Big??!!

[Fielder 3,644]

Well big is a relative word. Anyway, our entertainment will be reduced since Paul Allen died and Stratolaunch laid off lots of employees. Still they do some interesting things. They flew this the first time today...

https://www.theverge.com/transportation/2019/4/13/18309129/stratolaunch-worlds-biggest-airplane-first-flight-rockets

 

Edited April 13, 2019 by Fielder

[HighBypass 2,339]

Wow! I eagerly await more footage of this strange aircraft. 

[Paraffin 2,197]

It must be a weird feeling, landing that thing with the pilot's view shifted so far off the runway center-line. I guess they've had plenty of practice in the sim. Or else it's basically auto-land with pilot monitoring.

[BillCusick 75]

15 hours ago, Fielder said:

Well big is a relative word. Anyway, our entertainment will be reduced since Paul Allen died and Stratolaunch laid off lots of employees. Still they do some interesting things. They flew this the first time today...

https://www.theverge.com/transportation/2019/4/13/18309129/stratolaunch-worlds-biggest-airplane-first-flight-rockets

 

I'm wondering if there is a failsafe procedure should the attached satellite fail to release, powers up and takes the aircraft up into orbit....🤣

Nothing can possibly go wrong....go wrong...go wrong...go wrong...

Regards

Bill

[John_Cillis 2,406]

23 hours ago, Paraffin said:

It must be a weird feeling, landing that thing with the pilot's view shifted so far off the runway center-line. I guess they've had plenty of practice in the sim. Or else it's basically auto-land with pilot monitoring.

I suspect they must have a camera to aid them somehow, possibly mounted in the cusp of the wing, I could not otherwise imagine taxiing with an off kilter view.  Amazing aircraft, although I read virgin plans on using a modified 747-400 to do the same thing.  Also the Pegasus rocket has been in use for years, also launched from a modified L1011. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_(rocket)

John

[Mace 1,902]

How does the center spar hold those two massive fuselages together?  

It must be massively strong.

I still wonder if there is any flex between the two ends - there would almost have to be.