Beluga

The Airbus A300-600ST (Super Transporter) or Beluga is a version of the standard A300-600 wide-body airliner
modified to carry aircraft parts and over-sized or awkward cargo. It was officially called the Super Transporter
at first, but the name Beluga became popular and has now been officially adopted.

Development of the A300-600ST, nicknamed Beluga and also Super Flipper, began in August 1991. The A300-600ST's
tight development program - for what in many ways is effectively a new aircraft - saw the transport rolled out
in June 1994, with first flight on September 13 that year. The A300-600ST then entered a 400 hour flight test
program which culminated in mid 1995, with certification awarded that September and with delivery and entry into
service with Airbus in January 1996. All of the first four on order had been delivered by mid 1998
(allowing the Super Guppy's retirement in October 1997).

The A300-600ST is based on the A300-600 airliner, with which it shares the wing, lower fuselage, main undercarriage
and cockpit. The main differences are obvious - a bulged main deck, new forward lower fuselage, new enlarged tail
with winglets and an upwards hinging main cargo door. A design study of a similarly configured A340,
the A340ST Mega Transporter, to carry A3XX components is underway.