Is it a whale, or is it a plane? That might be the question some ask as they see the Airbus Beluga soar across the sky. The particular and first-of-its-kind type of aircraft has been transporting essential products and cargo for Airbus for nearly three decades. Despite its unusual look, the aircraft was not intended to be named after a whale, but as its striking resemblance gained popularity around the world, Airbus officially took on the name. The BelugaXL (BXL) is a more advanced version of the plane, but still has the same whale-like appearance.