Postcard from Tucson

You are looking at one of the five remaining aircraft known as the “Super Guppy.” Built by Aero Spacelines in the late 60’s and early 70’s, it took its name from the original smaller version, nicknamed the “Pregnant Guppy” by NASA. As you might guess, it is a cargo plane.

NASA used it to haul airplane parts and even a rocket or two. The last produced Super Guppy remains in service: an SGT flown by NASA (currently used to ferry components for the International Space Station and Project Orion). It is stationed in and operated from Ellington Field in Houston. The other three are mothballed in various locations in Europe.

When in service, the front of the aircraft swung out to it’s left, revealing a giant cargo section…and I mean Giant! In its heyday, it could haul 47 tons. Not very much these days, when you compare it to a C-5 Galaxy (122.5 tons) or the Russian Antonov-124 (150 tons).

As you might tell from the photo, the aircraft looks like a giant balloon that has been painted to resemble an airplane. When you stand in front of it, that resemblance is even more pronounced. So, of course I went around it and banged on the fuselage a few times.  Trust me…it is made out of metal.

When you look at it, you would swear that it could never get off the ground…but it did. In fact, many of the 300 aircraft on display here look like they could never get airborne.

My son Eric, his fiancé Maria, and I toured the Pima Air and Space Museum here in Tucson just yesterday, where I took this photo (with my iPhone camera). Oh yes, and it was 95 degrees outside. We alternated between walking outside and visiting the indoor hangers that are air conditioned.

I’ve written before this unique museum before and about some of the aircraft on display here. So I won’t bother to give you the written tour again. If you want to learn more, visit their Website. But, trust me…if you ever come to Tucson, you will want to see this place. Be sure and take the Bone Yard Tour to see the thousand of airplanes stored right next door at Davis Monthan Air Force Base.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com

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