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Photos: Gigantic Stratolaunch aircraft makes 2nd test flight

The airplane has flown for the second time, taking to the skies over the California desert

Last updated: May 01, 2021 | 16:58

AP and compiled by Balaram Menon, Senior Web Editor

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The Stratolaunch plane, the world's largest, performs a 4hr test flight in Mojave, California.

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The gigantic Stratolaunch aircraft flew for its second time, taking to the skies over the Southern California desert.

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The six-engine jet with the world's longest wingspan took off from Mojave Air and Space Port two years after its maiden flight, following a change in ownership and purpose.

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"We are airborne," the Stratolaunch company tweeted at about 7:30 a.m.

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The behemoth safely touched down on its 28 wheels about three hours later and Stratolaunch called the flight test a success.

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Named Roc, the twin-fuselage aircraft has a wingspan of 385 feet (117 meters).

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It was developed by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen, who died just months before it flew for the first time in April 2019.

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Allen intended to use it as a carrier aircraft for space launches, carrying satellite-laden rockets beneath the center of the wing and releasing them at high altitude.

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The new owners initially plan to use it as a carrier aircraft for launches of reusable hypersonic flight research vehicles.

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Hypersonic describes flights at speeds of at least Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound.

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The Stratolaunch plane comes in for a landing over Virgin Orbit 747 Cosmic Girl after it performed a 2nd test flight in Mojave

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The Stratolaunch plane comes in for a landing after it performed a 4hr test flight in Mojave.

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The Stratolaunch aircraft is seen at Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California.

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