Airbus Beluga XL

Computer rendering of Beluga XL

The Airbus Beluga XL is a planned large transport aircraft based on the A330-200 airliner, to be the successor to the Airbus Beluga. The XL has an extension on the fuselage top like the Beluga. It is being designed, built and will be operated by Airbus to move oversized aircraft parts. The program was launched in November 2014 to build five aircraft, with 30% more capacity than the existing five Belugas. It will be able to carry two A350 XWB wings instead of one. The design freeze was announced on 16 September 2015, final assembly should start in 2017, and service should begin in 2019.^[1]

The aircraft's lower fuselage will be assembled on the A330 final assembly line. It will then be moved to another facility for the year-long process of assembling the upper fuselage and the lowered nose fuselage. The first Beluga XL will enter service in 2019. The new aircraft will be 6 metres longer and one metre wider than the Beluga, and will be able to lift a payload six tons heavier.^[2]

The standard and XL Belugas are operated by Airbus itself to transport large aircraft parts made at different Airbus plants during the manufacturing process.

The existing Belugas will not be withdrawn from service when the Beluga XL is introduced; a mixed fleet is to operate for at least five years. The increased production rate of single-aisle aircraft requires the ability to move more parts.^[2]

Specifications

Data from ^[1]

General characteristics

Capacity: 53 t (117,000 lb) payload
Length: 63.1 m (207 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 60.3 m (197 ft 10 in)
Height: 18.9 m (62 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 361.6 m² (3,892 sq ft)
Aspect ratio: 10.1
Max takeoff weight: 227,000 kg (500,449 lb)
Maximum landing weight: 187 t (412,000 lb)
Maximum zero fuel weight: 178 t (392,000 lb)
Fuselage diameter: 8.8 m (29 ft)
Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Trent 700 Turbofan, 316 kN (71,000 lbf) thrust each

Performance

Range: 4,074 km; 2,532 mi (2,200 nmi) at max payload

References

1 2 "Beluga XL programme achieves design freeze" (Press release). Airbus. 16 September 2015.
1 2 Flottay, Jens (25 Nov 2015). "Whale Watching". Aviation Week. pp. 38–39. |access-date= requires |url= (help)

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