Paul Allen’s enormous aircraft project has taken a big step toward success. With six Pratt & Whitney engines of the same kind used on a Boeing 747 strapped to its massive fuselage, the engine tests for Vulcan Aerospace’s Stratolaunch is a critical step in the development process. This week, the engines were run for the first time at the company’s development facility in Mojave, California.
Giant Stratolaunch Begins Engine Tests
Key Takeaways:
- Paul Allen's enormous Stratolaunch aircraft successfully completed its first engine tests, with all six Boeing 747-type engines operating as expected at the Mojave facility.
- This milestone follows previous successful tests of flight controls and other essential systems.
- The project's next steps include testing higher engine power levels, taxi tests, and an anticipated first flight in 2019.
- Stratolaunch is the largest composite aircraft ever built, designed for low Earth orbit transport, taking off and landing from a runway.
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