Dolphin-shaped plane
Jul 25, 2013 | 11:46 am
#1
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
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Dolphin-shaped plane
Am new to Flyertalk so am not sure if I am posting in the right place. I was in the Chester/Liverpool/Manchester area (UK) today and noticed an all-white plane flying around as though pilot training. Very big. No livery painted on it, upturns at the end of the wings and a small set of 'wings' near the rear. My immediate reaction was, it looked like flying dolphin. Anyone know what this could be?
Jul 25, 2013 | 12:01 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2005
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Is this it?
If so, do a search here on FT for Beluga. It is an interesting plane.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_Beluga
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_Beluga
Jul 25, 2013 | 4:23 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: UK
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It could have been the Antonov 225, I know that it's been in and out of Manchester a few times this month! (See link below) 
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=an...&client=safari
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=an...&client=safari
Jul 25, 2013 | 7:13 pm
#6
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looks like an A300 that has been modified as a freighter to transport sections of the A380 fuselage from wherever they are built to the Airbus assembly line in Toulouse
Boeing has a handful of 747s that serve a similar function on the 787 program (look up 747LCF, Dreamlifter)
edit Beluga has been used to ferry Airbus aircraft components between sites since 1995, as well as other outsize cargo on a charter basis ... it was initially built to replace the Super Guppy fleet (ex-NASA converted Boeing Stratocruisers)
Boeing has a handful of 747s that serve a similar function on the 787 program (look up 747LCF, Dreamlifter)
edit Beluga has been used to ferry Airbus aircraft components between sites since 1995, as well as other outsize cargo on a charter basis ... it was initially built to replace the Super Guppy fleet (ex-NASA converted Boeing Stratocruisers)
Jul 25, 2013 | 11:20 pm
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Jul 26, 2013 | 7:42 am
#11
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not sure if this is creative marketing or creative use of Photoshop
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/153/35...445_z.jpg?zz=1
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/153/35...445_z.jpg?zz=1
Jul 26, 2013 | 8:04 am
#12
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First time I saw the Dreamlifter was at Boeing Field in Seattle...just driving by on my way from SEA into the city. It was bright green at the time.
Jul 26, 2013 | 1:41 pm
#13
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not sure if this is creative marketing or creative use of Photoshop
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/153/35...445_z.jpg?zz=1
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/153/35...445_z.jpg?zz=1
^^^^
There's often a Dreamlifter parked in Charleston SC. I've yet to see one take off or land though.
A unit of C-17 Globemasters are stationed at the same airport and even they look small by comparison to this.