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The Stratolaunch took off for the first time, which now ranks first as the world's largest aircraft from the 2019, leaving behind even the Antonov An-225.
La empresa Stratolaunch Systems Corporation de Paul G. Allen celebrated on Saturday 13 april 2019 the first takeoff and flight of what is now the world's largest aircraft, the Stratolaunch marked a new milestone in its process of being an aircraft that allows more reliable space launches, affordable and accessible than ever.
world's largest plane, but only by size
First of all, we must clarify that the Scaled 351 Stratolauncher (specific model of this aircraft), It is the new largest aircraft in the world by wingspan. (end size to wingtips) from 117.3 meters in total, versus the 88.4 meters from the Antonov An-225.
As the graph shows, the Stratolaunch is the world's largest aircraft by wingspan, but it is not the longest, alto, Loading capacity (although very close to the Antonov 225) or passengers, but without a doubt a great aircraft that already sails the skies of the world with a very special mission.
Stratolaunch's mission
This aircraft will have the objective of shortening trips into space as it is a cargo plane that from more than 38 thousand feet of altitude will be where rockets and other new prototype spacecraft that the project is designing will be launched.
from this aircraft, they will have the ability to adapt the launch position and adjust the trajectory of the mission according to the needs and above all, avoid weather conditions on the ground that often delay launches and increase the operating costs of space missions.
The first flight was made from the famous Mohave airport in the desert, where for more than 2 hours and a half the aircraft with registration N651SL made its first flight within the process of type certification before the FAA.
Construction of the Stratolaunch
Its design contemplates a weight of the entire aircraft of 540,000 kg (1,200,000 lb) including the fully fueled launch vehicle and requires a runway of at least 3,700 m (12,000 pies) long. can carry more than 230,000 kg (500,000 lb) payload.
El avión que fue concebido como un «portaaviones» es propulsado por seis motores Pratt & Whitney PW4000 with a thrust potential of 205–296 kN (46,000–66,500 lbf), which were previously from two Boeing 747-400 used that were cannibalized for this purpose.
Apart from the engines, these boeing 747 they also served as the basis for avionics, undercarriage (12 total) and other proven systems to reduce initial development costs.
The Stratolaunch has a double fuselage configuration, each of 238 pies (73 m) long and supported by 12 main landing gear wheels and two nose wheels, for a total of 28 wheel. Each fuselage has its own empennage with horizontal and vertical stabilizers, leaving a clear area behind the payload to reduce the risk of interference during flight.
The pilot, the co-pilot and the flight engineer are in the right cockpit of the fuselage, while the one on the left fuselage is empty and without pressure. Flight data systems are in the left fuselage.t
The Stratolaunch was designed to have a range of 2,200 km (1,200 nmi), estimated range for when performing an airdrop mission.
Characteristics
- Length: 73 meters
- Wingspan: 117 meters
- Height: 15 meters
- Empty weight: 500,000 lb (226,796 kg)
- Gross weight: 750,000 lb (340,194 kg) no external payload
- maximum takeoff weight: 1,300,000 lb (589,670 kg)
- external payload: 550,000 lb (250,000 kg)
- engines: 6 × Pratt & Whitney PW4056 turbofan, 56,750 lbf (252.4 kN) thrust every
- Maximum speed: 461 kn; 853 km / h (530 mph)
- Rank: 1,000 nmi (1,151 mi; 1,852 km) radio
- ferry range: 2,500 nmi (2,877 mi; 4,630 km)
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