Flight Testing

Stratolaunch’s Roc, the world’s largest airplane, made its fourth test flight Thursday over California’s Mojave Air and Space Port with a mission of fully operating all landing gear in flight for the first time.

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 […]

Historic Stratolaunch aircraft performs taxi tests for the first time in eight months.

Stratolaunch’s chief pilot reveals Roc ’s fascinating flight dynamics and what’s next for the historic, twin-fuselage jet.

“We’re on pace,” which is amazing given the pandemic, said Gulfstream’s Collin Miller, senior vice president of innovation, engineering, and flight. Gulfstream’s flight test team—including Miller and Jake Howard, lead test pilot for the G700 program—provided an update on the G700 development program, which is on track, with high-altitude testing complete and flight into known […]

As Boom Supersonic moves forward on their ultimate goal of building “history’s fastest supersonic airliner,” the Colorado-based company announced a strategic partnership with Flight Research, Inc. (FRI) aimed at bringing test flights for XB-1, Boom’s supersonic demonstrator aircraft, to the supersonic corridor stretching across the Mojave Desert. The FRI partnership will provide flight test support […]