In addition to its primary task of conveying Airbus components, the Super Transporter fleet has occasionally been used for charter flights, carrying outsized cargoes for various customers and purposes, from whole helicopters to industrial equipment and humanitarian aid. A total of five aircraft were built for Airbus while additional new-build aircraft were offered to prospective operators by SATIC during the 1990s, no other customers ordered the type. Entering service in September 1995, the Super Transporter was a larger, faster, and more efficient aircraft than the preceding Super Guppies. In August 1991, a new joint venture company, Super Airbus Transport International (SATIC), was formed to pursue the venture.Ĭonstruction of the first aircraft began during September 1992 it performed its maiden flight on 13 September 1994. Instead, the company came to favour developing a derivative of its standard A300-600. While several different existing aircraft were studied, none were found to be fully satisfactory. This had been met by a small fleet of Aero Spacelines "Super Guppies", but these aircraft were aged and increasingly maintenance-intensive to keep in operation. It received the official name of Super Transporter early on, but its nickname, after the beluga whale, which it resembles, gained popularity and has since been officially adopted.ĭue to Airbus's manufacturing facilities being dispersed, the company had a long term need to transport sizeable components, such as wings and fuselage sections, to their final assembly lines. The Airbus A300-600ST ( Super Transporter), or Beluga, is a specialised wide-body airliner used to transport aircraft parts and outsize cargoes.
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