Super Guppy Cargo Plane Lands at Lakeland Expo

0:00It's April 9th, you're listening to tap-a-bay news today, AI-powered local news. NASA's Super Guppy Cargo Plane just touched down in Lakeland, Florida, one of only four, like a worldwide. This beast has deep roots in the Apollo program from the 1960s, hauling massive rocket parts back then. It's the planet's biggest volume cargo hauler, with a wild balloon-like fuselage built for oversized loads. Right now, it's parked at Lakeland Linder International Airport for the Sunfund Aerospace Expo, running April 14th through 19th. These planes started with the original pregnant gubby in 1961, lugging Saturn rocket stages for moon missions. The Super Guppy mixes military scraps, like P3 Orion engines, C-130 propeller blades, and a flipped Boeing 747 nose gear to swallow. Cargo 25 feet wide and 111 feet long through its swinging nose. Aviation fans are buzzing because this is a rare public sighting after three years of teamwork with NASA.

1:01Expo visitors get a first-ever peak inside the beast, whether allowing something these shy giants don't do at every show. It's a huge win for the Aerospace Center for Excellence, drawing crowds to celebrate flight history. Meanwhile, the same crew that flew it here has a hot mission ahead. They're heading out Friday to snag Artemis astronauts splashing down off San Diego's coast, then ferry them back to Houston, that keeps the Super Guppy's legacy alive in today's space race. Heads up if you're nearby. The Expo kicks off next Tuesday, pack with this living legend and more sky-high action. Catch it before the guppy lifts off for its next cosmic haul.