The Airbus A300-600ST, more commonly known as the Beluga, is a specialized version of the Airbus A300-600 airliner, modified to transport oversized cargo—especially large aircraft components like fuselage sections and wings between Airbus manufacturing sites across Europe. Nicknamed for its resemblance to the white Arctic whale, the Beluga was introduced in the mid-1990s to replace the aging Super Guppy fleet. Its unique design, with a dramatically enlarged upper fuselage, allows it to carry cargo that wouldn’t fit in conventional freighters.

Key Specifications (A300-600ST Beluga)

• Crew: 3 (Pilot, co-pilot, loadmaster).
• Cargo Capacity (Volume): ~1,400 m³ (49,440 cu ft).
• Max Payload: ~47,000 kg (103,600 lb).
• Length: 56.15 m (184 ft 3 in).
• Wingspan: 44.84 m (147 ft 1 in).
• Height: 17.25 m (56 ft 7 in).
• Engines: 2× General Electric CF6-80C2A8 turbofans.
• Cruise Speed: ~750 km/h (466 mph, Mach 0.71).
• Range (Max Payload): ~1,660 km (1,030 mi).
• Ceiling: ~35,000 ft (10,700 m).

Notable Features

• Massively enlarged upper fuselage (7.7 m / 25 ft diameter) for oversized cargo transport.
• Swing-open cargo door and upward-hinged nose allow direct front loading/unloading of large structures.
• Custom cargo handling systems for rapid and secure loading of aircraft parts.
• Based on the A300-600 airframe but extensively modified with structural reinforcements and new avionics.
• Operates under Airbus Transport International for internal logistics.

Variants

• A300-600ST (Beluga) – Original and only production model (5 built between 1994–2001).
• BelugaXL (A330-743L) – Successor introduced in 2019, based on the A330 platform, offering 30% more capacity and eventually replacing the original Belugas.

Operators & Usage

• Operated exclusively by Airbus Transport International for moving large components between Airbus facilities in Europe.
• Not used for regular commercial freight or passenger transport.
• Occasional third-party charter missions for special cargo deliveries.
• Played a key role in streamlining Airbus’s decentralized manufacturing model.