Exclusive: Pilots of World’s Largest Airplane Reveal Flight Details

Monday, January 17, 2022 at 12:11 PM ET

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The world’s largest airplane flew a low approach about 100 feet off the runway during Sunday’s test flight, Stratolaunch said. [Courtesy: Stratolaunch]

Key Takeaways:

Stratolaunch's "Roc," the world's largest airplane, successfully completed its third test flight, with pilot Mark Giddings making his first landing in the left seat.
The nearly four-and-a-half-hour mission expanded the flight envelope to 23,500 feet and 180 kias, and successfully demonstrated in-flight landing gear retraction/extension and evaluation of its yaw augmentation system.
This successful test flight advances Roc's primary mission of air-launching hypersonic test vehicles, with further test flights, pylon installation, and a separation test vehicle drop planned for later this year.

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For spectators on the ground, watching a 500,000 pound, six-engined, twin-fuselage jet fly a low approach about 100 feet above the runway was thrilling, to say the least. But for Stratolaunch pilot Mark “Gidro” Giddings, who was flying left seat in the world’s largest airplane, it was the result of months of simulator practice and years of experience.

Giddings, along with co-pilot Evan Thomas and flight engineer Jake Riley, successfully completed Sunday’s third test flight of the world’s largest airplane—nicknamed Roc—which is scheduled to begin air-launching hypersonic test vehicles later this year.