World’s largest aircraft takes to the sky for its test flight

 

 

Stratolaunch, founded by Paul G. Allen, is developing an air-launch platform to make access to space more convenient, reliable, and routine.

 

Seattle-based Stratolaunch Systems Corporation, founded by American business magnate, investor, researcher, humanitarian, and philanthropist Paul G. Allen, successfully completed the first flight of the world’s largest all-composite aircraft, the Stratolaunch. With a dual fuselage design and wingspan greater than the length of an American football field (with 385-foot wingspan), the Stratolaunch aircraft is a remarkable engineering achievement.

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.

“What a fantastic first flight,” said Jean Floyd, CEO of Stratolaunch. “Today’s flight furthers our mission to provide a flexible alternative to ground-launched systems. We are incredibly proud of the Stratolaunch team, today’s flight crew, our partners at Northrop Grumman’s Scaled Composites and the Mojave Air and Space Port.”

The Stratolaunch aircraft is a mobile launch platform that will enable airline-style access. The reinforced center wing can support multiple launch vehicles, weighing up to a total of 500,000 pounds.