Airbus Beluga ST No. 4 Retires to Aero Scopia Museum in Toulouse Next to Super Guppy

Airbus has officially retired its iconic Beluga ST aircraft registered F-GSTD after close to three decades of dedicated service supporting the manufacturer’s complex logistics across Europe. This particular Beluga ST 4 was the fourth derivative of the uniquely designed ‘Super Transporter’ series based on the Airbus A300-600 widebody frame. Its unusually bulbous fuselage earned it the nickname ‘Beluga whale’ due to the resemblance with the marine mammal’s distinctive head shape. The retirement marks the end of its operational role ferrying outsized Airbus parts including wings and fuselage sections to final assembly lines.

On June 24, the Beluga ST F-GSTD completed its farewell journey at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS), where it is headquartered, before being delivered to its new home at the Aero Scopia museum in Blagnac, France. Prior to its tow, the aircraft performed a special final flight over Toulouse, executing several low passes and impressive turns as a tribute to its long service alongside another Beluga ST, number 2. This fly-by allowed enthusiasts and industry colleagues to witness the unique aircraft in action one last time before ground transfer.

The ground move of the retired Beluga ST required meticulous planning due to the plane’s considerable weight and size. Airbus staff supervised the tow from the TLS airport to the museum apron north of the airport via public roads, which necessitated special reinforcement and strengthening measures to safely accommodate the transport without damaging infrastructure. The operation went smoothly, and the Beluga now rests prominently within the museum grounds, adding a distinctive highlight to the existing collection of key Airbus aircraft such as the A340-600, A320, and the A380 double-decker.

Once positioned at Aero Scopia, media and special visitors had the opportunity to explore the Beluga’s cavernous cargo hold and the pilot’s cockpit, revealing the scale and ingenuity of this specially configured freighter. Later that evening, a public opening event welcomed aviation fans and ticket holders to commemorate the official induction of F-GSTD into the museum’s outdoor exhibition. The addition strengthens Aero Scopia’s narrative on Airbus’s production evolution and European aerospace logistics history.

The Beluga ST series originated as a modern replacement for the ageing and maintenance-intensive Super Guppy aircraft, which had served as outsized cargo transporters for Airbus. The initial Beluga ST prototype took flight in September 1994, with F-GSTD rolled out in 1998, marking an evolutionary step in oversized air cargo capabilities especially designed to meet Airbus’s complex internal transportation demands. Powered by two General Electric CF6-80C2A8 engines, this particular aircraft has commendably supported both routine Airbus transport missions and occasional special charters involving helicopters or humanitarian aid equipment.

The new exhibit places F-GSTD alongside the very Super Guppy it once superseded, which has been on display at Aero Scopia since 2015. This pairing provides a compelling visual and historical juxtaposition illustrating the progression in aircraft design and logistical strategies at Airbus. It showcases how the European aerospace giant innovated to support the manufacture and delivery of increasingly large airframe sections required for its family of commercial aircraft.

Aside from its primary Airbus duties, the Beluga ST occasionally undertook select contracted missions carrying oversized cargo beyond the manufacturer’s own sections. This flexibility highlighted the aircraft’s unique role in European and international aerospace transport. Its retirement paves the way for Airbus’s larger BelugaXL fleet, which offers extended capacity continuing the tradition of specialized transport but with modern enhancements to meet today’s production volumes and operational efficiencies.

The transportation and assembly of massive aircraft components remain a complex and critical challenge for commercial manufacturers. The Beluga ST fundamentally contributed to Airbus’s ability to decentralize manufacturing sites across Europe while integrating final assembly processes. By retiring F-GSTD to a museum setting, Airbus preserves the legacy of this pivotal aircraft type as a symbol of innovative aerospace logistics and industrial cooperation spanning decades.

This transition reflects Airbus's continuous adaptation of its logistics fleet to meet growing demand and complexity in aircraft production. The BelugaXL, the next-generation successor, now serves as the primary transporter for outsized components, capable of carrying heavier and larger payloads. By honoring the Beluga ST at Aero Scopia, Airbus ensures that the important chapter of these pioneering transporters remains accessible to the public and scholars, celebrating an integral part of European aviation history.