9/25/2003: Super Guppy

Undertoad · 09-25-2003, 12:11 PM

I had never seen this aircraft before, and was really interested to see it when xoxoxoBruce sent the images of it along. This is a Super Guppy, and its job is to move aircraft sections from point A to point B.

Because once you've started to build an aircraft, what do you do when key parts are to be added at another plant? You need an even bigger aircraft...

One that can actually open its jaw like a snake...

Big enough to swallow and cough up most of a V-22 helicopter fuselage, and to fly it halfway across the country.

I did not know this but the first "guppies" were built for the moon program. Now there are several, apparently; googling for a while showed that Airbus has a few of them too.

It would be frightening to see this in the skies above you.

Senor Oso · 09-25-2003, 12:22 PM

I'm surprised it's driven by propellors rather than jets - you'd think those big aircraft parts would be pretty heavy.

I wonder if it's tough to pilot? It sure doesn't look very maneuverable at all.

hairdog · 09-25-2003, 01:36 PM

I saw a couple of these at an airfield in Georgia (can't remember exactly where). They are truly silly looking. The people we were visiting live about 1/4 of a mile away from the airfield and say that the house shakes pretty well when these things take off.

mitheral · 09-25-2003, 03:32 PM

Props are more effecient than jets at lower speeds and I imagine this thing doesn't fly all that fast. It's why all the water bombers are prop jobs.

xoxoxoBruce · 09-25-2003, 04:22 PM

The 4 prop Boeing Stratocruisers (pic of a model in Dodads) were converted to freight when the 707 jet took over. When the space program reved up some of the Strats were converted to the first Guppies.
Good job UT.

Elspode · 09-25-2003, 05:34 PM

If memory serves, the Super Guppies are the last vestiges of the B-29 airframe. Yes, the same aircraft that dropped the big one on Japan.

gossard187 · 09-25-2003, 07:36 PM

I like how the top is all reflective, reminds me of the coloring of fish: light on bottom so they blend in from below and dark on top so they blend in from above. I'm sure thats not the purpose for the makeup of this plane.

and a good quote on the naming of the various models: "The Pregnant Guppy was followed by the Very Pregnant Guppy, later renamed Super Guppy. They also made a smaller version -- the Mini Guppy."

lhand · 09-25-2003, 07:40 PM

It's the NASA Super Guppy. (Note the NASA logo on the tail.) It was manufactured by Airbus Industries and given to NASA by the Eurpoean Space Agency. More info at http://jsc-aircraft-ops.jsc.nasa.gov/guppy/index.html

It's a cool plane.

Nothing But Net · 09-25-2003, 09:23 PM

Guppy sounds wimpy.

Looks more like a porpoise, anyway.

LUVBUGZ · 09-25-2003, 09:40 PM

Super Guppy looks more like a Super Whale. I've never seen one of these. Cool pics Bruce. Did you take them or "steal" them from work?

xoxoxoBruce · 09-25-2003, 10:16 PM

They were emailed to my by an old boss that's retired.

Jaxxon · 09-26-2003, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Undertoad
I had never seen this aircraft before, and was really interested to see it when xoxoxoBruce sent the images of it along. This is a Super Guppy, and its job is to move aircraft sections from point A to point B.

Its job was to move aircraft sections across Europe, from one Airbus assembly facility to another. Airbus stopped using them years ago.

The Super Guppy was replaced by the Beluga. Here's some info:

Official Site
Fan site (German only, but lots of pics)

andcal · 09-26-2003, 12:20 PM

At first, I thought it was an amazing coincidence how perfectly the "large aircraft part" fit inside the Super Guppy. Then I realized that if a company was planning on ever having to transport a piece like this by air, odds are that they could have included the Super Guppy's cargo bay size & shape as a design parameter for that aircraft part. See, there are smart people at work somewhere in this world. Even if they are outnumbered by the rest of us something like 10:1!

xoxoxoBruce · 09-27-2003, 02:04 PM

Actually it was the other way round, The V-22 was designed the replace the CH-46 helicopter that the Navy (Marines) use. The props fold and the wing pivots and stows longitudinally along the axis of the fuselage for shipboard storage. The one wrapped up in these pics doesn't have the wing or engines installed yet.

Elspode · 09-27-2003, 04:43 PM

The Osprey has a troubling safety record to date. Apparently, transitional flight is a lot harder than anyone dared imagine.

I hope they get it completely worked out. It is a remarkable aircraft. Does anyone know if they've been made available for active duty again, or are they still on "hold"?

09-25-2003, 12:11 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	9/25/2003: Super Guppy I had never seen this aircraft before, and was really interested to see it when xoxoxoBruce sent the images of it along. This is a Super Guppy, and its job is to move aircraft sections from point A to point B. Because once you've started to build an aircraft, what do you do when key parts are to be added at another plant? You need an even bigger aircraft... One that can actually open its jaw like a snake... Big enough to swallow and cough up most of a V-22 helicopter fuselage, and to fly it halfway across the country. I did not know this but the first "guppies" were built for the moon program. Now there are several, apparently; googling for a while showed that Airbus has a few of them too. It would be frightening to see this in the skies above you.

09-25-2003, 04:22 PM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	The 4 prop Boeing Stratocruisers (pic of a model in Dodads) were converted to freight when the 707 jet took over. When the space program reved up some of the Strats were converted to the first Guppies. Good job UT. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

09-25-2003, 05:34 PM	#6
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	If memory serves, the Super Guppies are the last vestiges of the B-29 airframe. Yes, the same aircraft that dropped the big one on Japan. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

09-25-2003, 07:40 PM	#8
lhand Dry Nurse Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 23	NASA's Super Guppy It's the NASA Super Guppy. (Note the NASA logo on the tail.) It was manufactured by Airbus Industries and given to NASA by the Eurpoean Space Agency. More info at http://jsc-aircraft-ops.jsc.nasa.gov/guppy/index.html It's a cool plane.

09-25-2003, 09:40 PM	#10
LUVBUGZ Not aging gracefully. Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 530	Super Guppy looks more like a Super Whale. I've never seen one of these. Cool pics Bruce. Did you take them or "steal" them from work? __________________ You can't catch me...don't even try...go do something else...see ya next year. Mama Loves You Baby Girl ~ May You Rest In Peace

09-25-2003, 12:22 PM	#2
Senor Oso Antagonistic Antagonist Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 22	I'm surprised it's driven by propellors rather than jets - you'd think those big aircraft parts would be pretty heavy. I wonder if it's tough to pilot? It sure doesn't look very maneuverable at all.

09-25-2003, 01:36 PM	#3
hairdog Simulated Simulacrum Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Posts: 39	I saw a couple of these at an airfield in Georgia (can't remember exactly where). They are truly silly looking. The people we were visiting live about 1/4 of a mile away from the airfield and say that the house shakes pretty well when these things take off.

09-25-2003, 03:32 PM	#4
mitheral Abecedarian Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 170	Props are more effecient than jets at lower speeds and I imagine this thing doesn't fly all that fast. It's why all the water bombers are prop jobs.

09-25-2003, 07:36 PM	#7
gossard187 Caste-Away Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palo Alto Posts: 48	I like how the top is all reflective, reminds me of the coloring of fish: light on bottom so they blend in from below and dark on top so they blend in from above. I'm sure thats not the purpose for the makeup of this plane. and a good quote on the naming of the various models: "The Pregnant Guppy was followed by the Very Pregnant Guppy, later renamed Super Guppy. They also made a smaller version -- the Mini Guppy."

09-25-2003, 09:23 PM	#9
Nothing But Net Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Spring, Texas Posts: 1,481	Guppy sounds wimpy. Looks more like a porpoise, anyway.

09-25-2003, 10:16 PM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	They were emailed to my by an old boss that's retired. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

09-26-2003, 12:20 PM	#13
andcal Writer of Writings Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ruston, LA Posts: 14	At first, I thought it was an amazing coincidence how perfectly the "large aircraft part" fit inside the Super Guppy. Then I realized that if a company was planning on ever having to transport a piece like this by air, odds are that they could have included the Super Guppy's cargo bay size & shape as a design parameter for that aircraft part. See, there are smart people at work somewhere in this world. Even if they are outnumbered by the rest of us something like 10:1!

09-27-2003, 02:04 PM	#14
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Actually it was the other way round, The V-22 was designed the replace the CH-46 helicopter that the Navy (Marines) use. The props fold and the wing pivots and stows longitudinally along the axis of the fuselage for shipboard storage. The one wrapped up in these pics doesn't have the wing or engines installed yet. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

09-27-2003, 04:43 PM	#15
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	The Osprey has a troubling safety record to date. Apparently, transitional flight is a lot harder than anyone dared imagine. I hope they get it completely worked out. It is a remarkable aircraft. Does anyone know if they've been made available for active duty again, or are they still on "hold"? __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

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