A plane branded a 'whale in the sky' made its maiden voyage as the Airbus Beluga XL. It departed Toulouse on Thursday. The aircraft took to the skies as part of a 10-month test to see if the jet will be worthy of entering passenger service.

Airbus’s BelugaXL aircraft is named after the Arctic whale that it resembles, and has been painted in a special Beluga whale-inspired design including whale-inspired eyes and an enthusiastic grin.

The aeronautics company decided to build the largest Beluga to date to increase capacity requirements for the company beyond 2019.

? LIVE Get ready for an XL take off in 15 minutes! #BelugaXLhttps://t.co/n1PdHIy68h — Airbus (@Airbus) July 19, 2018

The smiling whale design was chosen by staff following a poll in which 20,000 employees were given six options and asked to choose their favourite. With 40% of the vote, it was the clear winner.

The aircraft is based on the A330-200 freighter while being powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 700 high bypass turbofan aircraft engines.

The new design will be able to carry two Airbus A350 wings instead of just the one as with the current Beluga.

It will also be able to transport sections of the double-decker A380 — currently the world’s largest passenger plane.

The BelugaXL is six metres longer and one metre wider than Airbus’s existing fleet of five Beluga ST aircraft.

The front of the 184-foot long Beluga opens up, allowing cargo to be loaded into the cavernous “bubble” space.

First BelugaXL transporter rolls off assembly line Airbus

The plane’s cockpit is placed lower than usual in order to avoid the need to disconnect electrical, hydraulic, and flight control systems every time cargo is loaded and unloaded.

Compared to the current Beluga, the new XL version can take six tons of extra cargo, increasing the limit to 53 tons.

It’s also 20 feet longer and 3 feet wider than its predecessor, allowing Airbus to make further efficiency improvements when it comes to moving large airplane parts.</s>Airbus completed the maiden flight of its massive new BelugaXL transport aircraft on Thursday, debuting the plane in front of a crowd of more than 10,000 near the company’s headquarters in Toulouse, France.

Airbus’s oddly shaped jet – named for its resemblance to the whale of the same name – is the first of five that Airbus expects to build by 2023. The jets will be used to phase out the existing BelugaST models that the company uses to shuttle large aircraft pieces to its assembly centers.

The first flight of the new AirbusXL took off from the Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in France at 2:24 p.m. local time, flying for 4 hours and 11 minutes before returning to land at the same airport.

Next up for the plane is a 10-months of flight testing that should lead to the BelugaXL’s certification. If all goes as planned, Airbus hopes to put the first BelugaXL into service sometime next year.

The BelugaST that the "XL" will replace is technically the Airbus A300-600ST, a heavily modified version of Airbus’ now-discontinued A300 model. It initially was called the Super Transporter in the 1990s when it began to phase out an earlier transport model dubbed the "Super Guppy." Eventually the A300-600ST took on the name of the whale many say it resembles.

ARCHIVES: World's strangest-looking airplane? A closer look at the Airbus 'Beluga'

The plane is used by European jetmaker Airbus to ferry aircraft and extra-large cargo. It's especially useful for the company in moving large plane parts from its production facilities to its assembly lines.

The BelugaST is capable of holding the wings of an A340 widebody. It also is capable of transporting the fuselage section of Airbus' newest widebody jet, the A350. Such oversized parts would otherwise be difficult, if not impossible, to fit into typical transport aircraft.

Airbus created its supersize BelugaST by cutting the top section off one of its Airbus A300 widebody jet models and then adding a bubble-shaped additional fuselage to the airframe. The A300 is no longer in production, something that helped lead to the even-bigger BelugaXL.

The new XL was developed by making similar modifications to Airbus’ current A330-200 freighter widebody.

Once it's certified, the XL will begin to take over missions now performed with the ST. Airbus says the transport aircraft will operate from 11 destinations as the company’s method of transporting large aircraft components to assembly centers.

Boeing, of course, has its own special transport plane for flying oversized items. Boeing's is a modified 747, which was designed largely to transport pieces of the Dreamliner — which explains the "Dreamlifter" name that Boeing gave to its equivalent of Beluga.</s>THERE’S still no word on whether pigs can fly — but you aren’t going mad if you spot a whale soaring past your window anytime soon because Airbus’s Beluga XL aircraft — nicknamed the “whale in the sky” has taken off for the first time.

It took off from Toulouse Airport in France this morning for its maiden flight.

A crowd of more than 10,000 people, mostly employees and subcontractors of the European aircraft manufacturer, applauded as it took to the skies.

Airbus staff waved flags as the Beluga prepared for its test flight.

The plane has been designed to move oversized aircraft components and has an extra 30 per cent capacity on the current Beluga planes that it will replace.

This new plane is six metres longer and a metre wider, which means it can carry two A350 XWB plane wings instead of one.

This extra space in the “bubble section” and the new lowered cockpit — which makes space for a main deck with direct cargo loading capabilities — is what gives the plane its unique appearance.

In a nod to its whale-like shape, Airbus have painted a whale’s mouth and eyes on the side of the nose.

The plane, which weighs 125 tonnes, can carry up to 53 tonnes in the hold for a distance of more than 4,000 kilometres.

To power such a heavy aircraft, there are two Rolls-Royce Trent 700 Turbofan engines — both with a thrust of 316 kN.

The Beluga XL program was launched in November 2014, with this oversized transporter to be used for carrying complete sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites around Europe to the final assembly lines in Toulouse, France and Hamburg, Germany.

Tim Orr, head of branding at Airbus, said: “The six designs we proposed for consideration by employees respected our brand identity while running from the conventional to the unconventional, even adding a touch of fun.”

There will be five of the whale-shaped planes put into service in the future.

This article was originally published in The Sun and has been reproduced here with permission.</s>A unique sight was witnessed in the skies of southern France this afternoon as the Airbus BelugaXL took its maiden voyage.

A unique sight was witnessed in the skies of southern France this afternoon as the Airbus BelugaXL took its maiden voyage.

In pictures: Airbus 'Beluga Whale' smiles as the cargo jet takes its maiden flight

Featuring "beluga whale-inspired eyes and an enthusiastic grin", according to the aircraft firm, the jet entertained as it soared over the mountainous coast.

The plane's bulbous "forehead" hinges open to reveal an opening above the cockpit which accepts cargo into its expansive holding area.

And the cargo size - the fuselage is nearly 30 feet in diameter - is the crucial component of the specially designed jet, the first of few to be moved by Airbus to transport large aircraft components between its European manufacturing facilities.

Two wings for the Airbus A350 jetliner can be carried inside the jet's hold, and it can take off with a total weight of 227 tons.

With its oversized tail section, large horizontal stabiliser and fins, the whale flew for four hours before returning to France's Toulouse-Blagnac Airport.

It is expected that the BelugaXL will enter regular service next year.</s>Pigs may not be able to fly, but apparently whales can, as Airbus has just launched its astonishing looking new plane, the BelugaXL.

Painted to look like its namesake, a beluga whale, it completed a maiden flight today from southern France that was just over four hours long.

The BelugaXL has been built to help Airbus cart plane parts around Europe for its other models.

The whale paint job was voted for in a poll by over 20,000 people.

The giant plane needs to undergo another 586 hours of flight tests over ten months to become certified.</s>The new Beluga XL transporter from Airbus took its first test flight in Toulouse, southern France, on Thursday European aerospace giant Airbus conducted Thursday the first test flight of the giant new Beluga XL, an even bigger version of the company's workhorse transport plane which has been in service since the mid 1990s.

Decorated for the occasion as a "whale in the sky", the plane's crew took off at exactly 10:30 am to a cheering crowd of 10,000 people at Airbus's facility in Toulouse, southern France.

The A330-743L Beluga XL has grown six meters (20 feet) longer and one metre wider from the Beluga ST, stretching its carrying capacity by 30 percent.

Airbus says that at 19 metres tall the plane is as big as a three-storey house and can carry up to 51 tonnes of cargo, the equivalent of seven adult male elephants—though animals cannot be transported because the hold is not pressurised.

The five planes being developed will be used to ferry around parts for building Airbus's other range of planes at its production sites across Europe.

Two wings of the A350 long-haul passenger jet can now be carried, instead of just one previously, for a maximum distance of 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles).</s>It's built for oversize cargo — but it also sports a smile: The Airbus BelugaXL took off on its maiden flight on Thursday, creating a unique sight as the jet with the bulbous upper half rolled down the runway.

The BelugaXL's paint job "features beluga whale-inspired eyes and an enthusiastic grin," the aircraft company says. That whale flew over southern France, soaring over the coast and mountainside.

The jet is the first of a handful that Airbus will use to shuttle large aircraft components between its manufacturing facilities in Europe. Crucially, its expansive cargo area — the fuselage is nearly 30 feet in diameter — can carry two wings for the Airbus A350 jetliner.

Based on an A330 cargo plane, the BelugaXL features an oversized tail section, with a large horizontal stabilizer and fins.

To accept cargo, the plane's "forehead" (in keeping with the whale metaphor) hinges open, revealing a cavernous opening above the cockpit — which sits below the cargo floor.

The jet is capable of taking off with a total weight of 227 tons. Carrying a full load of more than 50 tons, the lumbering plane's maximum range is 4,000 kilometers (about 2,485 miles).

On its maiden flight of some four hours, the plane took off from France's Toulouse-Blagnac Airport and returned to the same spot, performing a low pass and tilting its wings "hello" on its way back to the runway.

The BelugaXL is slated to enter regular service in 2019.</s>Beluga XL, the new supersize transporter from Airbus is scheduled to perform its maiden flight this morning, Thursday, July 19.

Freshly painted with a huge smiling face, the first BelugaXL will take to the sky from Toulouse-Blagnac airport at 9.30am.

Today’s maiden flight (weather permitting of course) will kick off a 10-month, 600-hour flight test certification campaign leading to planned service entry in 2019.

Airbus will broadcast the first flight via a live video feed from Toulouse which begins at 9am.

The planes stunning livery includes a whale-style nose cone, sparkling blue eyes and a smiling mouth and was chosen by Airbus employees.

“The six designs we proposed for consideration by employees respected our brand identity while running from the conventional to the unconventional, even adding a touch of fun,” explained Tim Orr, Airbus’ Head of Branding.

Starting in mid-2019, the BelugaXL will gradually replace the existing five-member Beluga ST fleet – which is used for carrying complete sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites around Europe including wings from Broughton to the final assembly lines in Toulouse, France and Hamburg, Germany.

The Beluga XL is designed to carry six tonnes more payload than the current Beluga Transporters we see land at Broughton several times a day.

Beluga XL is also 20ft longer and is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 700-powered

Preparation work has begun at Broughton which is needed to allow the Beluga XL to operate in and out of Hawarden Airport.

Work includes the resurfacing of the runway, new turn pads to both ends of the existing runway and upgrades to the Beluga loading bay.

With the Rolls Royce engines producing around 30% more thrust than the current engines, three blast fences will be be erected, one to each end of the runway and one adjacent to the existing Beluga apron.

The Chester Road side of the runway will see a 200ft long 14ft blast fence constructed.</s>Once more unto the breach, dear friends.

The BelugaXL, Airbus' whale of an aircraft, completed its first flight Thursday, soaring above southern France in a four-hour round trip from the company's headquarters in Toulouse.

Completed in April, the prototype BelugaXL is the first in a new generation of freighters that will replace the exiting BelugaST. Like its predecessor, the BelugaXL can swallow entire fuselage sections and wings of smaller Airbus airliners from factories in Germany and the UK and carry them to final assembly in Toulouse.

Wearing an appropriately whale-themed paint job, the BelugaXL has a payload of 53 tons (6 more tons than the BelugaST), which will let it carry two Airbus A350 wings and the giant tail for the A380. It can even fit the fuselage section for the A330, the aircraft on which the its bloated profile is based.

After Thursday's flight, the BelugaXL will continue with 600 hours of test flights over the next 10 months. Airbus predicts it'll enter service in 2019.</s>Anyone who thought they saw a flying whale over France on Thursday was in fact watching the maiden flight of a new plane.

The Airbus BelugaXL took off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport complete with facial markings that underlined its similarity with the whale it is named after.

Airbus was pleased with the first aerial adventure of its new product and tweeted “Whale done!” when the plane returned to base.

The Airbus BelugaXL on its take-off roll (Frederic Scheiber/AP)

The Airbus BelugaXL rises for the first time (Frederic Scheiber/AP)

The engineers wave from the deck of the Airbus BelugaXL after successfully completing its first flight at Toulouse-Blagnac airport (Frederic Scheiber/AP)

The Airbus BelugaXL taxis after successfully completing its first flight (Frederic Scheiber/AP)
Airbus transport aircraft Airbus Beluga XL makes its maiden flight in France.