One of Airbus’ retired Beluga ST transport aircraft has found a permanent home at the Aeroscopia museum in Toulouse, becoming the only example of the type on public display anywhere in the world.
The museum announced that Beluga ST No. 4, registered F-GSTD, will be unveiled during a special event on June 24 before opening to visitors the following day.
Based on the Airbus A300-600F freighter, the Beluga ST was developed to transport oversized aircraft components between Airbus production sites across Europe. The fleet of five aircraft entered service in the 1990s and supported major Airbus programs, carrying wings, fuselage sections, helicopters, satellites and space hardware.
According to Aeroscopia, the aircraft completed 4,438 flights and accumulated 6,806 flight hours before being retired. Its final flight took place in September 2025.
The Beluga ST fleet was withdrawn after Airbus introduced the larger BelugaXL, which is based on the A330-200 and offers significantly greater transport capacity. The newer aircraft have progressively taken over the manufacturer’s internal logistics missions.
Airbus initially sought a second life for the retired Beluga ST fleet through Airbus Beluga Transport, a dedicated outsized cargo airline launched in 2022. The venture aimed to use the aircraft to carry industrial cargo for external customers, but the business failed to gain traction and operations were later discontinued.
The manufacturer has since been looking for alternative uses for the aircraft. Besides the example destined for Aeroscopia, another Beluga ST is expected to be converted into a training facility in the United Kingdom. Airbus has not yet announced the future of the remaining aircraft.
The arrival of F-GSTD expands Aeroscopia’s collection of Airbus aircraft, which already includes examples such as the A320, A380 and the Super Guppy. Visitors will be able to view the aircraft externally immediately, while parts of the cargo hold are expected to become accessible to the public by 2028.
