its plans to have the Guppy flight deck section can be advanced andour Association Treasurer just wishes to remind everyone that 2009 membership dues are awaited!!

Our blueprint right now is to hold the next re-union in London in the Spring of 2010-so do please let us have YOUR membership fees so that your eligibility to that p*** up is guaranteed

Swingtail Newsletter PDF Archive


1999

November

2000
March
June
September
November

2001
February
March
June
September
December

2002
January
April
June
December

2003
February
May
August
November

2004
February
(Other Months to come as not originally pdfs)

2005 (none)

2006
March
June
September

2007
January
March
May
July (Photopage)
December

2008
March
August

Sunday 25 January 2009

Test


Just a test to see if everything is OK.

Steve (webmaster)