{"id":395289,"date":"2021-04-30T13:59:09","date_gmt":"2021-04-30T11:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=395289"},"modified":"2021-04-30T14:11:03","modified_gmt":"2021-04-30T12:11:03","slug":"watch-worlds-largest-aeroplane-completes-second-flight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/science\/395289-watch-worlds-largest-aeroplane-completes-second-flight.html","title":{"rendered":"Watch – World’s largest aeroplane completes second flight"},"content":{"rendered":"

The world’s largest aeroplane recently completed its second successful test flight over the Mojave Desert in California.<\/p>\n

The Stratolaunch hypersonic test-flight carrier, nicknamed “the Roc”, took to the skies for the first time in two years.<\/p>\n

It flew for three hours and fourteen minutes, reaching an altitude of 14,000 ft (4,267m).<\/p>\n

This flight brings Stratolaunch another step closer to achieving its goal of using the Roc to air-launch hypersonic vehicles.<\/p>\n

The dual-fuselage aeroplane has a wingspan of around 117m and is powered by six Boeing 747 engines.<\/p>\n

It was built to withstand a maximum load capacity of 1.3 million pounds (589,670kg).<\/p>\n

The image below from Stratolaunch shows how the size of the Roc compares to a Boeing 747 airliner.<\/p>\n

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The initial plan for the Stratolaunch aircraft carrier was to provide a fast, cost-effective way to air-launch small satellites into space.<\/p>\n

Since the death of Paul Allen, a co-founder of both Stratolaunch and Microsoft, the company’s mission has changed to use it as a launch vehicle for hypersonic flight testing.<\/p>\n

The term hypersonic is used to describe speeds exceeding Mach 5 \u2013 five times the speed of sound.<\/p>\n

Below are images of the Stratolaunch aircraft carrier.<\/p>\n

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The aircraft carrier will launch Stratolaunch’s reusable and autonomous Talon-A hypersonic vehicle, a liquid-powered rocket that is intended to serve as a hypersonic testbed for the U.S Department of Defence.<\/p>\n

Once deployed, Talon-A will fire its liquid-fueled rocket engine to thrust itself higher in the atmosphere for a minute of hypersonic flight. Afterwards, it will glide back down to a traditional runway for an autonomous landing.<\/p>\n

In addition, the company has started assembling an expendable version of its Talon-A, and it should be ready for testing early next year.<\/p>\n

The images below are digital renderings of the Talon-A.<\/p>\n

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Watch the flight<\/h3>\n

The following video shows the aircraft carrier making a low approach over the runway during its successful second flight test.<\/p>\n

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Just completely a low approach over the runway. pic.twitter.com\/UCEINXBQBi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Stratolaunch (@Stratolaunch) April 29, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n