Aero Spacelines Super Guppy

22 Jan 2026 · © Unknown

This aircraft is often seen at NASA's Houston Ellington Field or at various spaceport facilities. Its massive fuselage and hinged nose are unmistakable.

4 likes 0 comments

Comments (0)

No comments yet.

More like this

Boeing 747SP (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy - SOFIA)

Boeing 747-100 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA)

Rockwell International (built for NASA) Space Shuttle Orbiter (Discovery)

Rockwell International Space Shuttle Enterprise

Aircraft

Super Guppy B377SG

NASA

Airline

NASA

Manufacturer

Aero Spacelines

Gear

iPhone

Insights

Aviation History

The Aero Spacelines Super Guppy is legendary for outsized freight. It carried NASA spacecraft modules and rocket parts, and is one of the most iconic 'bulbous' cargo aircraft ever built. Only five were made; this is the only one still flying in the 2020s.

Fleet Rarity

1 of 1 in active service worldwide; the last airworthy Super Guppy, operated by NASA.

Record Flights

Has carried Saturn rocket stages, space station modules, and large spacecraft hardware; notable transatlantic and cross-continental ferry flights.

Safety & Events

Key in the Apollo, Skylab, and ISS eras; famous for its ability to load/unload massive, sensitive hardware via nose opening.

Future Outlook

Still flying as of 2024, occasional use by NASA for outsized cargo. Likely to be retired and preserved due to irreplaceable role and rarity.

Specifications

Allison 501-D22C turboprops (variant of Rolls-Royce T56)

Engine

47.63 meters

Wingspan

43.84 meters

Length

1,750 kilometers

Range

463 kilometers per hour

Speed

Payload: 24,000 kilograms or up to 1,109 cubic meters cargo volume

Capacity

77,110 kilograms

MTOW

14.78 meters

Height

4 × 3,750 shp (2,800 kW) each

Thrust

Not certified to modern ICAO; early gen high noise (likely above 90 EPNdB)

Noise

Aircraft is extremely rare and not typically seen outside NASA operations or special events.