Niels Sampath wrote:
> >The first three A340s were all retained by Airbus, though it appears
> >that only the first was a prototype.  I have no idea why they wouldn't
> >have sold the other two.
>
> I thought that 2 had been sold to BWIA, which then cancelled,
> and they were then taken up by Virgin.

CorrectMSN 2 is an A340-311 former F-WWAS now operated by VS (Virgin) as
G-VHOL (since 30-05-97)
MSN 3 is an A340-311 former F-WWDA now operated by VS (Virgin) as G-VSEA
(since 07-07-97)

> Speculation: There was a report in a recent Flight International
> about Airbus building A340-based-Belugas.

Right have a look at http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/8803/
beluga.htm. But those Mega-belugas are just projects.

Cheers,
...........................................................
Marc Schaeffer, Luxembourg -- mailto:marcmsc@cmdnet.lu
WWW  http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/8803/
The DE HAVILLAND COMET and AIRCRAFT ORDERS website