Aircraft
The airbus BelugaXL enters service and expands the capacity of the fleet
The voluminous cargo BelugaXL has finally entered into service, and it now provides Airbus with a 30 per cent extra transport capacity to support the progressing production of commercial aircraft programs.
The first operational flight of this huge aircraft, belonging to airbus industrial system, was made on January 9th.
This engine is the first of six other BelugaXL that are programmed to begin working alongside with the belugaST predecessors, and other extra aircraft types that will be introduced between 2020 and 2023.
Let’s not forget that this ambitious project launched over five-years ago and entered into service on November 2014, made a successful turning point for internal aircraft programs.
In fact, this airplane was certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency in November, then it has effectuated elaborate and rigorous flight tests, making the BelugaXL achieve over 200 flight tests and clock more than 700 flight hours.
With its characteristics indicating: 8 meters wide, 63 meters long and a capacity of 50,500 kg payload, the BelugaXL with its bay cross-section, seems by far to be the biggest existing cargo at a worldwide scale.
Speaking about its tremendous capacity, this airplane can easily carry two A350 XWB wings compared to the BelugaST which is only capable of transporting one. It is also known with its large payload of 51 tones, and it has a range of 4.000 kilometers.
The BelugaXL is built on an A330-200 freighter that facilitates the re-use of existing components and is propulsed by Rolls Royce Trent 700 engines.
The distinctive and genuine look of this aircraft is due to its lowered cockpit, its cargo bay structure and it’s rear-end tail.
Today, the BelugaXL constitute the latest valuable addition to Airbus’ transportation portfolio.
Airline, Aircraft, Line maintenance, MRO
