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”.
| Role | Outsize cargo aircraft |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Aero Spacelines / Airbus |
| First flight | August 31, 1965 |
| Status | Active, operated by NASA |
| Primary users | Aero Spacelines NASA, Airbus, Aeromaritime |
| Number built | 1 SG, 4 SGT |
| Developed from | Boeing C-97J Turbo Stratocruiser Boeing 377 Stratocruiser Pregnant Guppy (fourth SGT built with cannibalized pieces from PG) |
Specifications (Super Guppy Turbine)
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%)
- Empty weight: 101,500 lb (46,040 kg)
- Gross weight: 54,500 lb (24,721 kg)
- 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)
Photos Rob Vogelaar
