Third BelugaXL emerged with a smiling whale-face

The BelugaXL having a length of 63.1 meters and a payload capacity of about 50,500kg has rolled out of its paint shop in Toulouse.
This is the third of its kind and is expected to join the service in early 2021. A total of 6 BelugaXL has to be manufactured out of which 3 have been completed.
The third BelugaXL was seen leaving the hanger in Toulouse in May and has finally emerged with a smiling whale face.

About BelugaXL
Successor of the Beluga, this is a huge transporter aircraft based on Airbus A330-200 freighter powered by Rolls Royce Trent 700 engines which derived its name from Beluga Whale.
It has the largest cargo bay cross section than any of the transporter aircraft till date.

The modification with respect to its predecessor was the further lowering of its flight deck allowing the Beluga XL to have 30% more capacity than the original Beluga.
Apart from transporting basic components, BelugaXL is responsible for transporting huge aircraft parts for example the A350XWB wings.

BelugaXL can accommodate two A350XWB wings compared to one wing by Beluga making BelugaXL more efficient.

Source URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%22Beluga_XL%22_A330-743L.jpg
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en
Credit: Julien Jeany | Photographer

As can be seen clearly in the picture above, its the bubble which gives the BelugaXL its distinct shape which contains an upward opening hatch for loading and unloading of huge aircraft parts like wing, fuselage sections etc.
It is because of the whale-like nose that this aircraft is able to achieve aerodynamic efficiency despite a huge front cross section.

A true engineering marvel not just because of its distinctive design but also how it is able to transport such giant aircraft parts with just two RR Trent 700 engines.

What do you think about BelugaXL? Would love to know in the comments!