World's largest aircraft - 6-engines, partially from Two 747's

[Phil Bunch]

Looks like quite a remarkable aircraft, built in part on 747 components and *six* 747-class engines.  Below are a few excerpts from the article.  Lots of photos and artist's conceptual renderings in this news article:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3649882/Paul-Allens-space-company-nears-debut-worlds-biggest-plane.html
---------------------------------

Rather than transporting heavy cargo inside a main body section, Stratolaunch is a twin-fuselage craft that incorporates engines, landing gear, avionics and other parts from a pair of Boeing 747 jets coupled with a frame, wings and skin handmade of lightweight composites.

Designed and built by Northrop Grumman Corp's Scaled Composites, the plane is similar in form and function to Scaled's aircraft built to ferry spaceships into the air and release them for independent rocket rides beyond the atmosphere, a service Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic intends to offer to paying passengers.

------------------------------------

The plane will climb to 30,000 feet and launch a rocket at high altitude, avoiding the huge fuel costs of launching from Earth.

This will then go into orbit as normal and deliver a satellite.

Initially, the system is intended to deliver satellites weighing up to about 13,500lbs (6,124 kg) into orbits between 112 miles and 1,243 miles (180 km and 2000 km) above Earth.

Instead of a satellite, the Stratolaunch airplane could launch a Dream Chaser spaceship. This could act as a mini-shuttle to reach low Earth orbit destinations and return astronauts or payloads to. runway within 24 hours

-----------------------------

Wingspan: 385 feet (117 metres)

Engines: Six 747-class engines

Fuselage length: 238 feet (72 metres)

Weight: 1,200,000 lb (544,311 kg)

Maximum speed: 460 knots, 530 mph (850 km/h)

Maiden launch: Flight testing will begin in 2016. The first launch of the space launch vehicle is likely to take place in 2018.

Satellite delivery:  Initially, the system is intended to deliver satellites weighing up to about 13,500lbs (6,124 kg) into orbits between 112 miles and 1,243 miles (180 km and 2000 km) above Earth.

Launch sites: Several sites are under consideration, including Kennedy Space Center, Wallops Island and Vandenberg AFB.
------------------

The company's web page and more info is here:

http://aerospace.vulcan.com/

Is it too late to modify PSX to accommodate this "747-related" aircraft? (insert friendly grins here)

[Will]

Nice tire skid noises when the plane lands. :-)

Near Earth orbit is going to get crowded.

Not a bad launch vehicle. Interesting visual perspective from the cockpit on takeoff and landing.

[torrence]

Also interesting to note that the current holder of the title is ...  the Spruce Goose.  Which never got more than a few meters off the ground on a test flight piloted by Howard Hughes before being cancelled.  I toured the Goose years ago when it was still in one piece in the dome in Long Beach harbor next to Queen Mary.  Very impressive.

Hope the Stratolauncher has better luck.

Cheers
Torrence