A very special visitor made a quick stopover last week at Mesa-Williams Gateway Airport. NASA’s specialized Super Guppy N941NA visited the Phoenix metro area on April 18, 2018 on its way from Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado to Moffett Federal Airfield, California.

The Super Guppy has been in use by NASA since the early 1960s and can carry more than 26 tons of cargo. The unique whale-shaped compartment measures 25 feet tall, 25 feet wide and 11 feet long. The plane’s unique construction is designed to haul specialized parts. An interesting fact about the Super Guppy is that it’s hinged nose can rotate 200 degrees, allowing it to be loaded and unloaded from the front.

This is not the first time this unique aircraft has made a stop in the valley. During a stop in Mesa in 2014, the Super Guppy was carrying a hybrid wing body aircraft.

The visit to the valley was a quick one, NASA’s Super Guppy departed 3:43 that afternoon. The former Williams Air Force Base, now known as Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, serves as a civil airport, however it is frequently visited by military aircraft taking advantage of its reduced traffic.  In addition, many pilot training schools operate at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.  In addition, Boeing has a test facility for tests.

Photo by Ryan Smith