Airbus has started production of the first Beluga XL outsized cargo transport aircraft, which is based on its A330-200 Freighter. The ...
Airbus has started production of the first Beluga XL outsized cargo transport aircraft, which is based on its A330-200 Freighter.
The first cut of the Beluga XL MSN001 rear fuselage was achieved in Spain, paving the way for the final assembly to begin in early 2017.
The rear fuselage, produced by Aernnova, will be the first part to be delivered to the Beluga Final Assembly Line in Toulouse. The Beluga XL entry into service is planned in mid-2019.
The Beluga XL was launched in November 2014 to address the transport capacity requirements in view of the A350 XWB ramp-up and other aircraft production rate increases.
The Beluga XL will be powered with Rolls Royce Trent 700 engines. The fleet of five Beluga XL aircraft will provide Airbus with an additional 30 percent extra transport capacity.
The Beluga fleet is used to transport large aircraft parts across Airbus's European assembly line in Hamburg, Germany and Toulouse, France. Current fleet of five Beluga aircraft is based on the Airbus A300 aircraft, whose production ended in 2007.
