In the Process of restart, the Stratolaunch Company Showcased the taxi speeds of its Carrier Aircraft (air launch to orbit ) today !
Earlier known as, Model 351 'Stratolaunch' , the Carrier Aircraft reached speeds of upto 110 Knots (~127 MPH) , as per the company statement.
Today's taxi tests had Roc reaching speeds of 110 Knots (~127 MPH) throughout the morning and early this afternoon. After reaching these speeds for taxi test, we're gearing up to hit the skies. pic.twitter.com/x05TSb5KSW
— Stratolaunch (@Stratolaunch) April 16, 2021
13th April Statement of Completion of two years of first test flight and indications of Re-launch !
It was two years to the day that the worlds largest aircraft (by wingspan) took flight for the very first time. Stay tuned... pic.twitter.com/4smyziRXVO
— Stratolaunch (@Stratolaunch) April 13, 2021
► The Model 351 'Stratolaunch' ( Reg- N351SL ) is an aircraft built for Stratolaunch Systems by Scaled Composites to carry air-launch-to-orbit rockets.
► Programme was announced in Dec-2011 & rolled out in May 2017.
► Stratolaunch has a twin-fuselage configuration, each 238 ft (73 m) long and supported by 12 main Landing gear (MLG) wheels and two nose gear wheels (NLG) , for a total of 28 wheels.
► The longest wingspan ever flown, at 385 feet (117 m), more than the Hughes H-4 Hercules flying boat (321 feet).
► The Stratolaunch can carry a 550,000-pound payload & has a 1,300,000-pound MTOW.
► It flew on April 13, 2019, at the Mojave Air & Space Port, reaching an altitude of 17,000 ft & speed of 305 km/h in the duration of 2 h 29 min flight.
► After the first flight, it halted the development of air-launched family of launch vehicles due to the death of founder Paul Allen in Oct-2018.
► The company ceased its operations the next month, and placed all company assets, including the aircraft, for sale for US$400 million by June 2019.
► New investor , Cerberus Capital Management acquired Stratolaunch Systems including the Stratolaunch aircraft in Oct- 2019.
► Stratolaunch is now focussing on establishment of this carrier aircraft, as it compares itself with other existing carrier vehicles.
