FrodoBaggins Loc: Texas

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. Five were built in two variants, both of which were colloquially referred to as the "Super Guppy".

The Super Guppy is the only airplane to carry a complete S-IVB stage, the third stage of the Saturn V rocket.[2] It did so several times during the Apollo program.

General characteristics

Crew: 4
Length: 143 ft 10 in (43.84 m)
Wingspan: 156 ft 3 in (47.63 m)
Height: 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m)
Cargo bay dimensions: 111 ft × 25 ft × 25 ft (33.83 m × 7.62 m × 7.62 m)
Wing area: 1,965 sq ft (182.6 m2)
Airfoil: root:Boeing 117 (22%); tip: Boeing 117 (9%)[11]
Empty weight: 101,500 lb (46,040 kg)
Gross weight: 54,500 lb (24,721 kg) (payload)
Max takeoff weight: 170,000 lb (77,111 kg)
Powerplant: 4 × Allison 501-D22C turboprop engines, 4,680 shp (3,490 kW) each
Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed fully-feathering propellers
Performance

Maximum speed: 250 kn (290 mph, 460 km/h)
Cruise speed: 220 kn (250 mph, 410 km/h) economical cruise at 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
Range: 1,734 nmi (1,995 mi, 3,211 km)
Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m) certified
Wing loading: 86.5 lb/sq ft (422 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.11 hp/lb (0.18 kW/kg)

(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Good set! That is a lot of airplane.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Cool set. That must have been one interesting aircraft to fly

twowindsbear

Take a look at the Airbus Beluga.

Xinloi6870

I saw one of these at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson. I recommend the museum for your bucket list, but not in July or August.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Very good set, Michael.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

I've seen one of those up close about 40 years ago.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Or June

GeorgeO Loc: Waukesha, WI

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Flash Gordon

I worked as a photographer for NASA contractors at the Apollo Site near Las Cruces, NM in the late 60’s early 70’s before finishing my degree at NMSU. I still have several pictures I took of the Guppy and Super Guppy when it landed at the El Paso International Airport. That was quite an airplane. The nose pivoted open for loading and unloading and all of the controls both mechanical and (I guess) hydraulic were disconnected and reconnected for flight. Thanks for the photos. Brings back many memories. That was the most fun job I ever had. I worked there for three years between years at college.
Thanks again,
Paul Weakley

Moondoggie Loc: Southern California

Big plane, very nice photos.

FrodoBaggins Loc: Texas

Thanks

FrodoBaggins Loc: Texas

Thanks

FrodoBaggins Loc: Texas

Thanks
Yes it is