Airbus’ white whale-shaped aircraft, the Beluga, has been transporting satellites, helicopters, and aircraft engines for nearly two decades. Originally designed to transport aircraft parts between Airbus production facilities across Europe, the Beluga is now operated by a cargo airline called Airbus Beluga Transport.
The first Beluga model, originally named Airbus Super Transport, earned its nickname from its distinctive white whale-like appearance. This led Airbus to officially change the model’s name to Beluga ST, while retaining the original name in its abbreviated form. Since its first flight in 1994 and operational debut in 1995, a total of four Beluga aircraft were built, with the last one released in 2000.
The unique design of the Beluga involves modifications to the Airbus A300-600 model, including the removal of the entire nose section, the addition of a special fuselage, larger doors, and individual flight equipment. The cargo hold of this aircraft is significantly larger than that of conventional cargo aircraft like the Boeing 747-8F, allowing it to transport oversized objects such as satellites, helicopters
