Beluga XL First Flight.

[scifi]

The Beluga XL had a 4 hour test flight from Toulouse this morning. It managed 410 knots and 32,000ft, but apart from the landing, I don't think they did any test stalls in it. There are another 40 test flights before it goes into service.
.

[Less Hair]

Must be some interesting cockpit perspective from the converted avionics bay down below and some more than interesting vortex behind that wide fuselage. But those strakes seem to deal well with them.
The tail looks like they could install some gunner's position if attacked from behind.

[wiggy]

Ah..thanks, that explains the Beluga plus one accompanying smaller aircraft we saw over our part of the world at medium level an hour or two ago (we were driving and only got a quick glimpse of the par into sun so couldn’t get the scale of those involved)..

[spannersatcx]

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.gmforum.com-vbulletin/1920x1280/9e491585_4bb8_4942_8dcc_c916aa7c7b9c_2214f67e6d7be5b6aaaef3b 576c0d256a4bdd500.jpeg
Smiley face as well!

[Global Aviator]

The Dolphin!!!

[Carbon Bootprint]

Ugly and cute at the same time! As someone who saw the Guppys and Super Guppys in their time I’m fascinated by purpose built mods like this. All the best to them.

[Less Hair]

What is that orange section on the tail for? Anything flight test related or just warning colours for low ceiling loading hangar ops?

[Mk 1]

Ugly and cute at the same time! As someone who saw the Guppys and Super Guppys in their time I’m fascinated by purpose built mods like this. All the best to them.
I'm astonished that the massive increase in frontal area had such a small impact on performance on the Guppys - probably the same on this?

[Capn Bloggs]

Ugly! Marcel would be rolling in his grave! :{

[Parratjie]

It would be interesting to know what the crosswind limit would be?

[JammedStab]

I believe that there is a lot of rudder blanking on the Beluga type aircraft.