Stelia aerospace delivers first cockpit section of new BelugaXL

Stelia Aerospace, the France-based aerostructure manufacturer has delivered the first cockpit section for the new Airbus BelugaXL.

The 12m long, 6m wide, 4m high nose section was delivered today, Tuesday, May 30th to the Airbus assembly line in Toulouse from Stelia Aerospace plant 450miles away in Méaulte, Somme.

Stelia Aerospace has been selected by Airbus to design and build the nose, fuselage and main cargo door for the new BelugaXL.

Thanks to @STELIAAEROSPACE, BelugaXL shows the tip of its nose ✈ Successful delivery of the 1st fully equipped nose section to @Airbus.🎉 pic.twitter.com/ReuvEsB6JO

— STELIA AEROSPACE (@STELIAAEROSPACE) May 30, 2017

“We are proud of this timely delivery of the first tip of the future BelugaXL, ” said Cédric Gautier, president of Stelia Aerospace.

“This delivery of a fully equipped front end, ‘Plug-and-Fly’ is also a great first for the site of Méaulte”.

Built as a replacement for the five current Beluga A300-600ST versions which entered service beginning in 1996 (based on the A300-600 jetliner), the BelugaXL is derived from the larger and more powerful A330-200.

At six metres longer, one metre wider, and boasting a payload lifting capacity that is six tonnes greater than the predecessor the new BelugaXL will be able to carry two wings for the new widebody A350 XWB instead of a single wing capacity onboard the current BelugaST.

upper fuselage section / Stelia

Stelia Aerospace will deliver the upper fuselage section, cargo carrier, section this summer, it is currently being manufactured at their Rochefort site.

Airbus launched the BelugaXL program in November 2014 to meet increased capacity requirements due to rising production rates.

The first test flight is scheduled for mid-2018 and entry into service is scheduled for 2019.

Beluga XL maiden flight scheduled for next Summer