Exclusive AIRBUS BELUGA XL tour | You won’t believe what this plane has inside it

There isn't a plane in sky as striking (or cute!) as the @airbus BelugaXL, but its unique whale-like design isn't just for looks! In an exclusive tour of the colossal Airbus facility in Broughton, North Wales, Nicky Kelvin got a close up look at the intricate engineering and process that allows this enormous aircraft to swallow A350 wings and transport them around Europe. Dive into the latest episode of Airplane Mode.
Follow Nicky - / nickykelvin
Producer - Ted Willis @TedWillisTube
Editor - Joseph Buccini

[@ancipital]

I love that the attention to detail for the Beluga XL is that they have a whale face paint job on the front - that's brilliant!

[@digivolt]

Boeing could learn alot from Airbus

[@ancipital]

@@digivoltHow to build planes that fly reliably for a start! But I doubt that ever happen!

[@danielmantione]

@@ancipital Boeing is in a really poisonous situation: The 737's positioning as a low cost plane requires mass production. There was no mass production during the 737 Max grounding, therefore it has to speed up 737 production in order to solve the financial fiasco of the 737 Max troubles and maintain good relations with airlines who are waiting for their delayed planes. Speeding up production without compromising quality is always a challenge and Boeing has failed here. Airbus is in a comfortable position, they can just execute plans they made a decade ago. They had no big unplanned costs due to groundings with the A321Neo, so no urgent need to speed up production. They might even be able to raise their prices due to Boeing their reputation taking a hit.

[@ancipital]

@@danielmantione Yes, Boeing are in a really poisonous situation caused by management, shortcuts and getting rid of any engineers and designers that raise concerns. They push through changes to aircraft that are essentially totally different airplanes and with colusion with the FCC get to push them through with self certification rather than the full re-certification they should have had. They hide major changes from the purchasers of the aircrafts with "nah, it's all OK, trust us" whereas as we've all discovered, they've lied and manipulated results. Unfortunately, without a top down radical change to the structure of Boeing, it will not get any better, the management that caused the issues are still there and they are not going to change. Still, I bet if you say upper management have to fly on the planes such that there's always one of them on any aircraft at a time they will be sure to change their tune when their own lives are at risk!

[@nooralhuda32]

The front looks more like a dolphin than a whale and this is just me

[@k.r.99]

First, i thought the black mask around the cockpit was supposed to look like sunglasses, until i realised the eyes and it struck me: this is the cutest and funniest plane livery I've ever seen

[@stevenr2463]

Can see why Airbus is outperforming Boeing. By far.

[@anthonyblacker8471]

What a graceful bird she is! Watching her land so daintily, just gorgeous. It's pretty amazing a plane shaped like that has no issues at all flying massive cargo. Stunning!

[@oliverhartley760]

Or whale 😂

[@doktormerlin]

I work for the company that engineered her - She is the big proud of everyone working in the Airbus department :)

[@gherjc]

What a beautiful flying whale

[@user-fRqZBkIo]

She? There is no gender in non-living object

[@Nolan_plays]

That’s a plane

[@mike.chesworth]

I'm lucky to live close to Broughton and see these going over my house on a regular basis, but this was great to see inside, and how they work. Great Video. 👍

[@paulbellingham3948]

Me too, my house is on the flight path they take to meet up with Liverpool control space, always make me 😁

[@cornovii3012]

@@paulbellingham3948 E,Port. They look like they've stopped mid air sometimes 🤣

[@chrisdubois3645]

Working in large scale manufacturing, what amazed me is the effectiveness of their processes. When you have all the right tools, the right parts, and a clean process it just looks meticulous.

[@anngray-trufant4362]

Absolutely fascinating!! Love this series of videos. ❤

[@tngdragon]

I had a HUGE smile on my face throughout this WHOLE video - how coooool!

[@Tobi-yi6jx]

I appreciate all the work you put in your videos and I hope you make more of these awesome mind blowing videos

[@KC-MWA]

When I was truck driving I had a customer who I used to deliver too right by the runway and if I was lucky I’d get to see this beautiful plane land or take off, a magnificent sight. A great video to watch thank you for making it guys.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

This is really an interesting aircraft shape. It’s so cool!

[@NyanyiC]

Thank you. I have always been curious about this plane. So nice to see it in action

[@beniwal577]

oh my god i've wanted to see whats inside the beluga! incredible video!

[@benjaminjoseph8487]

That was a very cool video and content Nicky. Great job as always.

[@imsbvs]

Great to see, I used to watch A380's doing pilot training, but this is somethign special. I guess the aerodynamics have a greater influence than the payload weight which would be why flying empty or with cargo is not much different.

[@garyflynn3762]

Great video!!! What a lovely designed aircraft !!! A massive load area !!!

[@matthewdavidmunson]

Thank you whoever designed the mouth.

[@lastnamefirstname520]

This was really interesting to see! Thanks for the work dude! 10/10

[@loveforthegame3]

Good for france and the UK!. These guys obviously have serious pride about there job. Seeing such an amazing piece of equipment being utilized efficiently across the pond is awesome! i forget the world is bigger than the US sometimes! Biggest cargo carrier in the world! Being used to build the best planes in the world! You guys are great. Love flying airbus❤

[@toasterhavingabath6980]

Airbus is europe, concorde was england and france.

[@FreeBeliever1]

You missed Germany and Spain

[@benbartlett4278]

I live in Chester and broughton in right next to us. We see the Beluga fly in and she is amazing! Loving the videos!

[@MH-gh]

Gr8 video & insight & you can tell (@ least to me) how much Paul loves & enthusiastic with his job

[@vinyl360]

These fly over my house about twice a week, usually Tuesday and Thursdays I think. They are so impressive to see flying over when the skies are clear.

[@raymondmifsud4690]

loved this. truely impressive!!

[@phalanx1337]

Love seeing these flying over from Hamburg

[@keiththomas6861]

Utterly amazing 👏

[@yannickbenavides7452]

Great cinematography and editing!! kudos!!!

[@ru95]

Incredible production quality on this video - good work team :)

[@sunnydhaliwal9012]

Glad you had fun Nicky 😊

[@angierobinson5570]

Wow that was fantastic footage you now have a new subscriber 😁 only just come across your channel and loved every minute of it you are so lucky to have had the chance to do all this ! I’m so jealous 👍🏻

[@poostring94]

I used to see these daily growing up. I lived less than 10 miles from Broughton. I still see them when I visit my Mum.

[@lisalalita]

Great looking aircraft & paint job😊

[@mwenvlay]

this video is great. i love this topic! also, your editor is pretty good.

[@ovidijusvoronkovas1150]

So lucky to enter a cockpit. So so so jealous.... Beluga is an amazing aircraft.

[@jimhearsonwriter]

"Can I have a go?" *Beep* Genuinely thought they'd sworn at you for a moment 🤣

[@philhowells7715]

Nicky, that was so different from the previous video, of First-class with Singapore Airlines, but so good. Where I live I'm so lucky to be in the flight path of a few northern UK airports, but seeing Billy the Beluga fly over occasionally is so special. It's even better than seeing the A380s. I wonder, does Billy the Beluga have any pluffy pillows, that's the big question, for an even bigger plane? Looking forward to your next video now, thanks.

[@Tammyperry1]

OMG! that was a cool video....I loved this inside look at the loading of the Beluga

[@hennyverheij5969]

Really amazing!

[@aletoro58]

Thanks a lot! This is very interesting for all aviation geeks!!!!!

[@LOVEEUK]

Stunning 😮

[@drlow84]

Good work. Keep it Up!

[@AirplaneMan10]

I went to the Airbus factory in August and it was amazing

[@alansmith4655]

Incredible aircraft.

[@raymondleongdiva]

I was at the airbus tour just ABT a year ago flew from Singapore to Paris then onto Toulouse and it was awesome and I heard there's a beluga tour too so I am making plans for this tour next year for sure...cheers to you and I will subscribe to your channel...well done and stay safe...

[@howardshepherdson2925]

Brilliant video !

[@therealcaldini]

Yay! Broughton!

[@naturallyherb]

Amazing! I got to see this one last year in Hamburg!

[@TCSG6]

You guys are my fav KZbinrs and I was at chester airport yesterday

[@fonkamex]

This is a beautiful and very special aircraft. What impress me the most about this design is it doesn’t seem really aerodynamic but it is.

[@stefansjogren]

Wow, that´s amazing 😀

[@matthewjohnson7075]

One of my favourite special transport aircraft

[@JazzyJae88]

This and the A380s always shocked me with they are able to get off the ground. Side note, those helmets remind me of professional horseback riding helmets. When fashion meets safety. 🤗😉😊

[@gora2497]

That's one cute flying whale with perpetual smile!

[@TheDylanJoyce]

Airbus Beluga in the great blue sky! Fly to happy and ya fly so free!

[@johnpollock2692]

Several years ago was parked overnight in my truck outside Chester. It was getting dark when this craft appeared overhead flying low. Hadn't seen it before and thought it was a space craft. AMAZING sight.

[@Stettafire]

If you ever want to repeat the experience I recommend parking up at around 7am, there is usually one or two near the start of the work day arriving at Chester airport (often called Chester airport even though it's in Broughton).

[@johnpollock2692]

Thank you.

[@runarandersen878]

Cool video and cool building.

[@80s-Retro-Alien]

My favorite plane! 💙✈️😍💜

[@robinjulien5163]

I had the opportunity to visit the site in Toulouse and seeing 5 beluga's land to deliver parts for final assembly. It was crazy.

[@toothless2665]

I also love the big whale face on the front

[@miemietube4569]

I am in total awe by how amazing this plane is. Wow and the name so appropriate!!❤ If we can build amazing things like planes and rockets taking satelites into space why cant we stop the wars?b

[@MikeDailly]

Loved this one!! I had a huge grin on my face watching it. Amazing!

[@phalanx1337]

They do that to me when they fly over, infectious smile

[@clare5805]

Amazing video. She flys over my home and my dog loves it.

[@jacks20009]

I’m from Manchester and on a clear day, I often see this flying over. Always amuses me how something so funny shaped can actually take off😂beautiful though.

[@Greenfly118]

Wonderful

[@jf5336]

That's actually a pretty cool cap. Would love to get one!

[@v3r0x]

Nice vid. Have seen you in Barcelona in July - there was never a flight video from Barcelona 😅

[@user-ky6vw5up9m]

At Toulouse at the weekend, one can see the whole Beluga fleet parked-up

[@johntynan8161]

what a cool place to work

[@robwillcox2307]

Never seen the Beluga do anything but buttery landings.

[@DesoloZantas]

That's a thicc aircraft! 😮

[@ducksnutsphotography]

Yes very interesting. Thank you:)

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Nicky and his Gorgeous Safety Hat >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[@Siouxlita]

you are the luckiest person in the world!! this is my dream!😮

[@alexpilot24]

Now that we got the BelugaXL in Broughton, we need the Dreamlifter in Everett

[@user-Rubux2425]

what a beast

[@kdlofty]

This flies over my house quite regularly.

[@juliegale3863]

I love the Beluga, she flys over my home sometimes and I rush out to look at her if I catch her on Flightradar 24.

[@stefanmaster2099]

Insane butter

[@bushchat28d]

This and all the other variants fly over my house almost daily. The XL that's been painted up to look like a dolphin is just superb as it goes over... really slowly 🙂

[@nomdaploom]

It makes you wonder why they didn't call it the Airbus Dolphin XL. Perhaps the fact that it more closely resembles a Beluga whale than a dolphin has something to do with it?

[@WILLIAM1690WALES]

I’m glad you said Broughton North Wales, of course it is located very close to Chester which is in England but you did say Broughton Wales. Well done you the most important employment base in north-east Wales and Cheshire and we are proud of it too.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@Mr_T990]

I could spend hours listening to Paul tell me all about this majestic beauty

[@chgames026]

You can see nicky just living his dream

[@_Rafiki.]

I was in Hamburg this morning November 4th 2023 and I'm pretty sure I saw this beast flying in the distance

[@ironhorsehero1988]

Well done you for Broughton in Wales, all too often claimed as Chester (England). We live a short distance from Broughton and are privileged to see the various Balugas flying close by either circling to land or having just taken off destined for Germany, France or Spain.

[@pascalbrode3206]

Haha, That's nice with the whale 🐳 watching in the middle of Wales. Nice word game as well.

[@nathd1748]

It absolutely NOT in the middle of Wales

[@illusivec]

I live next to there. First time I heard the noise of that beast and looked up, I thought I was halucinating. Beluga looks even wilder when it's flying 400m above your house.

[@ZahraIsMyDog]

Insane cool. How do you get type rated for this thing? And does Airbus have a sim for it?

[@henningpieterjordan7416]

The guppy...😊

[@LolcowFarm-qr3if]

That is a miracle that plaine

[@monkeysausageclub]

Broughton is in Chester isn't it not Wales. Still a very cool video, I have never seen inside the Beluga and like I knew it was big but man 🤯.

[@clubgus07]

Well done, mate with the capturing of the moving pictures of this whale, i hope you had a whale of a time. I wonder other then plane parts and possibly eating up a fuselage of a smaller air bus plane like A320 i wonder if these planes can stack up cars, train carriages, defence equipment and motor yachts that don’t want to get wet. Thx for the tour

[@muratti72muc]

sure they can but the normal A330-200F Cargo is much cheaper, faster, can load more tons and can fly a longer distance. The Beluga is just good to transport big and light parts for a maximum of 4.000km. There is no big market for big and light parts to transport and Airbus needs all of there Belugas for them self. But Airbus offers now the old A300 Beluga for private charters sometimes when the old ones are free.

[@jaytc3218]

I’m curious to know how the Beluga handles in a crosswind during takeoff and landing. As the captain said, there’s not much difference in handling with a weight change but the large side profile must act like a giant sail in crosswind. Fascinating and beautiful aircraft.

[@PACKGODSBIGGESTFAN]

“its a bird!“ “its a plane!” “No, its a fucking airbus”

[@TheSilverSurfer1949]

I remember seeing something similar to this in the 70's; but I think it was called a Guppy then. It was used for carrying sections of the Apollo space rocket. 🐟🐟🐟

[@LuciferCelebrimbor]

I see this plane almost every day flying over Chester:)

[@clementsxm]

I saw trial flight of this plane in 2018, I was living not far from Toulouse

[@mrmrsmaus]

I live in Hamburg and see them fly low over the city often from my window. Its just insane. A whole different level then a380

[@jacquesdemolay2699]

in UK: it is a Blooga in France: it is a Belle Luga

[@YorrickLiu]

it's just unreal to see how far we human have made through during the last 100 years

[@LoganEvans-mm6qi]

This is my favourite plane

[@lewisbabicki8264]

Im so lucky to be in the flight path of these beauties