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Airbus has retired its Beluga ST number 4, after more than three decades of loyal service for the European aircraft manufacturer. This will see the big-nosed whale of an aircraft retire and now head to its new home in France, at the Aero Scopia Museum in Blagnac, France. While this will be the retirement of this unique aircraft, there are still several BelugaXL (a larger version) that continue to operate.
The Beluga is a uniquely designed aircraft that is used by Airbus to fly large Airbus aircraft parts across Europe, and supports the production of some of the most popular Airbus airframes. The aircraft type’s official name is a ‘Super Transporter’, but it quickly gained the nickname of a Beluga Whale, which it resembles.
The Beluga ST Is Headed For Retirement
To celebrate the retirement of this plane, on Wednesday, June 24, the aircraft, which carries registration F-GSTD, as captured by Airways, was towed from the Airbus site in Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) to the airport’s north apron of the Toulouse Museum. During this time, it sat idle next to other Airbus aircraft such as the A340-600, A320, and double-decker A380.
Before heading to the Aero Scopia, the plane departed for its final flight over Toulouse and flew low for onlookers to enjoy several impressive turns and a salute for its retirement, alongside another Beluga ST (No. 2). Once it was back on the ground, the plane was towed on public roads to the site.
To ensure the aircraft did not damage the roads, the route required special reinforcement and strengthening to manage the weight of the plane. The towing mission went well, under constant supervision by Airbus staff and aviation enthusiasts. You can watch the Airbus Beluga ST transfer video here.
F-GSTD Arrives At Its Final Resting Place
After the midday tow, the plane arrived at Aero Scopia and secured to the tarmac into what will be its final position. This then allowed media and photographers to view the inside of the airplane, including the cockpit and impressively sized giant cargo hold. Later that evening, a special opening night was hosted, with a concern and refreshments. The general public was invited to purchase tickets to attend the event.
This new arrival for the museum marks an exciting new chapter for the site, with the Beluga sitting as a centrepiece for its outdoor exhibition and aircraft. The plane itself highlights an important part of the European aircraft manufacturers’ history and the displacement of manufacturers across the continent, which meets the needs of the Beluga.
F-GSTD’s placement follows its predecessor, the Super Guppy, which has been a display piece for Aero Scopia since 2015, and the two aircraft now symbolise the unique evolution of the European plane makers’ logistical requirements.
End Of An Era: Airbus BelugaST #5 Set For Final Flight
The aircraft will soon be leaving the skies.
Beluga ST 4 (F-GSTD) History
F-GSTD was first developed back in 1998, with the first test flight taking place on June 9 that year. The plane is configured specifically for large cargo operations and supports the movement of wings and fuselage sections from Airbus to final assembly lines. These aircraft primarily work for Airbus; however, they have been tasked on special occasions for charter flights to carry outsized cargoes for other customers or purposes, and even sometimes helicopters or industrial equipment for humanitarian aid.
Using data from ch-aviation, F-GSTD is powered by two General Electric CF6-80C2A8 engines and operated until being stored earlier this year, as it was set for retirement. Now the plane will sit as a centre piece for the Aero Scopia outdoor aircraft exhibition.
The plane itself, alongside other Beluga ST airplanes, was derived after the Super Guppies, which were the predecessor and were aged and maintenance-heavy to keep in operation. This led to Airbus developing its own version of the aircraft, an extension of the Airbus A300-600. The first Beluga ST took flight in September 1994, with number 4, F-GSTD, the fourth derivative of the type.
