Aviation

The Super Guppy first appeared at Oshkosh in 2000 and most recently attended AirVenture in 2023. Developed during the 1960s by Aero Spacelines Industries (ASI) and derived from the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter, the Super Guppy remains one of the most unusual aircraft flying today. Designed specifically to transport oversized cargo, the aircraft features an enormous fuselage measuring 111 feet, 6 inches in length, with a maximum internal height of 25 feet, 6 inches, and a diameter of 25 feet. Powered by four Allison T56 turboprop engines, the Super Guppy has a maximum takeoff weight of 170,000 pounds and can carry payloads of up to 48,000 pounds. The aircraft cruises at approximately 290 mph at an altitude of 25,000 feet. One of the Super Guppy’s most distinctive features is its hinged nose section, which swings open 110 degrees—much like a giant refrigerator door—to allow front-loading of cargo. Freight is carried on pallets and moved within the cargo compartment using an integrated rail system.