NASA Guppy - all painted over
Used by NASA to transport vehicles used in early space missions: Apollo, Gemini, Skylab, etc. At Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona. Photo used for &#...
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Used by NASA to transport vehicles used in early space missions: Apollo, Gemini, Skylab, etc. At Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona. Photo used for 'Unusual Aircraft' photo challenge 5-1-19.
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Canon PowerShot SD10
Aperture 56/10 Shutter 1/1500 Focal Length 205/32 
Tucson, Arizona, US
May, 2019Views
507
Likes
Awards
Peer Award
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Superior Skill
Top Ranks
Top 10 rank week 1
Top 30 rank week 1
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 2Top 10 rank week 1Categories
PRO+
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
May 02, 2019
Thank you. An Internet search will show the fascinating history of this unique aircraft. It was a weird solution to the very real problem of transporting intact space vehicles from coast to coast.
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
May 06, 2019
Thank you. An Internet search will show the fascinating history of this unique aircraft. It was a weird solution to the very real problem of transporting intact space vehicles from coast to coast.
PRO+
ginnymiller
June 19, 2019
Wow! It doesn't look like it should even fly. Thanks for sharing this neat photo!
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
June 19, 2019
My pleasure. As I wrote in my description of this photo, you can do an internet search and learn the fascinating history of this unique aircraft. I agree - it is difficult to think this thing could fly. It is even more difficult to realize that it flew carrying the weight of so many spacecraft. Thank you for your interest. Please look at other photos in my gallery; you might find some other interesting stuff. I try to keep a wide variety of shots.
PRO+
Platinum
mkhayes
October 16, 2019
This aircraft was known as the “Pregnant Guppy”! It was used to fly several of the rocket sections during the space program in the 60s and 70s. I’ve seen this aircraft 2 times. Once at the Santa Barbara Airport and the 2nd time when I was in the Navy it flew over San Diego Naval Base delivering fire fighting equipment during a forest fire in Southern California. Great photo! It brings back some memories!
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
October 16, 2019
Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed it. This photo was taken several years ago at the Pima Air Museum in Tucson, Arizona. It is hard to believe how big this thing is, yet it successfully transported some really big and heavy payloads.
Platinum
PRO+
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
December 15, 2019
Thanks. I keep promising my wife I will take her there. Our sixth anniversary is in 2 days, and I haven't made it yet. Shame on me.
Platinum
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
February 11, 2020
Glad you enjoyed it, Russell. I cannot imagine how many tons of spacecraft this thing hauled in its day.
PRO+
RickL
April 08, 2020
Pima Air and Space Museum is one of our favorite places. My father was honored there when they finished the B17 hanger. The general in charge of the display greeted us and invited us to go inside the aircraft. Sitting in the cockpit it was one of the few times he spoke of his WWII experience. I recognized the airplane from Santa Barbara. It had been used as a borate bomber. I saw it frequently and the Pregnant Guppy when I piloted back to SB on business trips. You also have a beautiful family. Blessings and thank you for the awards
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
April 08, 2020
Thank you for your kind words. Your story adds a third dimension to the aircraft. Some years ago when Pima was working on the 'Sentimental Journey' B-29, I offered them a gunner's manual from the B-29 (my dad had been a B-29 mechanic in 1945). They didn't want it! Go figure.
Platinum
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