In pics: 1st BelugaXL aircraft successfully completes its flight test

CAIRO – 22 July 2018: The Airbus BelugaXL took its first flight on Thursday to the Farnborough Air Show which took four hours and 11 minutes to arrive. A statement issued by Airbus Company mentioned that the BelugaXL “literally looks like a whale.”

The plane took off from France's Toulouse-Blagnac Airport and circled back.

The statement reported that the BelugaXL will fly for 600 hours to complete its flight test for more than ten months, before entering into actual service in 2019; pointing out that the BelugaXL aircraft carrier program was launched in November 2014.

Airbus' massive Beluga XL "flying whale" just completed its first test flight.

You probably won't get to fly in it, though. It's mostly for transporting airplane parts. https://t.co/3bgZ1FIJk7 via @CNNTravel pic.twitter.com/Cfdnue0mbe

— CNN (@CNN) July 22, 2018

“I am personally pleased with the strong response that our aircraft has received. We at Airbus have positive impressions of the future of our aircraft and we are always ready with the best solution. Airbus plans to build five such aircrafts by 2023,” Eric Schulz, chief of sales, marketing and contracts for Airbus said.

Airbus showed its products during its participation at the Farnese Aviation 2018, showing the strong performance of its commercial aircrafts which have achieved many successes, the statement reported.