Airbus retires its iconic Beluga ST5 aircraft after 25 years with an emotional final landing

Today, Airbus retired the Beluga ST5 aircraft after 25 years delivering plane parts around the world.

Born to rival the Boeing-NASA Space Guppy and defy the old strapline that ‘every Airbus is delivered on the wings of a Boeing’, the white whale of the skies has been transporting Airbus parts around the globe since the turn of the century.

But after 13,300 journeys from its home in Wales, UK, to Toulouse, Bremen, Brazil, Florida, and more, the first of the five Beluga ST planes has been grounded.

The Supercar Blondie team was on hand to watch as it made its final landing on a return trip from France.

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Beluga ST5 makes its final landing at Hawarden Airport, UK

First airborne on December 12, 2000, the Beluga is famed for it hilarious dome-shaped look that challenged Airbus designers beyond belief, combating crosswinds and making sure the gigantic plane is aerodynamic.

ST5 – the final plane in the original Beluga range to be made, but the first to make a commissioned flight – has been responsible for transporting over 1,700 Airbus A350 and A320 wings around the world, as well as taking satellites to the Kennedy Space Station.

However, the entire Beluga ST range is now being grounded, and the first of those has just made its final flight.

At 10:55am GMT, we stood by to capture the moment that it flew into Hawarden Airport for the last time.

Having made a quick loop over Liverpool to wave goodbye to a frequent landing spot, the pilots were originally set to do a fly-by (or a go-around), but low clouds prevented this from being done safely.

Instead, it was paraded in front of Airbus Broughton staff, who all put down their tools for the A350 wings to give it a round of applause.

You can watch the final landing below.

As for what’s next for the Beluga ST5, Airbus explained to SB Media that it’s going to be championed and used as an inspiration tool for new aviators.

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What the retired Beluga will be used for now

What’s next for the Beluga ST5 was a source of contention for Airbus, which knew that once it was grounded, the massive plane wasn’t going to be an easy object to transport.

As confirmed to SB Media, the plane will now forever be held at Hawarden Airport in Wales, just outside of Chester, and will be transformed into an educational hub to inspire the next wave of aviation fans.

“It’s really important that we use the aircraft to be able to inspire the next generation,” Airbus Vice President of A350 and A320 Wing Production Paul Kilmister said.

“To be able to make sure that the next generation is inspired to come into aerospace, but also to be able to focus on science, technology, and math, which are all incredibly important, not just for Airbus or the aerospace industry, but for industry generally.”

The rest of the fleet is set to be retired by ‘mid-2027’, as the larger Beluga XL has completely taken over the responsibilities of the ST, with twice as much capacity in its wild forehead-opening hold.

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