World’s largest plane close to flying

Stratolaunch Systems, the space launch venture backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is planning to conduct the maiden flight of its giant carrier aircraft within the next few months

STRATOLAUNCH: World’s largest aircraft by wingspan and largest all-composite plane ever built

Construction Mainly lightweight carbon-fibre

Manufacturer Scaled Composites

Propulsion: Six jet engines from Boeing 747 airliners

Reinforced centre wing Has attachment point for carrying payload of more than 230 tonnes

Twin-bodies: Right fuselage for three crew, left fuselage contains flight data systems


Stratolaunch aircraft
American football field to scale

Stratolaunch specifications
Wingspan                 117.3m 
Length                    72.5m
Tail height               15.2m
Max. takeoff weight  590 tonnes
Operational range       3,700km



MISSION PROFILE

1 Stratolaunch takes off carrying payload (satellite-bearing rocket) beneath wing. Aircraft requires runway length of 3,800m (12,500ft)

2 Plane climbs to its launch altitude of about 10,000m (35,000ft)

3 Rocket drops and ignites to begin ascent into orbit

4 Aircraft returns to base for reuse. Mission incurs lower fuel cost than launching rocket from Earth

 
Sources: Stratolaunch Systems, Popular Mechanics
 
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