New Beluga XL unveiled to the press this week

Airbus unveiled its new BelugaXL transporter to the press at the Jean-Luc Lagardère Plant in Toulouse on Tuesday.

The doors opened on the huge hanger to reveal two of the new transporters at varying stages of assembly.

Two Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines about to be fitted on the first BelugaXL, MSN1824.

The aircraft achieved power-on at the end of last year, and is due to move to a ground-testing station over the next few weeks.

MSN1824 will then go through rigorous testing before being painted in the distinctive Airbus colours.

The first flight is scheduled for this summer, Airbus is aiming to start operational use from spring 2019.

The place, where @airbus builds its newest #BelugaXL here in Toulouse – more to come l @AirbusPRESS @AlexInAir @IATA @lufthansaNews @aeroTELEGRAPH @AeronewsRO @ojour @ORF @StHartl @ATWOnline pic.twitter.com/XxQOtMr34B

— Kurt Hofmann (@HofmannAviation) March 20, 2018

A second BelugaXL is currently undergoing conversion work from its A330 base.

The XL begins with a semi-built platform it comprises of the central and aft fuselage, wings and main landing-gear of the A330, Flightglobal reports.

Once the upper fuselage has been cut away, three months and some 8,000 new parts are needed to prepare the junction line on which the enlarged freight hold will be mounted.

Airbus will construct five XLs – all five of the existing Beluga fleet will remain in service until at least three XLs have been delivered.

That will boost the Beluga fleet to eight, Airbus will then begin withdrawing the older models from 2021.

Airbus is aiming to have all five on the new XLs in service by mid-2022.

As part of the parallel planning for the new BelugaXL the runway surface at Broughton is set to be replaced, the turning pad will be extended and apron lights changed.

The line stations – where wings are loaded onto the transporter will also be adapted to accommodate the new transporter which will carry wings from Broughton to Germany and Spain.

Link to the press presentation:

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