Airbus Retires its Beluga ST: The F-GSTD Joins the Aeroscopia Museum in Toulouse
Airbus has relocated one of its five BelugaST aircraft to the Aeroscopia Museum in Toulouse, marking the end of three decades of operational service for this legendary aircraft. The BelugaST4 (F-GSTD) becomes a centerpiece of the museum's collection at the French aeronautical site, alongside the Concorde, the Super Guppy, and the A380.
A Historic Fleet Makes Way for the New Generation
Since its service entry in 1995, the BelugaST has been the backbone of Airbus's internal logistics, transporting major components (wings, fuselages) between European production sites. The fleet of five aircraft has played a pivotal role in the manufacturer's industrial network for three decades.
Since 2014, the larger, new generation BelugaXL has been gradually taking over. This fleet of six aircraft supports the acceleration of Airbus's production ramp-up. By mid-2027, the BelugaXLs will be the sole component transporters for Airbus, completing the replacement of the BelugaST following its scheduled retirement in 2025.
A Second Life in Aviation Heritage
The BelugaST4 begins a new mission as a central element of the Aeroscopia Museum's collection, alongside other milestones in aviation history. This reassignment follows the earlier retirement of the BelugaST5 in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the year, which was transformed in January 2026 into a dedicated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) support center in Broughton.
