Boeing 377 "Mini Guppy" / "Pregnant Guppy" / "Super Guppy"

Several 377 Stratocruisers and KC-97 Stratofreighters were converted to transport large, bulky items. The first, was a converted
Pan American aircraft stretched 16 feet, 8 inches with a new 20-foot-high cargo area. This aircraft was dubbed the Pregnant Guppy
and first flew in 1962. The Pregnant Guppy was used to transport large rocket subassemblies for the Apollo program. Other variants
included the Super Guppy which was 31 feet longer than the standard 377 and was hinged at the nose. The Mini Guppy simply
hinged at the tail. Most Guppy variants were converted by Aero Spacelines. The Guppy has played a vital role in the space program
since the 1960s in support of Gemini, Apollo and Skylab projects. Four Super Guppies were used by Airbus Industrie to shuttle
subassemblies between its European partners. The last of these was retired in 1997.

The Mini Guppy was converted in 1967.

Mini Guppy in service for ASL.

...was built for ASL, too and started in 1965.

The first Airbus Super Guppy.

The ASL Super Guppy in flight.

The Pregnant Guppy for ASL first flew in 1962.

The first Super Guppy...

She was aquired by ESA and later forwarded to NASA for ISS.

Airbus Guppy #3 preparing for take-off.

Forward section of Airbus Guppy #3.

Aero Space Lines Super Guppy being loaded with X-24B and HL-10 lifting body X-Planes - she later became the first Airbus Guppy.

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