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World's largest airplane rolls out of hanger for first time (VIDEO, PHOTOS) | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The world’s largest airplane – designed to reshape space travel by launching rockets mid-air into orbit from 30,000 ft – rolled out of its hangar for the first time Wednesday at the Mojave Air and Space Port in the US. | The world’s largest airplane – designed to reshape space travel by launching rockets mid-air into orbit from 30,000 ft – rolled out of its hangar for the first time Wednesday at the Mojave Air and Space Port in the US. |
The groundbreaking plane, which looks like two aircraft joined together, is the brainchild of billionaire Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen and his private spaceflight company Stratolaunch. Allen founded the company in 2011 with the goal of making access to low-Earth orbit more “convenient, reliable and routine.” | The groundbreaking plane, which looks like two aircraft joined together, is the brainchild of billionaire Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen and his private spaceflight company Stratolaunch. Allen founded the company in 2011 with the goal of making access to low-Earth orbit more “convenient, reliable and routine.” |
It has the biggest wingspan of any aircraft ever built, coming in 385ft (117 meters), longer than an NFL field which is 360ft in length. | It has the biggest wingspan of any aircraft ever built, coming in 385ft (117 meters), longer than an NFL field which is 360ft in length. |
Aside from it’s unmatched wingspan, the aircraft is 238ft from nose to tail and stands 50ft high on it’s 28 wheels. This is the first time the public has got a look at the spaceplane and now work must begin on testing before its predicted maiden voyage in 2019. | Aside from it’s unmatched wingspan, the aircraft is 238ft from nose to tail and stands 50ft high on it’s 28 wheels. This is the first time the public has got a look at the spaceplane and now work must begin on testing before its predicted maiden voyage in 2019. |
"This marks the completion of the initial aircraft-construction phase and the beginning of the aircraft ground-and flight-testing phase," Stratolaunch CEO Jean Floyd said in a press release. | "This marks the completion of the initial aircraft-construction phase and the beginning of the aircraft ground-and flight-testing phase," Stratolaunch CEO Jean Floyd said in a press release. |
"This was a crucial step in preparing the aircraft for ground testing, engine runs, taxi tests and, ultimately, first flight,” he added. | "This was a crucial step in preparing the aircraft for ground testing, engine runs, taxi tests and, ultimately, first flight,” he added. |
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