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| Aero Spacelines Super Guppy | ||
|---|---|---|
 The Super Guppy flying near Seattle in its NASA livery | ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Outsize cargo freight aircraft | |
| Crew | 3 | |
| Passengers | No seats/passengers, cargo configuration | |
| First flight | 13 September 1965 | |
| Entered service | August 1966 | |
| Manufacturer | Aero Spacelines, Airbus, NASA, Boeing | |
| Produced | 6 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 94 ft, 6 in | 28.8 meters |
| Wingspan | 156 ft 3 in | 47.63 meters |
| Height | 46 ft 5 in | 14.78 meters |
| Wing area | 1,965 sq ft | 182.6 square meters |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 50.75 t | 77 t |
| Loaded | ||
| Maximum takeoff | ||
| Powerplant | ||
| Engine | 4 × Allison 501-D22C turboprops | |
| Power (each) | 4,680 shp | 3,490 kW |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 300 mph | 482 km/h, 260 kn |
| Cruising speed | 250 mph | 402 km/h, 217 kn |
| Range | 1,736 nmi | 3,215 km |
| Ceiling | 25,000 ft | 7,620 m |
| Rate of climb | 1,295 ft/min | 395 m/min |
The Aero Spacelines Super Guppy is a large, wide-bodied cargo aircraft developed by Aero Spacelines in the 1960s. The Super Guppy was designed to transport oversized aerospace components—particularly for NASA’s space programs during the space race—between manufacturing, testing, and launch facilities across the United States. Its distinctive bulbous fuselage and hinged nose allowed it to carry rocket stages, spacecraft modules, and other large structures that could not fit in conventional cargo planes. The Airbus Beluga has replaced it's role of transporting cargo for Airbus.
History[]
The Super Guppy was developed by Aero Spacelines to meet a requirement for a large cargo aircraft capable of transporting oversized aerospace components, particularly for NASA’s space programs. The aircraft was based on a modified Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, featuring an enlarged, bulbous fuselage and a hinged nose section that allowed payloads to be rolled on and rolled off.
The first flight took place on 13 September 1965, and lasted several hours. The certification and testing process, which included extensive flight trials, was completed shortly thereafter, leading to the initial deliveries for NASA and other aerospace contractors. The fleet was gradually expanded to support Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle, and later space transport requirements, with multiple examples remaining in service into the 1990s and beyond.
Note[]
- The Super Guppy is a update from the Pregnant Guppy that was made in 1962. It is the reason why it is called the "Super Guppy".
- All Super Guppies are retired, besides one that is still being used by NASA, but only for airshows and short trips.
Gallery[]
