The Beluga Airbus, the world's strangest aircraft turns 20
By Miquel Ros , for CNN
(CNN) - The strangest plane in the world this month celebrates the 20th anniversary of its first flight.Known popularly as the "Beluga" for its resemblance to the Arctic whale, the Airbus A300-600ST (ST stands for Super Transporter) is unique not only in appearance, but by the essential role in European aviation.
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Today, more than 60 flights are operated each week between 11 locations, carrying parts for all Airbus programs.
What makes it so special?
The Airbus production centers are scattered throughout the continent; this is a legacy of its origins as a pan-European consortium. Each factory specializes in the completion of a specific section of an airplane. The five Belugas, operated by Airbus, and connect these plants take different sections of the plane to the final assembly line, either Toulouse or Hamburg.
Until the mid-nineties, Airbus aircraft used another peculiar aspect to carry out its big transfers: the "Super Guppy", a derivative of the Boeing C-97, a version of the military transport aircraft from the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser 1940s.
The Super Guppy was already an antiquated air when Airbus started using it.
Worse was the fact that Airbus depended on a couple of old planes from its main rival, Boeing, to handle the load of your logistics chain.
If he were to continue their frenetic growth, Airbus concluded that it needed something better.
The framework chosen for the role that was taken from A300-600 Airbus, an aircraft that already has a successful track record with airlines such as Lufthansa, Air France and American Airlines.
Each of the five Belugas in operation are actually A300-600 Airbus aircraft that have been modified to carry bulky loads.
The upper section of the plane was removed and added to the frame an additional wider section fuselage (like a bubble); with its characteristic hump this was achieved.
The cockpit was placed below; this made possible the cargo was loaded and unloaded from the front of the plane.
The result is an incredibly spacious cargo hold.
Although few cargo planes exceed the maximum payload of 47 tons of Beluga, his large winery makes it suitable for carrying oversized cargo, but not particularly heavy, as aircraft parts.
The Beluga can transport the A340 airplane wings or fuselage section of the latest wide-bodied aircraft Airbus A350.
However, it is not large enough to carry large portions of A380. These parts should be transported by ship, barge and by road.
Sometimes the Belugas have been used to carry satellites, helicopters and even artwork.
"Liberty Leading the People" by Delacroix was transferred from Paris to Tokyo in Beluga; the box would not fit in any other plane.
Coming soon: Beluga XL
Now that the Beluga is ready to fulfill two decades of tireless service, is beginning to prove their age and limitations.
Since the maiden flight of Beluga in 1994, Airbus has seen an increase of almost five times in their deliveries by plane.
The company has become more global, to diversify its supplier base and open assembly plants in China and Alabama; this exceeds the relatively short range of 1,500 nautical miles Beluga with its maximum payload.
In order to handle the increased workload, Airbus has implemented the so-called "Fly 10,000" program.
The program aims to optimize the logistics infrastructure of the company by increasing the work of its transport fleet to 10,000 hours per year by 2017.
The plan includes Beluga, which is expected to fly many more hours a day.
However, because the order for transfer by plane is at a historic high point, Airbus can not afford to let its essential chain logistics operations depends on the arrangement of five aircraft that are no longer modern .
Although no decisions have been made, Airbus is evaluating potential replacement solutions.
Replacement of Beluga, Beluga provisionally named XL, possibly based on the frame of the A330.
Is expected to have a larger range and can carry a heavier payload, while manages to land at airports with relatively short runways, and Boroughton, England, where Airbus wings for its aircraft factory.
The next generation should also make Beluga Airbus may double its cargo flights to 120 per week.
What seems definite is that the Beluga XL will have a similar look to the current version, which the plane spotters who are just passing through Toulouse should appreciate.