Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, unveiled the world's largest aircraft in June

The six-engine plane has a wingspan of 385 feet which is longer than the length of a football field

Stratolaunch is designed to carry rockets between its two fuselages before they launch into space from air

Firm fired up the aircraft’s six Pratt & Whitney turbofan engines for its first taxi down the runway at 28mph


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5197563/First-taxi-test-Stratolaunch-aircraft-completed.html


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mynd44




The world's biggest plane is a step closer to its first flight, after passing another major milestone.

Named Stratolaunch, the colossal aircraft travelled down the runway under its own power for the first time, firing all six of its Pratt and Whitney turbofan engines - each weighing 8,940lbs (4,000kg).

During the aircraft's first low-speed taxi test, Stratolaunch successfully travelled down the runway at 25 knots (28mph/45km/h).

Once testing has been completed, the aircraft - which has a wingspan longer than a football field - will be used to launch satellites and other objects into space.
This could include a Dream Chaser spaceship, which could act as a mini-shuttle to reach low Earth orbit destinations and return astronauts or payloads to a runway within 24 hours.

It is expected to take the skies for the first time in 2019.

The primary purpose of the test was to put the aircraft¿s ability to steer and stop through its paces. A ground team from Stratolaunch Systems Corp monitored a number of systems, including steering, braking, anti-skid and telemetry

Since the first engine runs in September, the Stratolaunch team has performed a series of engine tests from a newly established Stratolaunch Mission Control Center, located at its facility at the Mojave Air and Space Port

The aircraft is so huge if it sat in the centre of a football field, it would be wide enough for its wings to reach 12.5 feet (3.8 metres) beyond each goalpost.

Test flights were expected for 2016 and 2017, but project delays have pushed back the date to sometime in 2019.

The Stratolaunch team completed fuel testing of all six fuel tanks on September 19, to ensure their proper operations, at the Mojave Air and Space Port.

Each of the six tanks were filled independently to check their fuel mechanisms were working correctly and to that they were properly sealed.



The MCC serves as the Seattle-based firm's hub for testing communications and will eventually be the centre of its aircraft and launch operations.

Once low-speed taxi tests have been safely completed, the company will begin the next phase of taxi testing, which will include increased speeds.

The plane is the vision of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen who wants it to act as a giant air pad in the sky, allowing payloads to reach space faster and at a lower cost than existing technologies.

Over the next few months, they plan to continue to test the aircraft¿s engines at higher power levels and varying configurations, culminating in the start of taxi tests on the runway

In 2011, the project's cost was initially estimated to be at $300million, though there is no word as to the updated figures.
After the plane reaches altitude, it would then drop the launch vehicle, which will subsequently fire its boosters and launch into space from the air.

Images of the mammoth plane, nicknamed the 'Roc,' were released.
It shows the plane emerging from its hangar in California's Mojave Desert.
The plane was built by Scaled Composites, an aerospace company founded by Allen's partner in the Stratolaunch project, Burt Rutan.
Scaled is owned by defense contractor Northrop Grumman.
The Stratolaunch weighs approximately 500,000 pounds without any cargo.

The plane was built by Scaled Composites, an aerospace company founded by Allen's partner in the Stratolaunch project, Burt Rutan

The plane rolls around with the aid of 28 wheels. Once airborne, it is powered by six 747 aircraft engines

After the plane reaches altitude, it would then drop the launch vehicle, which will subsequently fire its boosters and launch into space from the air

This is a two-in-one aircraft. Twin Aircraft intact!!! It's massive?!!!!!

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Massive....... But e..d..o witchcraft big pass am.

koko...longer than a field...I hear you....


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Depends on the football field

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Old post on this forum.

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When would Nigeria's finest Scientists and Technologists start this innovative...... Chai! There is God oooooo

I'm afraid

Sorry i will pass

Looking @ it alone is scary

Can you imagine ? They are gonna launch rocket from air into space ! My God!

While here in Africa we are still struggling with constant electricity even 170 years after electricity was invented.

God pls for what purpose did you actually create Africa ?

Nice one