Happy 20th Birthday to the world’s weirdest-looking Airbus – the Beluga, inspired by the Super Guppy

By Rita

Most travelers usually get to see passenger planes from various airlines. Even if you've seen different painted airplanes, you might still crack a smile at this one’s shape – it’s considered the weirdest-looking Airbus, known for its uncanny resemblance to a beluga whale, and is calledthe "Beluga".

▲ The world's weirdest cargo plane, the "Beluga" (Image / Wikipedia)

According to CNN, the "Beluga" is very different from regular passenger planes. Its huge "back" is because it’s used to transport large, special cargo such as fuel tanks for chemical tankers, NASA spacecraft, and more.

Before the Beluga, the European aviation company Airbus used the more humorously shaped "Super Guppy" to carry freight. But due to aging and heavy maintenance costs, the "Super Guppy" was phased out, leading to the development of the "Beluga." A fleet of five "Belugas" are operated by Airbus, with all aircraft components produced across Europe and assembled in Toulouse, France, and Hamburg, Germany.

▲ The predecessor of the "Beluga" was the cargo plane called the "Super Guppy" (Image / Wikipedia)

Last year (2014), the "Beluga" (A300-600ST) celebrated its 20th anniversary. Aside from its impressive appearance, it has continued to shoulder a major mission in European air freight.

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