Airbus A330-300 (F-WBXL)

Great photo and the Beluga name fits well!

I always wonder how this weird thing can fly

Whole lotta thrust!

I think this would be a great advertising slogan. 'If it fits into the belly of the whale, we'll transport it."

Congrats to the Airbus guy (gal?) who said: "It's not going to just 'blend in' anyplace; might as well paint it 'showy'! Excellent photo!

Another happy plane takes to the air.

Great livery!

Jose...........

An impressive photo of a most unusual aircraft.....

Superbe avion

Hey Baruch, put enough horsepower on a brick and it will fly! Just sayin!

And the Shuttle Transporters. Carrying the shuttle on their back, and all the added structure to support that extra weight. I doubt they got enough lift out of the shuttle to make it even close to a wash. And the Dreamlifters. But the latter at least looks somewhat more like a traditional plane.

Aerodynamics would be an interesting profession.

I remember, as a kid, walking through a C-5A and thinking that was the largest plane ever. HUGE planes...

Beluga motto: If it fits, it ships. And just about everything will fit in that!

It's obvious what Boeing did (added a larger tube to a 747), what are the roots of the Beluga? It looks more like a purpose built plane rather than an altered existing design. Still, amazing....

@ Robert Cowling.

" ... what are the roots of the Beluga? It looks more like a purpose built plane rather than an altered existing design."

Are you able to read? The caption says it all. Airbus A330.
Per Wiki ... " Its aft section is based on the A330-300 while its forward on the A330-200 for centre of gravity reasons, and the reinforced floor and structure comes from the -200F".