Airbus Beluga XL Production Thread

pugman211 · Wed Jan 03, 2018 6:41 pm

Any updates on the Beluga XL?

KarelXWB · Thu Jan 04, 2018 9:43 am

pugman211 wrote:
Any updates on the Beluga XL?

First a/c just emerged from final assembly.

Airbus A330 Beluga XL by Rami Khanna-Prade, on Flickr

pugman211 · Thu Jan 04, 2018 10:35 am

Thanks Karel as always. It looks huge but I guess we will have to wait for a nose to nose picture for comparison.

Richard28 · Thu Jan 04, 2018 10:45 am

Wow! thanks for the update!

The tail section however looks a little odd - probably a consequence of not being fully painted yet?

pugman211 · Thu Jan 04, 2018 10:53 am

Richard28 wrote:
Wow! thanks for the update!

The tail section however looks a little odd - probably a consequence of not being fully painted yet?

The tail section sits nearly a metre higher than the previous Beluga iirc, or something like that.

Lilienthal · Thu Jan 04, 2018 11:04 am

Will it be able to reach Mobile?

LoganTheBogan · Thu Jan 04, 2018 11:11 am

Looks absolutely amazing. Of course living in Australia means I'll probably never see it in person but hey, congrats to Airbus for impressing me with something on a screen XD .

Will the plan on using the extra range of the A330 to open up more factories around the place?

KarelXWB · Thu Jan 04, 2018 11:13 am

Lilienthal wrote:
Will it be able to reach Mobile?

It cannot reach Mobile, the Beluga is designed for the European network.

pugman211 · Thu Jan 04, 2018 11:16 am

I don't believe it will venture to Mobile under normal ops, but who knows, if a emergency situation arose.

I believe the main purpose of the Beluga XL is to carry 2 A350 wings at the same time, as opposed to a single wing the current Beluga can carry

mjoelnir · Thu Jan 04, 2018 1:20 pm

pugman211 wrote:
I don't believe it will venture to Mobile under normal ops, but who knows, if a emergency situation arose.

I believe the main purpose of the Beluga XL is to carry 2 A350 wings at the same time, as opposed to a single wing the current Beluga can carry

The main purpose is to take over from the older Beluga. The hold is sized to take two A350 wings.

pugman211 · Thu Jan 04, 2018 1:28 pm

mjoelnir wrote:
pugman211 wrote:
I don't believe it will venture to Mobile under normal ops, but who knows, if a emergency situation arose.

I believe the main purpose of the Beluga XL is to carry 2 A350 wings at the same time, as opposed to a single wing the current Beluga can carry

The main purpose is to take over from the older Beluga. The hold is sized to take two A350 wings.

Haha, quite right. That is the main purpose. You forget how old the Beluga is.

CFRPwingALbody · Thu Jan 04, 2018 3:36 pm

Why didn't Airbus remove the vertical tail plain and used a tail like the AN-225?

most likely it was a bit to early (++)

StTim · Thu Jan 04, 2018 3:55 pm

Because their design team thought their solution was the best compromise.

Richard28 · Thu Jan 04, 2018 5:02 pm

StTim wrote:
Because their design team thought their solution was the best compromise.

Its also based around the A330 which of course has a single fin, so from a view of parts commonality/integration and software/flight controls I would assume this is a lot simpler solution.

PhilDur · Thu Jan 04, 2018 5:39 pm

CFRPwingALbody wrote:
Why didn't Airbus remove the vertical tail plain and used a tail like the AN-225?

In one case they needed room for a big load (Buran) above the plane, so they moved the VTP apart.
In the second case they just need rom inside the hold, no need to complicate things.

mjoelnir · Thu Jan 04, 2018 5:40 pm

CFRPwingALbody wrote:
Why didn't Airbus remove the vertical tail plain and used a tail like the AN-225?

The AN-225 was build to be able to transport a large structure on top of the frame. The Beluga will only transport loads inside the hold.

KarelXWB · Fri Jan 05, 2018 3:31 pm

Here's a nice close-up shot of the first Beluga XL:

1st Airbus A330-743L Beluga XL by Jujug Spotting, on Flickr

JerseyFlyer · Fri Jan 05, 2018 3:42 pm

"Jaws"!

Balerit · Fri Jan 05, 2018 4:52 pm

JerseyFlyer wrote:
"Jaws"!

I like that name :thumbsup:

KarelXWB · Sat Jan 06, 2018 12:16 pm

More close-up photos are available, and it clearly shows the size of the a/c:

Airbus Transport International Airbus A330-743L Beluga XL cn 1824 F-???? by Clément Alloing, on Flickr

Aircellist · Sat Jan 06, 2018 12:20 pm

Looking forward to comparative pictures of the new and old designs.

gatibosgru · Sat Jan 06, 2018 12:56 pm

The nose gear is pretty far back, or at least it gives that impression. Awesome looking!

Airboe · Sat Jan 06, 2018 6:53 pm

Please allow me a very stupid question, but I can’t see any “doors” in the frame, how do the Crew enter?

817Dreamliiner · Sat Jan 06, 2018 6:57 pm

Airboe wrote:
Please allow me a very stupid question, but I can’t see any “doors” in the frame, how do the Crew enter?

If you look at the last photo in Karel's post you can see a hatch above the tug behind the nose gear.

pugman211 · Sat Jan 06, 2018 7:25 pm

According to wiki, the Beluga XL is nearly 7 meters longer than it's predecessor, it sits 1.6 meter higher, and I think the cargo hold is 6ft bigger at its widest point?

Happy to be corrected if any info is wrong.

reidar76 · Sat Jan 06, 2018 7:44 pm

Is the Beluga cargo hold pressurized?

pugman211 · Sat Jan 06, 2018 7:50 pm

reidar76 wrote:
Is the Beluga cargo hold pressurized?

No. There is another hatch in the hold to gain access to below the cargo deck.

N14AZ · Sat Jan 06, 2018 7:53 pm

KarelXWB wrote:

Airbus Transport International Airbus A330-743L Beluga XL cn 1824 F-???? by Clément Alloing, on Flickr

Good lord, since when does Airbus use pink tractors? ;-)

keesje · Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:12 pm

KarelXWB wrote:
Lilienthal wrote:
Will it be able to reach Mobile?

It cannot reach Mobile, the Beluga is designed for the European network.

The Beluga Mk1 was developped against a background where FAL's outside Europe where unthinkable. The XL not. Tianjin, Mobile are there. Mobile is for Is a Quebec FAL too.. Airbus Helicopter became market leader. A US A400M is unthinkable with local FAL.I think the classic Beluga's will stay around for a while..

KarelXWB · Sun Jan 07, 2018 4:13 pm

Plans to reach Mobile were dropped during the development phase.

mat66 · Sun Jan 07, 2018 5:15 pm

KarelXWB wrote:
Plans to reach Mobile were dropped during the development phase.

Nice info, thanks. So the range to Mobile would have required the A340-300? But wasn't there then a problem with the Broughten runway? One had to give, I suppose

My guess is that the ship to Mobile is cheaper anyway, since it can carry a lot more per trip.

KarelXWB · Sun Jan 07, 2018 5:21 pm

mat66 wrote:
KarelXWB wrote:
Plans to reach Mobile were dropped during the development phase.

Nice info, thanks. So the range to Mobile would have required the A340-300? But wasn't there then a problem with the Broughten runway? One had to give, I suppose

A340 based Beluga had several challenges. Landing in Broughton was not possible without runway extension, and the aircraft wouldn't fit into existing infrastructure.

Peterwk146 · Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:07 am

KarelXWB wrote:
mat66 wrote:
KarelXWB wrote:
Plans to reach Mobile were dropped during the development phase.

Nice info, thanks. So the range to Mobile would have required the A340-300? But wasn't there then a problem with the Broughten runway? One had to give, I suppose

A340 based Beluga had several challenges. Landing in Broughton was not possible without runway extension, and the aircraft wouldn't fit into existing infrastructure.

May I ask how a presentation marked confidential and proprietary information is posted on this website? Presumably the person who did this has authorization from Airbus?

enzo011 · Tue Jan 09, 2018 10:00 am

Airbus press release for the BelugaXL,

First BelugaXL transporter rolls off assembly line

Ground testing for the No. 1 BelugaXL before first flight

Before that can happen, the aircraft will undergo a months-long battery of tests after installation of its two jet engines, ensuring each of the BelugaXL’s systems function as intended. All the while, said George, “We will perform bench tests in Toulouse and Hamburg, Germany – testing our systems on flight simulators and in laboratories” as well as using hydraulic jacks to simulate flight loads on full-scale copies of specific joints between the new upper bubble and A330’s lower fuselage.

“The data from these tests will be used to clear the aircraft for flight and, later on, to attain type certification,” the official pronouncement of the aircraft’s safety and airworthiness, said George.

Pictures from here: https://twitter.com/Airbus/status/950660193846792192

uta999 · Tue Jan 09, 2018 10:37 am

It's an A380 NEO

CFRPwingALbody · Tue Jan 09, 2018 10:52 am

It looks like Airbus is using the L34 hangar for the BelugaXL production.
AFAIK that was a flight line hangar for the A380s. I thought Airbus was using the unused half of the A380 FAL to assemble the BelugaXLs

from Airbus

KarelXWB · Tue Jan 09, 2018 10:59 am

CFRPwingALbody wrote:
It looks like Airbus is using the L34 hangar for the BelugaXL production.

That is correct. Former A380 hangar L34 was previously used for A350 rework and is now being used for Beluga XL assembly.

keesje · Tue Jan 09, 2018 11:08 am

Peterwk146 wrote:
KarelXWB wrote:
mat66 wrote:

Nice info, thanks. So the range to Mobile would have required the A340-300? But wasn't there then a problem with the Broughten runway? One had to give, I suppose

A340 based Beluga had several challenges. Landing in Broughton was not possible without runway extension, and the aircraft wouldn't fit into existing infrastructure.

May I ask how a presentation marked confidential and proprietary information is posted on this website? Presumably the person who did this has authorization from Airbus?

I wouldn't consider this old information confidential. There are zillions of more interesting Airbus documents with this confidential and proprietary template on line, e.g:

http://www.optics-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/9-How-Airbus-research-aims-to-make-future-flight-even-safer-Pascal-Traverse.pdf

http://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corpo ... -guide.pdf

May I ask who you are Peterwk146, do you work for Airbus?

Peterwk146 · Tue Jan 09, 2018 11:23 am

keesje wrote:
Peterwk146 wrote:
KarelXWB wrote:

A340 based Beluga had several challenges. Landing in Broughton was not possible without runway extension, and the aircraft wouldn't fit into existing infrastructure.

May I ask how a presentation marked confidential and proprietary information is posted on this website? Presumably the person who did this has authorization from Airbus?

I wouldn't consider this old information confidential. There are zillions of Airbus with this confidential and proprietary template on line.

[url]file:///C:/temp/Peter%20Sander_The%20future%20of%20ALM%20-%203D%20Printing_AIRBUS%20INNOVATION%20DAYS%202016.pdf[/url]
[url]file:///C:/temp/Ralph%20Maurer_Direct%20Printing%20Technology_AIRBUS%20INNOVATION%20DAYS%202016.pdf[/url]
http://www.optics-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/9-How-Airbus-research-aims-to-make-future-flight-even-safer-Pascal-Traverse.pdf

May I ask who you are Peterwk146, do you work for Airbus?

You may ask but forgive me if I decline to answer on a public forum.
With respect to the point that I made above, just because the information is old doesn't make it right to put information that is marked confidential and proprietary without having the express approval from the organisation who owns the copyright of the document. If an Airbus employee asks permission to put this information on Airliners.net and that is granted, then that's fine.

CFRPwingALbody · Tue Jan 09, 2018 11:25 am

keesje wrote:
Peterwk146 wrote:
KarelXWB wrote:

A340 based Beluga had several challenges. Landing in Broughton was not possible without runway extension, and the aircraft wouldn't fit into existing infrastructure.

May I ask how a presentation marked confidential and proprietary information is posted on this website? Presumably the person who did this has authorization from Airbus?

I wouldn't consider this old information confidential. There are zillions of Airbus with this confidential and proprietary template on line.

[url]file:///C:/temp/Peter%20Sander_The%20future%20of%20ALM%20-%203D%20Printing_AIRBUS%20INNOVATION%20DAYS%202016.pdf[/url]
[url]file:///C:/temp/Ralph%20Maurer_Direct%20Printing%20Technology_AIRBUS%20INNOVATION%20DAYS%202016.pdf[/url]
http://www.optics-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/9-How-Airbus-research-aims-to-make-future-flight-even-safer-Pascal-Traverse.pdf

May I ask who you are Peterwk146, do you work for Airbus?

These presentations are available on Airbus website; Airbus Investors Scroll down to Innovationsday 2016

Peterwk146 · Tue Jan 09, 2018 2:34 pm

CFRPwingALbody wrote:
keesje wrote:
Peterwk146 wrote:
May I ask how a presentation marked confidential and proprietary information is posted on this website? Presumably the person who did this has authorization from Airbus?

I wouldn't consider this old information confidential. There are zillions of Airbus with this confidential and proprietary template on line.

[url]file:///C:/temp/Peter%20Sander_The%20future%20of%20ALM%20-%203D%20Printing_AIRBUS%20INNOVATION%20DAYS%202016.pdf[/url]
[url]file:///C:/temp/Ralph%20Maurer_Direct%20Printing%20Technology_AIRBUS%20INNOVATION%20DAYS%202016.pdf[/url]
http://www.optics-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/9-How-Airbus-research-aims-to-make-future-flight-even-safer-Pascal-Traverse.pdf

May I ask who you are Peterwk146, do you work for Airbus?

These presentations are available on Airbus website; Airbus Investors Scroll down to Innovationsday 2016

I'm sorry but I didn't see this specific presentation in the link that you provided.

If you look at the last slide of the second linked presentation, you will see that it says "Confidential and proprietary document. This document and all information contained herein is the sole property of AIRBUS. No intellectual property rights are granted by the delivery of this document or the disclosure of its content. This document shall not be reproduced or disclosed to a third party without the express written consent of AIRBUS S.A.S.".

So presumably someone had the express written consent of AIRBUS S.A.S. when it was uploaded on to the internet.

The point that I'm trying to make is not to finger point at anyone - all I'm saying is just make sure that when a company proprietary document such as this one is provided on internet that the person who uploaded the document has the written consent otherwise they are liable for prosecution.

Anyway, for me this topic is closed - I look forward to receiving further news on the progress of this interesting project.

noofaq · Tue Jan 09, 2018 2:53 pm

I have found exactly that presentation available publicly - just basic search using google returns it for example here: https://www.docdroid.net/lnjo/new-beluga.pdf#page=11

It contains even the same "reference number" - by my experience in general it is used to track disallowed usages of internal company documents.

Of course it does not mean that it was made publicly available by Airbus, just that it can be already accessed without need to disclose any internal Airbus documents from inside company.

pugman211 · Tue Jan 09, 2018 3:16 pm

So, Beluga XL No.1 is structurally complete, and advanced onto systems testing, and assembly of No.2 has started judging by the photo in the posts above.

scbriml · Tue Jan 09, 2018 3:24 pm

Peterwk146 wrote:
If you look at the last slide of the second linked presentation, you will see that it says "Confidential and proprietary document. This document and all information contained herein is the sole property of AIRBUS. No intellectual property rights are granted by the delivery of this document or the disclosure of its content. This document shall not be reproduced or disclosed to a third party without the express written consent of AIRBUS S.A.S.".

Despite the document saying that, Airbus make it available on their public website. :wink2:

That would suggest Airbus is not bothered about a bunch of geeks on a.net reading it!

JetBuddy · Tue Jan 09, 2018 3:46 pm

Will there only be two Beluga XLs? As far as I know there are five current Belugas?

StTim · Tue Jan 09, 2018 4:02 pm

There will be 5.

N14AZ · Tue Jan 09, 2018 4:31 pm

Is there already a picture showing the Beluga XL and the present Beluga side by side? I am most probably too early to ask for that... maybe a rendering showing both Beluga-types?

Since the A300 and the A330 have the same fuselage diameter, the difference should be the length only or did they increase the height of the fuselage extension?

KarelXWB · Tue Jan 09, 2018 4:44 pm

N14AZ wrote:
Is there already a picture showing the Beluga XL and the present Beluga side by side? I am most probably too early to ask for that... maybe a rendering showing both Beluga-types?

Since the A300 and the A330 have the same fuselage diameter, the difference should be the length only or did they increase the height of the fuselage extension?

Fuselage diameter has been increased from 7.1 meters to 8.8 meters.

Revelation · Tue Jan 09, 2018 4:47 pm

Richard28 wrote:
Wow! thanks for the update!

The tail section however looks a little odd - probably a consequence of not being fully painted yet?

They did so to make the XL even uglier than the A380.

ikolkyo · Tue Jan 09, 2018 4:48 pm

N14AZ wrote:
Is there already a picture showing the Beluga XL and the present Beluga side by side? I am most probably too early to ask for that... maybe a rendering showing both Beluga-types?

Since the A300 and the A330 have the same fuselage diameter, the difference should be the length only or did they increase the height of the fuselage extension?

Beluga XL is both longer and wider in the cargo hold vs the current Beluga.

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