Oddities in the sky.

Many have certainly wondered what there is to like about aviation and airplanes and many a time, I have been asked what is so interesting about aviation ... ending with remarks such as “they all look the same”. Well yes – most look the same except for their liveries, and no – there are some odd-balls of aviation that could be described as bizarre, awkward, weird or at its kindest – unusual. To me, all these mean one thing – interesting.

Most planes came off the drawing boards (ok these days, it is probably off a computer screen) looking rather regular and most end up looking totally normal too. But once in a while and always dictated by a special or specialised need, it gets a makeover that can get blown out of all proportions. The Airbus A300-600ST is just one such airplane.

The A300-600ST was "built" from an A300-600, itself originally a lengthened and improved version of the basic Airbus A300B, it looked rather elegant with clean aerodynamic lines and operated in the colours of many airlines including Thai Airways International, Korean Air, China Eastern Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines and many more around the world. Some were operated as pure freighters and Air Hong Kong is one such operator.

From 1972, Airbus was ferrying aircraft parts such as wings and fuselage sections to Toulouse for final assembly using four heavily modified Boeing Stratocruisers of 1940 vintage. These were named “Super Guppies” and were slow, unwieldy and extremely sensitive to cross-winds during landing. By 1991, the need for a bigger and more efficient transporter was deemed necessary and the result was the A300-600ST (ST for Super Transporter).

With a “forehead” looking like a whale or Napoleon Wrasse, the forward cargo door hinges upwards and to avoid having to disconnect all electrical, hydraulic and flight control systems while operating this door, the cockpit and the aircraft’s nose were set lower and below the cargo floor. A 25-foot diameter section was placed over the original fuselage and this is where all those aircraft sections and wings will be stored. Modifications on the tail section gave it greater stability and the end result of an airplane that challenges the imagination. It looked very much like a beluga and Airbus eventually christened it the Airbus Beluga.

Today, it is a common sight on most days at Finkenwerder Airport (near Hamburg) where Airbus undertakes final assembly of the A318, A319, A320 and A321. Here, new-built A380s have their cabins fitted-out and their customers’ liveries painted. I have the joy of visiting Finkenwerder Airport four times in the last six years – thanks to my dear friend Mischa from the Netherlands who drove me about five hours from his home-town of Zwolle – and the sight of a Beluga on final approach always sends my heart-beat dangerously close to qualifying for a visit to the doctor.

There is not a single angle where the Beluga did not look awesome, pretty, handsome or fabulous. Viewed from a distance when it is a mere silhouette in the sky or up close, it is as beautiful as its namesake, the beluga. Beyond making milk-runs between various factories in Europe, the Beluga has made a few sorties towards the Asia Pacific region. It carried some valuable paintings to Tokyo for an exhibition and in early-2003, it flew an entire NH-90 helicopter prototype to Avalon in Victoria, Australia for an airshow. On its return, it diverted from its original plan to transit Singapore Changi Airport and instead landed at Paya Lebar Airbase for officers from the Republic of Singapore Air Force to evaluate this helicopter. For this sortie to Avalon, it was given an additional “decoration” on its fuselage hinting at the cargo it was carrying.

Now who says aviation spotting is a boring sport! For as long as there are odd-balls like these, it is a hobby that oozes passion and tremendous dedication.