With 30% more capacity than the existing Beluga, it will be able to carry two A350 XWB wings instead of one.
Its new fuselage is 6.9 m longer and 1.7 metre wider than the Beluga, and it will be able to lift a payload 6 tonnes heavier.
Its aft section is based on the A330-300 while its forward on the A330-200 for centre of gravity reasons, and the reinforced floor and structure comes from the -200F. The A330 wings, main landing-gear, central and aft fuselage form a semi-built platform with few systems, without the aft upper fuselage while the upper central fuselage is cut off, facilitated by the metal construction.

The enlarged freight hold is mounted in three months with 8,000 new parts on the junction line.

The unpressurised hold begins with the tail adapted by Spain's Aernnova and continues by building the upper fuselage with two side panels and a crown for each section, for a maximum diameter of 8.8m.
Produced by Stelia Aerospace, its main freight door has 24 latches and the nose includes the cockpit while a four-seat courier section is supplied by Airbus.
Its vertical stabiliser is 50% larger; it has auxiliary fins on the horizontal stabiliser and two ventral fins beneath the empennage.

It will operate at Mach 0.69 up to 35,000 ft over 2,300 nmi instead of the original 900 nmi.
Deharde Aerospace and the P3 group provide the upper fuselage while Aciturri produces the horizontal tail plane extension, auxiliary and ventral fins.
With 30% more capacity than the existing Beluga, it will be able to carry two A350 XWB wings instead of one. Its new fuselage is 6.9 m longer and 1.7 metre wider than the Beluga, and it will be able to lift a payload 6 tonnes heavier. Its aft section is based on the A330-300 while its forward on the A330-200 for centre of gravity reasons, and the reinforced floor and structure comes from the -200F. The A330 wings, main landing-gear, central and aft fuselage form a semi-built platform with few systems, without the aft upper fuselage while the upper central fuselage is cut off, facilitated by the metal construction.
The enlarged freight hold is mounted in three months with 8,000 new parts on the junction line.
The unpressurised hold begins with the tail adapted by Spain's Aernnova and continues by building the upper fuselage with two side panels and a crown for each section, for a maximum diameter of 8.8m. Produced by Stelia Aerospace, its main freight door has 24 latches and the nose includes the cockpit while a four-seat courier section is supplied by Airbus. Its vertical stabiliser is 50% larger; it has auxiliary fins on the horizontal stabiliser and two ventral fins beneath the empennage.
It will operate at Mach 0.69 up to 35,000 ft over 2,300 nmi instead of the original 900 nmi. Deharde Aerospace and the P3 group provide the upper fuselage while Aciturri produces the horizontal tail plane extension, auxiliary and ventral fins.
Airbus Beluga XL