Second Airbus BelugaXL set to make UK debut today with flight into Hawarden Airport

 

Update: First Pictures of BelugaXL heading into Hawarden.

(Feature image: Hywel Evans)

and here she is arriving at Hawarden Beluga XL2 @DeesideDotCom @chocksaway1 @AirbusintheUK pic.twitter.com/91L4p7EQa7

— Jed Ex (@TheJedex) May 17, 2019

Airbus Beluga XL2 (F-WBXS) arriving into Hawarden this afternoon on first visit to UK.@Airbus #BelugaXL #BelugaXL2 #photography pic.twitter.com/yLyp0RogPV

— Chris Middleton (@chrismid259) May 17, 2019

BelugaXL No 2 over Ellesmere Port.

First picture of BelugaXL No2 lining up to land at Hawarden pic.twitter.com/NU8FiPrXg7

— DEESIDE.com (@DeesideDotCom) May 17, 2019

Update: Flightradar now confirming planned route: 

exciting times and now 100% confirmed Beluga XL2 ETA 12:36 ETD 15:00 @AirbusintheUK @DeesideDotCom @chocksaway1 pic.twitter.com/hByTR7dh79

— Jed Ex (@TheJedex) May 17, 2019

Nothing confirmed from Airbus, a spokesman told Deeside.com: “With a few notable exceptions, such as first visits, we do not announce the comings and goings of aircraft undertaking routine operations at Hawarden Aerodrome.”

First Report: There’s been an increasing amount of ‘noise’ on social media suggesting the second BelugaXL to be built by Airbus will make its debut in the UK today.

If the rumours over the past couple of are correct – we should get a glimpse of BelugaXL number 2 as it heads into a Hawarden Airport this afternoon.

Number 2, which is decked out in the same ‘beluga whale’ paint scheme of the as Number 1 BelugaXL undertook its maiden flight in April.

It’s understood BelugaXL number 2 will be loaded up with a set A350 -1000 wings – before flying out to Bremen, Germany , according to the ‘reports.’ 

Deeside.com has asked Airbus Broughton if they can confirm the arrival of BelugaXL number 2 today.

Known as the A330-700L, the BelugaXL is the successor to the A300-600ST Beluga transporter and can carry a greater payload, XL is designed to carry two A350 wings, the current Beluga can carry just the one.

The second BelugaXL, which will land at around 1pm today will enter service ahead of number one BelugaXL – the flight-test aircraft – and be the first to begin carrying wings from Airbus Broughton to European assembly lines.

[BelugaXL number 1 over Flintshire in April – only the second time it had been in UK airspace]

The BelugaXL number 1 made a brief appearance in the skies above Flintshire in April, it was spotted en route to the Airbus base at Toulouse following a series of tests at Shannon airport in Ireland

BelugaXL made its debut in Flintshire on Valentines Day with a spectacular landing at Hawarden Airfield, it was followed by two days of testing at Airbus Broughton.

[First ever landing in the UK – February 14th Hawarden Airport]