BELUGA AIRBUS

BELUGA

THE SUPER TRANSPORTER

The famous Beluga is officially called the A300-600ST-'ST' for Super Transporter. It gained its name from its resemblance to a white whale called a Beluga and its official designation ahs rarely been used since. The aircraft was designed specifically to replace the Super Guppies Airbus used from its beginning to transport sections of aircraft to the Airbus final assembly lines in Toulouse and Hamburg. Construction of the first aircraft began in 1992 and the first flight took place in 1994, following certification the first aircraft entered into service with Airbus Transport International in 1995.

The design is based on the A300-600; the wings, GE CF6-80 engines, and the lower part of the fuselage were retained. However very significant modifications included:

      - Replacement of the upper fuselage by a section with a diameter of 7.4 meters

      - A front-loading door that opens to 17 meters high

      - Lowering the cockpit to allow direct loading through the front door

      - Enlargement and reinforcement of the vertical and horizontal stabilizers

The prime task of the five aircraft fleet is to transport Airbus components and it supports the Airbus assembly process by site of site for all Airbus aircraft family members except the A380. The aircraft are also available for character. The Beluga is not the largest aircraft in term of maximum load, however its enormous internal capacity allows high volume high value loads to be transported. A[art from Airbus parts such loads have included satellites and space station components, complete helicopters, outsize work of art, industrial machines etc.

Although Beluga is not in airline service it is always an aircraft that Airbus customers like to see in the air and visit on the ground. The fleet size may be small but Beluga has a special place in the heart of  airbus for its unique size, shape and carrying capacity. 

  Note :- The freight compartment is 7.4 meters in diameter, 37.7 meters long and the aircraft can carry a maximum 47t load for 5,000kms at 700km/h.