On April 13, the world’s largest all-composite aircraft, the Stratolaunch, successfully carried out the first flight, Stratolaunch Systems Corporation said in a press-release released on its website.
“With a dual fuselage design and wingspan greater than the length of an American football field, the Stratolaunch aircraft took flight at 0658 PDT from the Mojave Air & Space Port. Achieving a maximum speed of 189 miles per hour, the plane flew for 2.5 hours over the Mojave Desert at altitudes up to 17,000 feet. As part of the initial flight, the pilots evaluated aircraft performance and handling qualities before landing successfully back at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
***
The test team conducted standard aircraft testing exercises. Initial results from today’s test points include:
- Performed a variety of flight control maneuvers to calibrate speed and test flight control systems, including roll doublets, yawing maneuvers, pushovers and pull-ups, and steady heading side slips.
- Conducted simulated landing approach exercises at a max altitude of 15,000 feet mean sea level.
The Stratolaunch aircraft is a mobile launch platform that will enable airline-style access to space that is convenient, affordable and routine. The reinforced center wing can support multiple launch vehicles, weighing up to a total of 500,000 pounds.“
IMAGE: stratolaunch.com
IMAGE: stratolaunch.com
IMAGE: stratolaunch.com
The Cossack lost its 30+ year title then. Congratulation to the hands building the Stratolauncher!
Looks the size of 2 x A380’s glued together.
2 Cockpits, what a good idea! Now the pilot can drive on all sides of the road, right and wrong.
I might have access to alien technology. Their space planes don’t need another airplane to launch.SSTO baby! We’re currently working on a reliable SSTA. Sorry, might work on it. These cute 3′ green creatures (and specially Jeb) have a “can do” attitude like no other!
bit similar to Kalinin K-7.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6d8fe0413be6a196c6a646d2259932f2720013a82322cba17b5ecd68fce8b0a2.jpg
“A White Elephant” that can fly!!! By any other name still is a white elephant, although in this instance it could be called Dumbo………..Lol
still a better stealth fighter than the SU-57 :-)
plot twist: The engines of the plane are your nose!
Rubbish design. It will be soon scrapped. A single fuselage rocket launcher is better than dual.
An aeroplane with a rocket inside the fuselage is much better according to stability, durability and manufacturing cost.
If the idea is going to be scrapped, it’s already in the right place. Mojave desert has huge storage/boneyard areas for aircraft. :) https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8c1d78bd06083402f871cb76393dd36650dd054fa495525050312751efb0c097.jpg
Why only 35,000? i would assume they want this aircraft to fly as high as possible (perhaps 50,000 to 60,000) before releasing a spacecraft!
The project is in trouble, seems there is no medium or heavy sat launcher to attach to it now. But I think the theory in the future is sound.
Spruce Goose II
I can just say that this is interesting but…
Typical bullshit and waste of money…