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Aero Spacelines, then based at Van Nuys, California, were quick to appreciate the potential of outsize cargo aircraft that would be able to airlift large booster rocket stages being employed in the American space programme, as well as for the transport of aircraft assemblies, oil drilling equipment, and other items too large to be carried by any then existing aircraft. Work started in 1961 on the conversion of a Boeing B-377 Stratocruiser to fulfil such a role: the fuselage was extended by 5.08m aft of the wing, and a new 'bubble' structure was added over the top of the fuselage to allow the loading of items up to 6.02m in diameter. The resulting B-377PG Pregnant Guppy was flown for the first time on 19 September
1962, and was used from the summer of
1963, under contract to NASA, for the
transport of space programme hardware.
| MODEL | 377PG "Pregnant Guppy" |
| ENGINE | 4 x Pratt-Whitney R-4360, 2625kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 60200 kg | 132719 lb |
| Empty weight | 41200 kg | 90831 lb |
| Payload | 13100kg | 28881 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 43.05 m | 141 ft 3 in |
| Length | 38.71 m | 127 ft 0 in |
| Johnny, 04.02.2013 i cant believe it's not the biggest | | Johnny, 04.02.2013 i cant believe it's not the biggest | | John Kinzer, Nakinzer=aol.com, 21.11.2012 I was the number two engineer on the Pregnant guppy and the last engineer to ever fly on the Pregnant Guppy fron Santa Barbara to Van Nuys. I was number two engineer on the Supper Guppy when it blew up over Mohave and flew as engineer on many trips till it was sold.. I was also number two engineer on the Mini Gup from test flight till was sold to Evergreen. Have visited it many times in Tillamook Ore , where we spend our summers. Now living in Sun City Az. | | Michael F. Jacobbauski, T6Jake=sbcglobal.net, 20.08.2010 I was a good friend of Jack Conroy who came up with the idea and worked on the project from start to finish. 1024V was the tail no. of the first conversion and I had the honor of taxing it out for the first engine runs and related. | | Ken Swick, kswick4915=sbcglobal.net, 18.06.2009 I was born, raised and still live 1 mile from Ellington Field in Houston, Texas. The last Super Guppy in the US is based here. When it flies all traffic stops and heads turn upward to catch a glance at it. Still have to wonder how this thing flies! It is kept under a huge canopy near the NASA T-38's. | | Don Goeke, puzzie63=msn.com, 11.05.2008 Rich did you know that their is a Guppy at the Tillamook Navy meuseum in Tillamook, Oregon. | | Rich Ambler, wvupap=yahoo.com, 21.12.2007 I was one of Aero Spacelines employees from the start.I enjoyed every moment. I still have a few pictures that I took and my old I.D. badge. I would like very much one day to see one of the old aircraft and some of the folks I worked with. Long live the Guppy. Rich |
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