The Airbus A300-600ST Beluga, a specialized cargo transport aircraft that enabled Airbus's distributed manufacturing across Europe, first flew on September 13, 1994. This massive low-wing transport featured four General Electric CF6-80C2 turbofan engines and could carry complete aircraft fuselage sections in its whale-like cargo hold measuring 30 by 7.7 by 7.6 meters. With a length of approximately 70 meters and wingspan of 44.84 meters, the Beluga possessed cargo volume exceeding military heavylifters like the C-5 Galaxy. Built by Special Aircraft Transport International Company (SATIC), a joint venture between Aérospatiale and Daimler-Benz Aerospace.
View in Encyclopedia| HEX CODE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus Transport International | — | 765 | France | 394A62 |