The Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy was a large, wide-bodied, American cargo aircraft used for aerial transport of outsized cargo components. The Mini Guppy is one of the Guppy line of aircraft produced by Aero Spacelines.
Two versions of the Mini Guppy were produced. Both versions are colloquially referred to as the "Mini Guppy".
Both Mini Guppies were built using parts salvaged from a surplus Boeing 377, but with an all-new fuselage. This enabled Aero Spacelines to widen the Mini Guppy cargo bay floor to 13 ft (4 m), as opposed to the 8 ft (2.4 m) restriction imposed when building directly onto a B-377 fuselage. Borrowed parts included the cockpit, wings, and tail.
Mini Guppyedit
The cargo area of the Mini Guppy
The Mini Guppy, or "MG", was built with a swing-tail to facilitate cargo loading. It was powered by the original Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major piston engines, enabling it to carry a maximum load of 32,000 pounds (14,500 kg), and cruise at 250 mph (400 km/h). Its cargo bay was 18 ft (5.5 m) in diameter, and a maximum of 91 ft 6 in (27.9 m) long, with a 73 ft 2 in (22.3 m) constant section.
The Mini Guppy first flew on May 24, 1967, and Aero Spacelines operated it for several years, ferrying contract cargo, including NASA's famed Pioneer 10 space probe and the Goodyear Europa until it was sold to American Jet Industries in 1974. American Jet Industries sold it to Aero Union in 1980, who sold it to Erickson Air Crane eight years later. Erickson Air Crane used the Mini Guppy to haul heavy equipment until 1995, when it was retired to the Tillamook Air Museum in Tillamook, Oregon, where it resides today.
Mini Guppy Turbineedit
The second version was officially known as the Mini Guppy Turbine (MGT) and Guppy 101. It was the first Guppy aircraft to feature upgraded Allison 501-D22Cturboprop engines. Like the MG, the MGT had a 73 ft 2 in (22.3 m) constant diameter section of the cargo hold, but the overall length had been increased to 103 ft 2 in (31.4 m), and the diameter was slightly wider: 18 ft 4 in (5.6 m). This, combined with the upgraded engines, enabled it to carry a maximum payload of 62,925 pounds (28,540 kg), almost twice the load the MG could handle. It was built with a swing-nose for easier cargo loading.
Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy transporting a salvaged Dassault Falcon 20C.
The MGT first took to the air on March 13, 1970, but was short-lived. On May 12, 1970, the Mini Guppy Turbine was lost, along with the entire crew, in an accident during flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
Taylor, H. A. "Tony" (April–July 1982). "Stratocruiser... Ending an Airline Era". Air Enthusiast. No. 18. pp. 37–53. ISSN 0143-5450.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy.
All About Guppys
Aero Spacelines 377MGT Mini Guppy Turbine (Guppy 101)
Aero Spacelines 377MGT Mini Guppy Turbine (Guppy 101) accident
Aero Spacelines 377MGT Mini Guppy Turbine Accident Description
NTSB Accident Report
March 17, 2024
aero, spacelines, mini, guppy, large, wide, bodied, american, cargo, aircraft, used, aerial, transport, outsized, cargo, components, mini, guppy, guppy, line, aircraft, produced, aero, spacelines, mini, guppymini, guppy, tillamook, museum, tillamook, oregon, r. The Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy was a large wide bodied American cargo aircraft used for aerial transport of outsized cargo components The Mini Guppy is one of the Guppy line of aircraft produced by Aero Spacelines Mini GuppyMini Guppy at the Tillamook Air Museum in Tillamook Oregon Role Outsize cargo freight aircraftNational origin United StatesManufacturer Aero SpacelinesFirst flight May 24 1967Retired 1995Primary users Aero SpacelinesAero UnionErickson Inc American Jet IndustriesNumber built 2 1 MG 1 MGT Developed from Boeing 377 Stratocruiser Contents 1 Mini Guppy versions 1 1 Mini Guppy 1 2 Mini Guppy Turbine 2 See also 3 Bibliography 4 External linksMini Guppy versions editTwo versions of the Mini Guppy were produced Both versions are colloquially referred to as the Mini Guppy Both Mini Guppies were built using parts salvaged from a surplus Boeing 377 but with an all new fuselage This enabled Aero Spacelines to widen the Mini Guppy cargo bay floor to 13 ft 4 m as opposed to the 8 ft 2 4 m restriction imposed when building directly onto a B 377 fuselage Borrowed parts included the cockpit wings and tail Mini Guppy edit nbsp The cargo area of the Mini GuppyThe Mini Guppy or MG was built with a swing tail to facilitate cargo loading It was powered by the original Pratt amp Whitney R 4360 Wasp Major piston engines enabling it to carry a maximum load of 32 000 pounds 14 500 kg and cruise at 250 mph 400 km h Its cargo bay was 18 ft 5 5 m in diameter and a maximum of 91 ft 6 in 27 9 m long with a 73 ft 2 in 22 3 m constant section The Mini Guppy first flew on May 24 1967 and Aero Spacelines operated it for several years ferrying contract cargo including NASA s famed Pioneer 10 space probe and the Goodyear Europa until it was sold to American Jet Industries in 1974 American Jet Industries sold it to Aero Union in 1980 who sold it to Erickson Air Crane eight years later Erickson Air Crane used the Mini Guppy to haul heavy equipment until 1995 when it was retired to the Tillamook Air Museum in Tillamook Oregon where it resides today Mini Guppy Turbine edit The second version was officially known as the Mini Guppy Turbine MGT and Guppy 101 It was the first Guppy aircraft to feature upgraded Allison 501 D22C turboprop engines Like the MG the MGT had a 73 ft 2 in 22 3 m constant diameter section of the cargo hold but the overall length had been increased to 103 ft 2 in 31 4 m and the diameter was slightly wider 18 ft 4 in 5 6 m This combined with the upgraded engines enabled it to carry a maximum payload of 62 925 pounds 28 540 kg almost twice the load the MG could handle It was built with a swing nose for easier cargo loading nbsp Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy transporting a salvaged Dassault Falcon 20C The MGT first took to the air on March 13 1970 but was short lived On May 12 1970 the Mini Guppy Turbine was lost along with the entire crew in an accident during flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base California See also editPregnant Guppy the original Guppy Super Guppy larger successor to the Pregnant Guppy Conroy SkymonsterBibliography editTaylor H A Tony April July 1982 Stratocruiser Ending an Airline Era Air Enthusiast No 18 pp 37 53 ISSN 0143 5450 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy All About Guppys Aero Spacelines 377MGT Mini Guppy Turbine Guppy 101 Aero Spacelines 377MGT Mini Guppy Turbine Guppy 101 accident Aero Spacelines 377MGT Mini Guppy Turbine Accident Description NTSB Accident Report Boeing B 377 at Boeing com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy amp oldid 1165914518, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
