NASA s Super Guppy is an aircraft built specifically to ferry large cargo.
The Idea for the Super Guppy was introduced in 1965 after the agency s creation of Aero Spaceline Industries Pregnant Guppy in 1961.
Retired U.S. Air Force pilot Jack Conroy pitched the idea to NASA following a conversation with aircraft broker Leo Mansdorf regarding reselling Boeing Model 377 Stratocruisers, according to an account from Popular Mechanics.
Conroy had heard that they were transporting components for future spacecraft and he said they could expand the Stratocruiser s fuselage to do so.
In disbelief, NASA officials told Conroy his design made with parts from the Stratocruiser and other planes looked like a pregnant guppy, but Conroy was undeterred and later mortgaged his house to create Aero Spacelines International and begin his work.