US EditionLargest aircraft in world makes final flight
The Beluga ST5 completed 25 years of service and 13,300 journeys, now repurposed as a STEM education centre to inspire UK aerospace talent, Airbus said.
- On Thursday, January 29 the Beluga ST5 completed its last flight, arriving from Bordeaux after a farewell flyby over Chester and landing at Hawarden Airport at 11am to crowds in Flintshire.
- The Beluga ST fleet began service in 1995 to replace the Super Guppy, with Beluga ST5 turning 25 years old on December 12, 2025, completing around 13,300 journeys.
- Characterised by its unusual profile, the Beluga ST is among the largest aircraft and was built to transport Airbus components with a 40-tonne payload, comparable to an adult humpback whale.
- Airbus confirmed ST5 will remain at Airbus Broughton as a STEM education centre, welcoming local schools and community groups with activities aligned to the national curriculum.
- Beluga STs are being phased out in favour of Beluga XLs, and from mid-2027 the Beluga XL fleet will be the sole transporter of components for Airbus.
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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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