What airplane is the Guppy?
The Aero Spacelines Super Guppy is a large, wide-bodied cargo aircraft that is used for hauling outsize cargo components. It was the successor to the Pregnant Guppy, the first of the Guppy aircraft produced by Aero Spacelines….Aero Spacelines Super Guppy.
B-377-SG/SGT Super Guppy | |
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Number built | 1 SG, 4 SGT |
Developed from | Boeing 377 Stratocruiser |
What does NASA use the Guppy for?

NASA has used the Super Guppy for decades as a means of transporting large cargo that would be otherwise difficult to move across the country. The plane has transported spacecraft parts and even other aircraft within its large cargo bay, which is 111ft long, 25ft wide, and 25ft high.
Is the Super Guppy the biggest plane?
Built from a heavily modified KC-97 Stratotanker, the Pregnant Guppy featured the largest cargo compartment of any aircraft ever built. At just over 19′ in diameter, this massive cavity was specifically designed to carry the second stage of a Saturn rocket for the Apollo program.
Is a 737 a guppy?
Number 2: Boeing 737, Nickname: Guppy When it first flew, it was designed to fly regional routes that were too small for the larger Boeing 727 to fly. Over time, the 737 grew from the short -100 to the slightly longer -200. Then in the early 80’s the jet grew again and added high bypass CFM56 engines.

Where is NASA Super Guppy?
The heat shield skin for the Artemis IV mission, the third crewed mission to the Moon, is now at Moffett Federal Airfield near NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, for the next phase of production.
Does Super Guppy have a pilot?
The Super Guppy Today Flying with a crew of six or seven: two pilots, two flight engineers, a load master, and one or two maintenance technicians.
Who builds the Super Guppy?
Airbus
Aero Spacelines
Aero Spacelines Super Guppy/Manufacturers
Is the Beluga plane real?
Yes – it’s an actual airplane painted with the face of a beluga whale. Last month, Airbus’ BelugaXL completed its first flight over southwest France. It’s not just its awesome paint job that makes this aircraft stand out, but its size.
How many Airbus Belugas are there in the world?
5
Airbus Beluga
A300-600ST Beluga | |
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Primary user | Airbus Transport International |
Produced | 1992–c.1999 |
Number built | 5 |
Developed from | Airbus A300-600 |
Was the Ho 229 Ever flown?
Development did continue with the Ho 229 V3. This version never flew. Later versions were to be equipped with two 30 mm cannons. The war in Europe ended nearly three months later and this half-completed prototype, along with three other unfinished models, were captured by General George S.
What happened to Airbus Super Guppy aircraft?
Now, Aviationtag is turning one of Airbus’ Super Guppy aircraft into little tags to attach to your keys. Based on the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, the aircraft was the predecessor to its unique Beluga family. Around 94% of a retired aircraft can be recycled.
How big is the GUPPY plane?
The Guppy carrying NASA’s Orion, the next generation of spacecraft designed to carry astronauts further than they’ve ever gone before. The new plane was also bigger — 14 extra feet in length and a cargo bay diameter of 25 feet — and its engines were upgraded to more powerful and lighter versions.
What is the Super Guppy Turbine?
Called the Super Guppy Turbine, it was roughly the same size of the original Super Guppy, but was based on a custom-designed middle fuselage rather than one from an old Boeing 377. This allowed the floor of the cargo hold to be widened from just under nine feet to a roomier 13 feet, making it possible to carry larger payloads.
What replaced the Aero Spacelines Super Guppy?
The four Super Guppies have since been replaced by the Airbus Beluga, capable of carrying twice as much cargo by weight. Aero Spacelines B-377-SG Super Guppy, prototype of a much enlarged version of the Guppy using C-97J components, powered by four Pratt & Whitney T-34-P-7WA turbo-prop engines.