Airbus Beluga XL

Airbus Beluga XL, also known as Airbus A330-700L, is a new type of large transport aircraft that was put into operation in 2019. In the following article, AloTrip will share the most useful information about Airbus Beluga XL.

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Airbus Beluga XL, also known as Airbus A330-700L, is a new type of large transport aircraft that was put into operation in 2019. Airbus Beluga XL aircraft have extensions on top of fuselages like Beluga. It was designed, manufactured and operated to transport oversized aircraft parts.

May bay Airbus Beluga XL

Development

In 2013, the five original Belugas could not cope with production growth.

In November 2014, a program was launched to build five aircraft to replace the five existing Belugas.

On September 16, 2015, the design freeze was announced.

In October, 2017, up to 75% of the structure assembly of the first Beluga XL was performed.

On July 19, 2018, Airbus started operating the first BelugaXL.

The second Airbus Beluga XL was assembled in December 2018; the remaining aircrafts would be assembled in later years.

Operational history

The first Beluga XL aircraft rolled out of the assembly line without painting and engines on January 4, 2018.

In March 2018, the first Beluga XL (MSN1824) was equipped with the engine while the second (MSN1853) was converted 30%. It passed Ground Vibration Test in early June 2018.

The first flight was on July 19, 2018. In February 2019, the first aircraft flew to various destinations, including Airbus' wing plants in Bremen, Germany and Broughton, Wales.

On March 19, 2019, the first Beluga XL to enter service will be the second aircraft built. The third airframe was converted and expected to last until the fourth quarter of 2019, for delivery in 2020. Operations were expected to start with two XLs in the second half of 2019.