Super Guppy: Flying Freight's Cost

The Aero Spacelines Super Guppy is a large, wide-bodied cargo aircraft used for hauling oversized cargo components. It is the successor to the Pregnant Guppy, the first of the Guppy aircraft produced by Aero Spacelines. The Super Guppy is the only aircraft in the world that can carry a complete S-IVB stage, the third stage of the Saturn V rocket. It was first introduced in 1965 and has a purchase price of 2.2 million USD (1965) or 2.2 million EUR.

The Super Guppy's purchase price

The Super Guppy is a cargo aircraft built in the 1960s by Aero Spacelines, an American aircraft manufacturer. The Super Guppy was the successor to the Pregnant Guppy, the first of the Guppy aircraft produced by Aero Spacelines. The Super Guppy is a large, wide-bodied cargo aircraft used for hauling oversized cargo components. It was specifically designed to carry the second stage of a Saturn V rocket for the Apollo program.

The Super Guppy has a unique structure, earning it the nickname "Frankenplane". It is assembled from parts of different aircraft, including the military variant of the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser. The fuselage of the aircraft is lengthened to 141 feet (43 meters) and has a maximum interior diameter of 25 feet (7.6 meters). The Super Guppy features a hinged nose that opens up to 110 degrees for convenient cargo loading.

The purchase price of the Super Guppy is estimated to be around US$2.28 million in 1965, which is equivalent to approximately €2,200,000 or £1,950,000 in today's currency. This price may vary depending on the specific model, features, and the year of purchase.

The Super Guppy has been an invaluable asset for NASA, providing a means to transport large and bulky cargo that would otherwise be challenging to move over long distances. Its cargo capacity and range have made it a crucial tool for NASA's space exploration programs, including the Apollo missions and the International Space Station projects.

The aircraft's unique design

The Aero Spacelines Super Guppy is a unique and iconic aircraft, known for its distinctive appearance and its ability to transport oversized cargo. Its design and development were inspired by the need to transport bulky components for the Apollo program. The Super Guppy is the only aircraft in the world that can carry a complete S-IVB stage, the third stage of the Saturn V rocket.

The Super Guppy's bulbous, teardrop-shaped fuselage is its most striking characteristic. This design allows the aircraft to accommodate exceptionally large payloads that would be impossible to transport using conventional cargo planes. The aircraft's fuselage is hinged to provide access to the spacious cargo compartment. The hinged nose can be opened, allowing cargo to be rolled directly into the cargo hold. This unique loading mechanism streamlines the transportation of large and cumbersome items.

The Super Guppy is powered by four turboprop engines, typically Allison 501-D22C engines, which provide the necessary thrust to carry heavy payloads over long distances. The aircraft has a maximum thrust rate of 7,100 hp and can carry a maximum load of 24,000 kg with a maximum cruise speed of 260 knots. The Super Guppy has a range of 3,200 kilometres and can carry a cargo of almost 80 tons.

The first Super Guppy, or "SG", was built using the fuselage of a C-97J Turbo Stratocruiser, the military version of the 1950s Boeing 377 Stratocruiser passenger plane. The fuselage was lengthened to 43 metres and widened to a maximum inside diameter of 7.6 metres. The Super Guppy used Pratt & Whitney T-34-P-7WA turboprop engines for increased power and range, and modified wing and tail surfaces.

The second version, the Super Guppy Turbine (SGT), featured a fuselage constructed from scratch, allowing for a wider cargo compartment. The SGT retained the cockpit, wings, tail, and main landing gear of the 377, but the nose gear was taken from a Boeing 707, rotated 180 degrees to level the cargo-bay floor and simplify loading operations. The SGT could carry a maximum load of 23,800 kg and had a maximum cruise speed of 250 knots.

Its history and usage

The Super Guppy is a large, wide-bodied cargo aircraft built by Aero Spacelines in the 1960s. It is the successor to the Pregnant Guppy, the first of the Guppy aircraft produced by Aero Spacelines. The Super Guppy is notable for its ability to carry outsize cargo components, including the third stage of the Saturn V rocket, which played a crucial role in NASA's Apollo program.

The development of the Super Guppy was influenced by NASA's need to transport large and lightweight rocket components efficiently across the United States. The aircraft's unique design, with a large fuselage diameter, enabled the transportation of these components from manufacturing sites in California to launch sites in Florida. The Pregnant Guppy, the predecessor to the Super Guppy, reduced the delivery time of rocket components from 18 days by barge to just 18 hours by air.

The first Super Guppy, or "SG", was built using the fuselage of a C-97J Turbo Stratocruiser, the military version of the 1950s Boeing 377 Stratocruiser passenger plane. The fuselage was lengthened to 141 feet (43 meters) and modified to accommodate a larger cargo compartment. The Super Guppy utilized Pratt & Whitney T-34-P-7WA turboprop engines, providing increased power and range. Unfortunately, the first Super Guppy suffered a fuselage collapse during high-speed dives in certification tests in September 1965. After a successful emergency landing, the aircraft's superstructure was redesigned and rebuilt.

The second version, known as the Super Guppy Turbine (SGT), featured Allison 501-D22C turboprops and offered several improvements over its predecessor. The main portion of its fuselage was constructed from scratch, allowing for a wider cargo compartment and an increased overall cargo length. The SGT also incorporated a pressurized crew cabin, enabling higher-altitude cruising. These advancements allowed the SGT to transport more cargo than previous models.

In the early 1970s, Airbus utilized the Super Guppy Turbines to transport aircraft parts to their final assembly plant in Toulouse, France. Airbus acquired the rights to produce the aircraft and built two additional Super Guppy Turbines in 1982 and 1983. However, they have since been replaced by the Airbus Beluga, which has double the cargo capacity.

Today, only one Super Guppy remains in service with NASA, while three are on display in museums in the United States, Germany, and France. The Super Guppy played a significant role in the advancement of space exploration and continues to be an important asset for NASA, even decades after its initial development.

The Super Guppy's successor

The Super Guppy is a successor to the Pregnant Guppy, the first of the Guppy aircraft produced by Aero Spacelines. The Super Guppy is a large, wide-bodied cargo aircraft used for carrying oversized cargo components. It was introduced in 1965 and remained in service with NASA for 32 years, flying three million miles in support of several space programs, from Apollo to the International Space Station.

The Beluga has a length of 157 feet and 10 inches (47.85 meters), a wingspan of 177 feet and 4 inches (54 meters), and a height of 51 feet and 6 inches (15.7 meters). It has a maximum takeoff weight of 270,000 pounds (122,470 kilograms) and a maximum speed of 343 knots (635 kilometers per hour).

The Beluga offers several advantages over the Super Guppy. In addition to its increased cargo capacity, the Beluga has a wider cargo door, allowing for easier loading and unloading of oversized cargo. It also has a more modern cockpit and improved avionics, making it easier to operate and navigate. Additionally, the Beluga's engines are more fuel-efficient and reliable, reducing operating costs and improving dispatch reliability.

Despite the Beluga's superior capabilities, NASA continues to operate the last remaining Super Guppy, which is based at the El Paso International Airport in Texas. This Super Guppy is used for transporting spacecraft components and is maintained as a vital asset, even though sourcing obsolete parts can be challenging.

Other similar aircraft

The Super Guppy is a large, wide-bodied cargo aircraft built in the 1960s by Aero Spacelines. It is used for transporting oversized cargo components, particularly for space missions. The aircraft is about 43 metres long, with a height of 15 metres and a wingspan of 47 metres.

Some similar aircraft to the Super Guppy include the Boeing 757-200PF, the Mini Guppy Plane, and the Ilyushin IL-76TD.

The Boeing 757-200PF is a jet airliner that can reach speeds of up to 850 km/h and has a range of 5900 km.

The Mini Guppy Plane is a smaller version of the Super Guppy, with a reduced cargo hold diameter of 18 feet. It was designed to transport oversized cargo.

The Ilyushin IL-76TD is a large military transport aircraft capable of carrying 140 passengers and reaching speeds of 850 km/h. It has a range of 3800 km.

In addition to these aircraft, there are other large cargo planes that are worth mentioning, such as the Airbus Beluga, Boeing Dreamlifter, and Antonov AN-225. These planes are designed to carry extremely large cargo, including plane parts, and are among the biggest aircraft in the world.

Frequently asked questions