An Airline for the World’s Weirdest Super Transport

Airbus Beluga Transport, a cargo airline, operates Airbus’ famous white whale-shaped aircraft to transport satellites, helicopters, and aircraft engines. The Beluga, a large cargo plane with a unique shape, has been in service for almost 20 years. It primarily moves aircraft parts between Airbus production plants throughout Europe. A new version of the Beluga is now replacing the original fleet and serving Airbus Beluga Transport.

The Beluga was originally called Airbus Super Transport before it became known by its nickname due to its resemblance to a white whale. Airbus changed the model’s name to Beluga ST, keeping the original name in an abbreviated form. The plane was first flown in 1994 and started operating in 1995, with four Beluga aircraft built by the end of 2000. These planes were designed to move large parts of Airbus aircraft between factories in multiple countries to final assembly lines in Toulouse and Hamburg.

The Beluga XL, a new and larger version of the Beluga ST, is now replacing the original model. With a wider fuselage and more advanced features, the Beluga XL can carry larger loads, including both wings of the rival Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft. The XL is based on an A330 airframe and has six aircraft in service since 2018, with more in production. The XL may eventually replace the ST in Airbus’ network, while the STs continue to operate for Airbus and Beluga Transport.

Due to its cargo hold’s size, the Beluga can transport oversized objects like satellites, helicopters, and aircraft engines. This unique cargo aircraft has limitations, including a limited range of 3,000 km and a maximum cargo weight of 40 tons. Despite these limitations, the Beluga remains a crucial part of Airbus’ operations, carrying essential components for their aircraft. Specialized pilot training is needed due to the plane’s aerodynamic challenges caused by its large head.