Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy
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The Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy is 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, alongside the Pregnant Guppy and Super Guppy.
Variants
The Mini Guppy was produced in two variants.
Mini Guppy
The sole Model 377MG Mini Guppy was converted from a Boeing 377-10-26 (c/n 15937) and registered N1037V. An entirely new fuselage was fitted to the aircraft with a cargo bay measuring Template:Convert long and Template:Convert wide with a Template:Convert cargo floor; smaller than the cargo bay of the preceding Pregnant Guppy.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref> Cargo was loaded through a hinged swinging tail.<ref name=":0" /> It retained the Pratt & Whitney R-4360 engines of the Stratocruiser, though provisions were made for the installation of Allison 501 turboprop engines.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite book</ref> The vertical tail was extended by Template:Convert, while a new wing center section increased the wingspan by Template:Convert.<ref name=":1" /> The Mini Guppy's empty weight was Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Mini Guppy Turbine
Two further Mini Guppies were built from parts of several Boeing 377 and C-97 aircraft, registered N111AS (c/n 0001) and N112AS (c/n 0002).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Refn Known as the Model 101 Mini Guppy Turbine, these aircraft differed from the original Mini Guppy in that they were powered by four Template:Convert Pratt & Whitney T34-PWA turboprop engines and that cargo was loaded through a swinging nose section.<ref name=":0" />
Operational history
Mini Guppy N1037V made its first flight on May 24, 1967 and was displayed at the that year's Paris Air Show.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /> In 1969, N1037V ferried parts to repair a Boeing 707 that had been damaged in a hijacking in Damascus.<ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1972, N1037V was used to transport Pioneer 10 to Cape Canaveral and the Goodyear GZ-20 Europa from Akron Municipal Airport to Cardington Airfield, becoming the largest aircraft to fly out of Akron.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> American Jet Industries acquired the aircraft in 1974 and operated it as N422AU.<ref name=":1" /> N422AU was subsequently sold to Aero Union in 1980 and Erickson Inc. in 1988 before being retired to the Tillamook Air Museum in 1995.<ref name=":1" />
N111AS first took to the air on May 1, 1970, but was short-lived.<ref name=":0" /> On May 12, 1970, N111AS crashed during its twelfth test flight at Edwards Air Force Base, California, killing all four onboard crew members.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The aircraft was performing a planned three-engine takeoff when it rolled and turned. The left wingtip struck the ground followed by the forward fuselage, destroying the flight deck.<ref name=":3" />
The FAA registration for N112AS was canceled on October 9, 1975.<ref name=":2" />
Aircraft on display
Mini Guppy N422AU is on display at Tillamook Air Museum.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2014, the museum announced that it planned to transfer its aircraft collection to Madras, Oregon, which would require the Mini Guppy to be restored to airworthy condition and flown to the new location.<ref name=":4" /> A new airworthiness certificate was issued for N422AU in January 2017.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Specifications (377MG Mini Guppy)
See also
Notes
References
<references />
Bibliography
External links
- 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
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