In June I stopped at the Tillamook Air Museum, near the Oregon Coast, to take some pictures and video of the Mini-Guppy, a super-sized air cargo ship based on a Boeing 377. (Or perhaps several Boeing 377’s 
) This plane was built in the 1960’s, and flew to the mid 90’s, when it was parked outside the giant blimp hanger that is now an aircraft museum. Not as big as a the Boeing Dream-Lifter, but perhaps even more strange looking!
When I first saw Erickson Mini-Guppy, it was parked some distance from the Museum Hanger, and almost hidden behind a chain fence — not that you can really hide this place. Today the plane is sited right next to the hanger. 
Now you can get “up close and personal” with the plane — for an extra $3 admission, you can even go inside!
I can’t count the times I’ve been to Tillamook, but have almost never been there on a bright, sunny day. (This is the Oregon Coast, after all!) The sun made for an interesting shot of the cockpit!
I wish I had been able to get some video of this plane taking off and landing – but I doubt it will fly again. Take a look of my video of the 747 Dreamlifter taking off from Portland and you can get some idea of how the Mini-Guppy looked!
I will be uploading a You Tube video soon with more shots of the Mini-Guppy!
