Stratolaunch ROC: the largest airplane in the world with a wingspan of 117 meters.

Overview of Stratolaunch ROC - a unique aircraft

According to ТСН: Stratolaunch ROC is an unusual twin-fuselage aircraft that has set a record for the largest wingspan among all aircraft that have ever flown. Its wingspan measures 117 meters, making it significantly wider than a standard football field, which is about 90 meters long.

This aircraft, also known as Stratolaunch Model 351, is named ROC after a mythical giant bird capable of carrying elephants. It is a true engineering achievement. Development began with the goal of launching rockets into space from the air, but after the death of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the project was redirected towards testing hypersonic vehicles from an aerial launch.

Design and Features of the Aircraft

Stratolaunch ROC looks like two planes connected together. Each fuselage measures 73 meters in length. The aircraft has 28 landing gear wheels: 12 main gear wheels and two nose wheels on each fuselage. The total wingspan of 117 meters exceeds the dimensions of an American football field, which is 91 meters long.

The cockpit for the pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer is located in the right fuselage, while the left fuselage is completely unmanned and contains important flight control systems. The aircraft is equipped with six Pratt & Whitney PW4056 turbofan engines, each providing a thrust of over 252 kN.

Taking Off Parameters and History

To take off, Stratolaunch ROC requires a runway about 3.7 km long. It can carry loads weighing up to 250 tons, which is 10% more than its own weight of 227 tons.

The project was presented in 2011, and the first flight of Stratolaunch ROC took place in 2019. Since then, the aircraft has completed 24 flights, confirming its status as the largest aircraft in the world by wingspan.

It should be noted that an unexpected find on board the aircraft forced the cancellation of the flight.

Stratolaunch ROC continues to attract attention not only for its engineering prowess but also for the opportunities it opens up for the space industry. Successful flights of this aircraft set new standards in transport aviation and pave the way for the use of air launches for rockets. Its further tests could provide a new impetus for developments in hypersonic technology and space flights.