[Vinnie]

Not a new concept.
B-377SG Super Guppy Flew 1965
A modified Boeing Stratocruiser, which was a modified B-29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_Spacelines_Super_Guppy

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Not a new concept.

Airbus contracted with Aero Spacelines to buy the first two 377SGT Super Guppys and to have them build two more Super Guppys to use as part of their production-line process.

Eventually, all airplanes wear out, especially those used on a regular schedule. The Beluga was the replacement for their fleet of four Super Guppys.

The first was retired to British Aviation Heritage in Bruntingthorpe, England. Number two was retired to the Airbus final assembly plant in Toulouse, France. Number three is proudly parked in front of the main entrance of the DASA factory in Finkenwerder, Germany.

Number four, the 'youngest' of the 377SGT fleet, was acquired by NASA from the European Space Agency under an International Space Station barter agreement. ESA supplied the Guppy to offset the cost to NASA of carrying ESA experiment equipment to the station as part of two future Space Shuttle flights. It continues to soldier on carrying out-sized cargo for NASA.

See: All About Guppys

[jttpwalsh]

Super Guppy

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I saw one of those babies, once, when I was driving down the 405 Freeway.

I was really PO’d that I was driving, and couldn’t give it my full attention. It was some sight !