Skip to content

Watch Airbus' Beluga Cargo Plane Land and Take Off in Hamburg

Sept. 09, 2016
1 min read
Airbus Beluga Featured
Watch Airbus' Beluga Cargo Plane Land and Take Off in Hamburg
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a... blimp with wings? No, it's actually a rare Airbus A300-600ST 'Beluga' that we're bringing to you in this week's crazy aviation video.

The jet was originally called a "Super Transporter," but after many comparisons to the Beluga whale, it's since adopted the name of the similar-looking sea creature. The Beluga is a transport jet that ferries airplane parts and oversized cargo around the globe in a unique style. It's modified from an A300-600 wide-body passenger aircraft, and only five have been made since production began in 1992.

In the video above, the Beluga approaches the runway at Airbus's plant in Hamburg, Germany, with such grace that you wouldn't think it was the behemoth that it is. Then, just after landing, the oddly-shaped aircraft turns around and has a seamless takeoff, flying out into the evening sky.