The Stratolaunch performed another test flight this Thursday (16) with a duration of 3 hours and 1 minute, flying over the Mojave Desert.
The giant plane expanded its flight envelope in this 7th test, and reached an altitude of 27.000 feet (8.200 meters), a new altitude record for the aircraft.
The plane's designers also took the opportunity to carry out tests with the new central , which will be used in the future to attach small rockets. The landing gear system was also the focus of the tests.
"Today's flight is a success story of the Stratolaunch team's ability to increase the operational pace to the pace desired by our customers to conduct frequent hypersonic flight tests", said Dr. Zachary Krevor, CEO and President of Stratolaunch. "In addition, the team reached a new altitude record of 27.000 feet, thereby demonstrating the aircraft performance required for our Talon hypersonic vehicle to achieve its wide range of hypersonic conditions."
See below the take-off and landing videos of this six-engined aircraft during the 7th test:
Rock is in the air, departing @MojaveAirport at 7:40 am PT. Today we will focus on continued flight envelope expansion #LetsRoc pic.twitter.com/UXezipNFkP
- Stratolaunch (@Stratolaunch) June 16, 2022
Mission complete! Roc is back on the ground as of 10:41 am PT pic.twitter.com/YM2UJlcA7p
- Stratolaunch (@Stratolaunch) June 16, 2022
Stratolaunch capacity
Despite its low autonomy, the Stratolaunch is capable of receiving up to 250 kg of cargo, which must be located between the two crew cabins, on the middle wing.
The autonomy is quite small, but enough to carry out this mission and return to the base with leftovers, in total this plane can only fly for up to 2200 km with a maximum load.
This is the largest wing aircraft ever built in history. In propulsion, this plane has six Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines, which equip the Boeing 747 and provide up to 63300 lbf each.
The Stratolaunch has six fuel tanks in all, 117 meters of wing (more than an Antonov An-225), empty weighs about 226 kg and can weigh almost 350 when full of fuel. There are 24 tires and wheels on the main landing gear, plus 4 on the nose landing gear.
