The first BelugaXL took off this morning from Blagnac in Toulouse, France at 10:30 hrs local time, for its maiden flight over south-western France. The aircraft is the first of five BelugaXL to enter into service later in 2019 and to gradually replace the BelugaST transporters.

The crew in the cockpit on board this flight comprised: Captain Christophe Cail, Co-Pilot Bernardo Saez-Benito Hernandez and Test-Flight Engineer Jean Michel Pin. Meanwhile, monitoring the aircraft systems and performance in real-time at the flight-test-engineer’s (FTE) station were Laurent Lapierre and Philippe Foucault.

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.

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Anne Galabert

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First BelugaXL becomes airborne for its maiden flight

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The first BelugaXL took off this morning from Blagnac in Toulouse, France at 10:30 hrs local time, for its maiden flight over south-western France. The aircraft is the first of five BelugaXL to enter into service later in 2019 and to gradually replace the BelugaST transporters.\n\n

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BelugaXL First Flight Presentations

BelugaXL first flight takeoff

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Airbus' no. 1 BelugaXL – whose livery features beluga whale-inspired eyes and an enthusiastic grin – accelerates down the runway at France’s Toulouse-Blagnac Airport before lifting off on its maiden flight, performed 19 July 2018

BelugaXL First Flight Take Off

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BelugaXL First Flight Take Off

BelugaXL Infographic

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The first of five BelugaXL transport aircraft will fly in mid-2018 and enter into service in 2019

BelugaXL First Flight Take Off Aerial View

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Airbus' no. 1 BelugaXL – whose livery features beluga whale-inspired eyes and an enthusiastic grin – accelerates down the runway at France’s Toulouse-Blagnac Airport before lifting off on its maiden flight, performed 19 July 2018

BelugaXL First Flight Take Off Aerial View

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Airbus' no. 1 BelugaXL – whose livery features beluga whale-inspired eyes and an enthusiastic grin – accelerates down the runway at France’s Toulouse-Blagnac Airport before lifting off on its maiden flight, performed 19 July 2018

BelugaXL first flight takeoff

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Airbus' no. 1 BelugaXL – whose livery features beluga whale-inspired eyes and an enthusiastic grin – accelerates down the runway at France’s Toulouse-Blagnac Airport before lifting off on its maiden flight, performed 19 July 2018

BelugaXL First Flight – Boarding

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Airbus’ next-generation oversize airlifter, the BelugaXL, is scheduled to enter service in 2019 for utilisation in carrying complete sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites and to the final assembly lines in Europe.\n\n

BelugaXL - First Flight - Morning Aerial View

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Airbus’ next-generation oversize airlifter, the BelugaXL, is scheduled to enter service in 2019 for utilisation in carrying complete sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites and to the final assembly lines in Europe.

BelugaXL - First Flight - Taxiing

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One of Airbus’ five existing Beluga ST versions – used to carry complete sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites and to the final assembly lines in Europe – takes to the skies; the Beluga ST will be replaced by the new BelugaXL version, which conducted its maiden flight on 19 July 2018

BelugaXL - First Flight - Taxiing

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One of Airbus’ five existing Beluga ST versions – used to carry complete sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites and to the final assembly lines in Europe – takes to the skies; the Beluga ST will be replaced by the new BelugaXL version, which conducted its maiden flight on 19 July 2018

BelugaXL First Flight Take Off Aerial View

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Airbus' no. 1 BelugaXL – whose livery features beluga whale-inspired eyes and an enthusiastic grin – accelerates down the runway at France’s Toulouse-Blagnac Airport before lifting off on its maiden flight, performed 19 July 2018

BelugaXL - First Flight - Taxiing

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One of Airbus’ five existing Beluga ST versions – used to carry complete sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites and to the final assembly lines in Europe – takes to the skies; the Beluga ST will be replaced by the new BelugaXL version, which conducted its maiden flight on 19 July 2018

BelugaXL first flight

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The BelugaXL’s maiden flight – which began and concluded at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport on 19 July 2018 – initiated a certification campaign that will lead to this next-generation oversize airlifter’s service entry in 2019

BelugaXL first flight

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The BelugaXL’s maiden flight – which began and concluded at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport on 19 July 2018 – initiated a certification campaign that will lead to this next-generation oversize airlifter’s service entry in 2019

BelugaXL first flight

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The BelugaXL’s maiden flight – which began and concluded at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport on 19 July 2018 – initiated a certification campaign that will lead to this next-generation oversize airlifter’s service entry in 2019

BelugaXL first flight

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The BelugaXL’s maiden flight – which began and concluded at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport on 19 July 2018 – initiated a certification campaign that will lead to this next-generation oversize airlifter’s service entry in 2019

BelugaXL first flight

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The BelugaXL’s maiden flight – which began and concluded at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport on 19 July 2018 – initiated a certification campaign that will lead to this next-generation oversize airlifter’s service entry in 2019

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