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 test flight, a significant step in expanding its flight envelope.
This mission also marked the shortest turnaround time between flights in the program's three-year history.
The flight successfully tested capabilities relevant to Roc's primary role as a flying launch pad for Talon-A hypersonic vehicles, with the new altitude validating its ability to reach effective launch trajectories.
Stratolaunch aims to demonstrate Talon-A carriage and release soon, with Roc expected to be declared operational 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.