Mozart From Luxembourg, joined Aug 2003, 2014 posts, RR: 14 Posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 4876 times:
I guess they primarily fly between the factories at Hamburg EDHI and Toulouse. How often do they go? Where else? How many Belugas are there? Is Airbus Industries the only operator or are there other commercial users?
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15871 posts, RR: 66 Reply 1, posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 4841 times:
IIRC there are 6.
Airbus Industrie (not "Industries) is the only operator but I'm sure if you want one they can build it for you.
Apart from the Airbus uses, they are chartered out for outsize cargoes. IIRC the Beluga (A300-600ST) has the largest circular cargo hold in the world or something like that.
The Belugas replaced the Super Guppies, which were, quite ironically, modified Boeings. One of the main advantages is that reattaching the nose of the Guppies took several hours.
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
SafetyDude From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 3795 posts, RR: 16 Reply 4, posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 4822 times:
Apart from the Airbus uses, they are chartered out for outsize cargoes. IIRC the Beluga (A300-600ST) has the largest circular cargo hold in the world or something like that.
Would the AN-224 be bigger in terms of circular cargo?
The Belugas also fly whenever there is a problem with an Airbus plane and a replacement is needed. There were rumors that a Beluga landed at LGA to assist a broken AC 320-family plane.
N1120a From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79 Reply 6, posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 4784 times:
They have industry in Chester? That is one of the richest places in the UK, and also one of the most restrictive councils
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Mozart From Luxembourg, joined Aug 2003, 2014 posts, RR: 14 Reply 9, posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 4749 times:
As a matter of fact, which are the "Airbus factories", i.e. the factories that produce parts that necessitate a visit by Belugas? I know of Hamburg, Toulouse, Getafe, Chester, Filton, also I believe Nantes - which others? Bremen?
Levent From France, joined Sep 2004, 1718 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 4663 times:
Solnabo: "I think they´re 5 of them now and they flies between Toulouse - Finkenwerder - Filton - España (dont know where). Have I forgot any?"
As Mozart mentioned, in Spain the field used is Getafe near Madrid.
Sometimes the European Space Agency ESA uses them to carry satellites within Europe. I don´t know however whether they would be used to fly to the launch site in French Guyana...
FUAirliner From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 538 posts, RR: 3 Reply 11, posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 4591 times:
Hi everybody,
there are five Belugas (A300-608ST is the official type):
F-GSTA c/n 655
F-GSTB c/n 751
F-GSTC c/n 765
F-GSTD c/n 776
F-GSTF c/n 796 operated in white c/s
These five Belugas operate from the following airports on a regular basis to collect the parts at the final assembly lines at Hamburg and Toulouse: Hamburg (XFW), Bremen, Toulouse, Getafe, Chester, Filton and Nantes.
They occasionally also operate ad-hoc charter flights to other airports if their special and unique service is required.
Mozart From Luxembourg, joined Aug 2003, 2014 posts, RR: 14 Reply 13, posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 4501 times:
Bremen and Nates - are those the civil pax airports of BRE and NTE, or do the Belugas go to Lemwerder (XLW/EDWD) and St. Nazaire (SNR/LFRZ, where I believe there is an Airbus factory)?
EGNR From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2004, 503 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 4409 times:
"They have industry in Chester? That is one of the richest places in the UK, and also one of the most restrictive councils"
Actually, the Airbus site at Broughton is just outside of Chester and is actually in North Wales. The airport that the site is built on is Hawarden Airport, but as Chester is the biggest town/city nearby and has more recognition, it is generally used to describe its location.
PROSA From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5439 posts, RR: 5 Reply 18, posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 4187 times:
Airbus has a website for its Super Belugas that gives details of the 'external' flights they carry out (an eclectic mix!)
http://www.airbustransport.com/
It would be interesting to see a price list, though Airbus may negotiate each deal individually rather than having a set rate schedule.
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