Last Update: at 16:32

Fresh livery

Airbus shows off third Beluga XL

The manufacturer has already built three of the giant transport aircraft. Three more will follow. Now the third Airbus Beluga XL has been painted.

Time and again operators hide secret clues in registrations. Airbus is no exception. The first Beluga XL bears the memorable registration F-WBXL.

A second Beluga XL joined the first of the large transporters in March 2019. And now the third one was freshly painted and presented to the public. With the XL3, Airbus has built half of the Beluga XL fleet. The manufacturer decided a year ago to build six of the aircraft officially named A330-743 L instead of five.

Three more XL aircraft still to follow

The six Beluga XL will be completed by 2023. The 63.1-metre long giant transport aircraft with a payload of 50.5 tons will replace the five current Belugas (officially: A300-600 ST).

In the picture gallery above you can see pictures of the third Airbus Beluga XL.

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