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Huge Sections of Airbus BelugaXL Reach Assembly Facility

It took five nights to transport the pieces about 300 miles.

The first large sections of Airbus’ next-generation transport aircraft – the BelugaXL – are transported to the final assembly facility in Toulouse, France.
The first large sections of Airbus’ next-generation transport aircraft – the BelugaXL – are transported to the final assembly facility in Toulouse, France.
Airbus

Toulouse – Yesterday, the first large sections of Airbus’ next generation new transport aircraft, the BelugaXL, arrived at the aircraft Final Assembly facility (L34) in Toulouse, France (see photos in gallery).

Following a five-night and about 300-mile road convoy from Aernnova’s factory in Spain, the panels (two laterals, one central) are required to complete the rear section of the BelugaXL. 

Together with further work packages built by various other partners, the sections will eventually form the first BelugaXL. The design concept of the aircraft is similar to the current Beluga with the cargo bay structure, the aircraft’s rear-end and tail being some of the sections newly developed. 

The BelugaXL was launched in November 2014 to address the transport and ramp-up capacity requirements for Airbus beyond 2019.

The new oversize air transporters are based on the A330-200 Freighter, with a large re-use of existing components and equipment.

The first of five BelugaXLs will fly mid-2018 and enter into service in 2019.

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