US EditionLargest aircraft in world makes final flight
After 25 years and 13,300 journeys, the Beluga ST5 retires to Broughton as a STEM education center to inspire future aerospace talent, replacing the retiring ST fleet.
- Beluga ST5 completed its last flight, arriving from Bordeaux and landing at Hawarden Airport at 11am, and will remain at Airbus Broughton as a STEM support facility.
- The Beluga ST5, built for heavy component ferrying, completed around 13,300 journeys between Airbus' 11 sites, marking a 25-year career that concluded recently.
- This morning crowds in Flintshire gathered to watch the final landing, with Didier Puxeddu, pilot, saying it was a unique privilege and Gareth Davies, head of Airbus Broughton, calling it a proud moment.
- Schools and community groups will be able to visit the preserved Beluga ST5, and local schools will help develop STEM activities aligned with the national curriculum to inspire future pilots and engineers.
- From mid-2027, the Beluga XL fleet will be the sole transporter of Airbus components, replacing the Beluga ST fleet, which first took flight 25 years ago, as the fleet transition completes.
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Chester StandardRECAP- Follow as the Airbus BelugaST 5 makes its final journey to Broughton
Follow live updates as the iconic Airbus BelugaST 5 makes its final journey to Broughton. The aircraft is set to perform a flypast before landing…
Iconic Airbus Beluga Super Transporter Retires to Become STEM Hub at Broughton
The fifth of five Airbus A300-600ST ‘Beluga’ transports has flown into retirement at Airbus’ Broughton facility in North Wales, where it will be used to promote STEM to schools and community groups. As the Airbus fleet of Beluga super transporter aircraft readies for withdrawal by 2027 in favour of the larger, more efficient A330-743L BelugaXL, […]
Airbus today (Thursday) said goodbye to the iconic BelugaST No. 5 cargo plane, which was used for years to transport aircraft parts between the company's facilities across Europe. The plane is known for its unique structure, reminiscent of a beluga whale, and is capable of carrying unusually large cargo volumes that are not suitable for regular cargo planes. The iconic plane, the oldest in Airbus' Beluga fleet, made its final flight today, after…
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