With a wingspan of 385 feet which is longer than a football field, the world’s largest aircraft has been rolled out of its hangar in the Mojave Desert for the first time ever.
It took six years for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen to develop this giant aircraft, which by the way is capable of launching rockets to space. Allen was able to achieve this through his company called Stratolaunch Systems.
Source: Stratolaunch
The aircraft, which is named after the company, is 500,000 pounds dry. But it could take off with a weight of 1.3 million pounds, distributed on the ground through all its 28 wheels in total. Six 747 aircraft engines run this flying machine.
Other than being the world’s largest aircraft by wingspan, Stratolaunch is unique because of its capability to be an airborne rocket launcher. Rockers can take off in the middle of the sky, giving them a head start, rather than taking off from a Launchpad which requires a lot of fuel.
The company pointed out that this setup “significantly reduce the risk of costly delays or cancellations.
Source: Stratolaunch
Orbital ATK saw the potential of the aircraft early on and already signed a deal with Stratolaunch System last year. It plans to use the giant plane as a launcher for its Pegasus XL rocket used to send small satellites into space.
However, Stratolaunch has to undergo more tests before it takes Orbital’s rockets with it on its first takeoff. It has only been moved out of its hangar after the plane’s support scaffolding was removed. The giant plane has experienced its full weight and got out of the door for the first time.
“This was a crucial step in preparing the aircraft for ground testing, engine runs, taxi tests, and ultimately first flight,” Stratolaunch wrote on its website.
The company estimates that the maiden flight of the giant plane will be in 2019.
