NASA’s Super Guppy Attending EAA AirVenture

PRESS RELEASE

America’s legacy and future on the moon, unique aircraft, advanced aviation technologies, and a variety of presentations are among NASA’s highlights coming to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023 on July 24-30 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. One aircraft in particular is expected to catch the aviation enthusiast’s attention, the mighty Super Guppy! NASA has used the Super Guppy for decades as a means of transporting large cargo that would otherwise be difficult to move over significant distances. What many readers may not know is that much of this aircraft, NASA 941, first flew in 1953 as part of a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-97G Stratotanker (s/n 52-0828).

NASA’s activities will be centered at its pavilion in Aviation Gateway Park, just northwest of the FAA control tower on the AirVenture grounds. Other exhibits and programs will be showcased throughout the week at various other locations as well.

Among the other NASA highlights at EAA AirVenture 2023 are:

• Monday, July 24, 8 p.m., Theater in the Woods: “NASA – The Next Bold Step” looks at the Apollo and Artemis programs, from the first steps on the moon to the next steps on the moon. Hosted by former space shuttle commander Charlie Precourt, the program will include NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana, Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke plus Gerry Griffin and Rick Weiss from the Apollo program, as well as Dr. John Blevins, Alex Kanelakos, and Dr. Ryan Watkins from the Artemis program.
• Tuesday, July 25, 2:30 p.m., Forum Pavilion 7: “Artemis Audience Astronauts” will cover mission and science objectives, prelaunch preparation, crew training, and human research objectives the crew will likely complete. Experts in lunar and Mars mission planning and spacecraft development will cover what crews can expect while living and working on and around the moon, and how long-duration Artemis missions will function as partial analogs for human missions to Mars.
• Monday-Wednesday, July 24-26, Boeing Plaza: NASA Super Guppy parked on Boeing Plaza. This unique cargo airplane carries large spaceship parts from location to location. The airplane will also carry a full-size test article of the Orion space capsule.
• Wednesday, July 26, 11:30 a.m., Forum Pavilion 8: “Preparing to Fly the X-59” will feature NASA research test pilot David “Nils” Larson discussing preparations for the agency’s first flight of its X-59 quiet supersonic demonstrator aircraft. The unique X-59 aircraft is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst program, which seeks to open the future to commercial supersonic flight over land.
• Thursday, July 27, 8:30 a.m., Forum Pavilion 8: “NASA Wicked Aeronautics Innovation” focuses on the Convergent Aeronautics Solutions project, which explores various opportunities for aviation transformations for the good of American society. These high-risk expeditions aim to illuminate paths to desirable futures enabled by aviation, as well as the future of flight itself.

Other NASA programs and activities are listed at the AirVenture schedule of events, available online at EAA.org/AirVenture and via the AirVenture app.

Moreno Aguiari

Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

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