new Airbus Beluga first flight live NOW

[chris4652009]

on FB
https://www.facebook.com/airbus/videos/22555601644...

[KrazyIvan]

None facebook link

https://youtu.be/RMusdjZqoTk

[chris4652009]

How cool is that??? loving the artwork

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for the links.

On flight radar too with chase plane.

[NDA]

Pretty amazing!

[Eric Mc]

All I'm seeing is a Farnborough Air Show interview.

[anonymous-user]

Yes it took off at 09:30.

[SHutchinson]

Eric Mc said:

All I'm seeing is a Farnborough Air Show interview.

If you rewind the live video you can see the take off.

[BrettMRC]

Paint scheme is spot on!

[Eric Mc]

SHutchinson said:

Eric Mc said:

All I'm seeing is a Farnborough Air Show interview.

If you rewind the live video you can see the take off.

Done - thanks.

[Eric Mc]

Looks like the Beluga has had to cut short its flight due to a pressurisation problem.

[Jez m]

Just caught the take-off.. that is a beast! Only 2 engines needed for that giant.. wow, thought it would take 4 at least to get something that size (and fully laden) off the ground!

[anonymous-user]

Squawking 7700 the emergency code. Has it landed?

[anonymous-user]

Looks like it has.

[Eric Mc]

This is the next generation Beluga. They've been flying Belugas for over 20 years. The original Beluga was based on the A300. The XL is based on the A330.

[chris4652009]

Eric Mc said:

This is the next generation Beluga. They've been flying Belugas for over 20 years. The original Beluga was based on the A300. The XL is based on the A330.

Yep

[NDA]

Jez m said:

Just caught the take-off.. that is a beast! Only 2 engines needed for that giant.. wow, thought it would take 4 at least to get something that size (and fully laden) off the ground!

I thought that too - but I guess they know what they're doing.

The engines looked a bit weenie in comparison the whole aircraft.

[Eric Mc]

The aircraft is mostly empty space. I would expect that a loaded up Beluga would weigh something similar to a fully loaded A330.

[anonymous-user]

Eric Mc said:

The aircraft is mostly empty space. I would expect that a loaded up Beluga would weigh something similar to a fully loaded A330.

Bit less actually.

Beluga XL

Max takeoff weight: 227,000 kg

A330

MTOW 242,000 kg

Which makes sense I suppose if the same engines and wings are having to overcome the extra drag of the beluga body.

[CharlieH89]

I look forward to seeing it in the sky