The Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch is an aircraft built for Stratolaunch Systems by Scaled Composites to carry air-launch-to-orbit rockets. It was announced in December 2011 and rolled out in May 2017. The twin-fuselage design is the aircraft with the longest wingspan ever flown at 385 feet (117 m), surpassing the Hughes H-4 Hercules flying boat’s of 320 feet 11 inches (97.82 m). The Stratolaunch is intended to carry a 550,000-pound (250,000 kg) payload and has a 1,300,000-pound (590,000 kg) maximum takeoff weight.
The aircraft first flew on April 13, 2019, at the Mojave Air and Space Port, reaching 17,000 ft (5,200 m) and 165 kn (305 km/h) in a 2 h 29 min flight.
General characteristics
- Length: 238 ft (73 m)
- Wingspan: 385 ft (117 m)
- Height: 50 ft (15 m)
- Empty weight: 500,000 lb (226,796 kg)
- Gross weight: 750,000 lb (340,194 kg) with no external payload
- Max takeoff weight: 1,300,000 lb (589,670 kg)
- External payload: 550,000 lb (250,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 6 × Pratt and Whitney PW4056 turbofan, 56,750 lbf (252.4 kN) thrust each
- Maximum speed: 460 kn (530 mph, 850 km/h)
- Range: 1,000 nmi (1,200 mi, 1,900 km) radius
- Ferry range: 2,500 nmi (2,900 mi, 4,600 km)
