World’s Largest Airplane Flies to New Heights

During its seventh test flight, Stratolaunch’s enormous airplane achieves a new maximum altitude: 27,000 feet.

Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 11:05 AM ET

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The seventh mission of the world’s largest airplane further expanded its flight test envelope. [Courtesy: Stratolaunch/Matt Hartman]

Key Takeaways:

Stratolaunch's Roc aircraft achieved a new maximum altitude of FL270 during its seventh flight, further expanding its flight test envelope.
This mission marked the program's shortest turnaround time and successfully tested a new center-wing pylon designed to carry Talon-A hypersonic vehicles.
The new altitude milestone is crucial for demonstrating Roc's capability as a flying launch pad for Talon-A vehicles in hypersonic research, with operational status expected by mid-to-late 2023.

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Stratolaunch’s enormous operational-lift aircraft Roc achieved a new maximum altitude Thursday, as crew members further expanded the world’s largest airplane’s flight test envelope.

With help from its 384-foot wingspan and six Pratt & Whitney model PW4056 engines, Roc achieved a new maximum altitude of FL270, surpassing a previous mark of FL235 during its fourth flight last January. Operational goals call for Roc to fly to altitudes up to FL350. The aircraft reached a maximum speed of 175 kias, which is just shy of the 180 kias Roc achieved during the fourth flight.