The aircraft with the longest wing in the world for the first time launched the engines

A promising Stratolaunch aircraft with the world's largest wingspan for the first time launched all of its six turbofan jet engines.

According to the company Stratolaunch Systems, which is developing this aircraft, the tests of power plants were successful. It should be noted that at the first stage the simultaneous start of engines was not carried out - each power plant was started and worked separately. This made it possible to evaluate the reliability of the suspensions, engine management systems and fuel supply.

Stratolaunch is expected to be used as an air launch platform - small rockets will be launched in the air to put the payload into low-Earth orbit. The aircraft is made according to a two-body circuit. The span of his wing is the 117,3 meter. The length of both fuselages is 72,5 meters. For comparison, the wingspan of the world's largest aircraft - An-225 "Mriya" - is 88,4 meters, and the length of the fuselage - 84 meters.

The American aircraft is equipped with a chassis with 28 wheels: each fuselage has main landing gear with 12 wheels and a nose landing gear with two. Stratolaunch height is 15,2 meters. The aircraft has a mass of 226,8 tons and maximum take-off weight - 589,7 tons. To take off Stratolaunch you need a strip of 3,7 kilometer in length. The device will be able to fly and launch rockets in the stratosphere, but the exact maximum height of its flight is not specified. The stratosphere is the layer of the atmosphere, located at a height from 11 to 50 thousands of meters. Stratolaunch can carry a payload of tons of 249,5.

According to the current plans of Stratolaunch Systems, the first demonstration flight of a new aircraft with the launch of a launch vehicle will take place in 2019. The device will launch a Pegasus XL cruise launcher weighing 23,1 tons. What is the payload will carry the rocket, is still unknown. In general, Stratolaunch can launch three Pegasus missiles simultaneously. The payload mass of these missiles is 443 kilograms. The operating height of the launch of Pegasus cruise launch vehicles are 12 thousand meters, the portal reports N + 1

Comments

[Sharansky]

He clearly needs the Pegasus rocket only for warming up.

[Maz]

This is the same bisexual that they developed in the USSR before the collapse, and the Americans after the collapse of the country simply stole the idea and drawings with calculations for a penny? Shame is not an achievement for a great country.

[Sharansky]

Quote: Maz

This is the same bisexual that developed in the USSR before the collapse

I do not know what are you talking about.
And which country is great in this context, one that eventually became a hegemon, or one that remained only in textbooks?

[neri73-r]

Quote: Sharansky

which eventually became hegemonic

TODAY TALK CORRECTLY - "WAS A HEGEMON FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES"

[Infinity]

what developed in the ussr before the collapse

Did you do it in metal? Just if not, then ... Concept art can make a student.

[Monos]

It will be interesting to see his flight. And especially the landing.

[Observer2014]

Monos

It will be interesting to see his flight. And especially the landing.

Especially considering the width of the structure.

[Monos]

Sergey, welcome.

Quote: Observer2014

Especially considering the width of the structure.

The whole structure, in itself, is contradictory. As colleagues noted below:
.

Quote: The same LYOKHA

Damn how such a design can withstand the moments of torsion of the wing in the middle ... with such a weight of the car ... what will happen if the plane gets into an air hole for example

[Infinity]

They will still hang the load itself. I think the whole design was a headache for designers. But if they did, it means they probably came up with something (all sorts of modern heavy-duty composite materials come to mind).
Let's see, nothing is impossible.

[Zubr]

Will he take off at all? I’m looking at its design and doubts torment me. They needed to tie the tail compartments into the frame. It seems to me that the design is rather flimsy. If the take-off or landing is incorrect, it will break in half.

[Sharansky]

Here is an airplane with exactly the same layout. It flies confidently for itself. What is the problem then?

[Observer2014]

Sharansky

What is the problem then?

In width. Airborne forces - the runway. And the device itself. And you have in the photo. "Trifle pot-bellied"

[Sharansky]

Amers have no shortage of salt lakes. There is enough width with a margin.
And what is wrong with the width of the apparatus? The wingspan is comparable to the same Mriya, which has flown beautifully for decades.

[Observer2014]

Sharansky

And what is wrong with the width of the apparatus? The wingspan is comparable to the same Mriya, which has flown beautifully for decades.

Width between landing gear.

[Sharansky]

What is the width of the landing gear? Are you one of those who calculates structural strength or stealth characteristics from photographs?

[Observer2014]

Sharansky

Are you one of those who calculates structural strength or stealth characteristics from photographs?

No!. The width of the runway.

[Sharansky]

I got what you mean. Americans are clearly suffering from narrow narrow airfields.

The shuttle is just a third of this monster. Certainly not fit?)

[Observer2014]

Sharansky

I got what you mean. Americans are clearly suffering from narrow narrow airfields.

You can do anything that Americans suffer to understand Only the plane, unlike the Mriya, is wide in its “knees” so that it can fly away far from the dried-up salt lake. A step to the left. A step to the right. Well, such a fool will hook on the side of the road. There is soil comparability Etc. etc.

[Sharansky]

What roadside in a dried salt lake? Can you even imagine what it is?

[Zubr]

Well, it remains only to wish a successful take-off and landing.

[Monos]

Quote: Sharansky

Here is an airplane with exactly the same layout. It flies confidently for itself. What is the problem then?

Uh ... Forgive me for my lack of education, but what is this plane? It looks like a hand-drawn picture.

[Großer feldherr]

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceShipTwo

[Monos]

Quote: Großer Feldherr

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceShipTwo

Yes thank you. I looked. There is a video there. But this media is in 3 times less than discussed. And this is another load. However, I am always for creative search. I wish the Americans success.

[K-50]

Quote: Monos

Uh ... Forgive me for my lack of education, but what is this plane? It looks like a hand-drawn picture.

NO, this is not a picture, this is a rocket plane for space tourism. Several times it was raised in tests for a hundred kilometers, that is, to the border of space. Then they decided to make a larger model. The old one had some kind of accident and it crashed, it broke so slightly upon landing, with no casualties, it seems. A few years ago it was. It’s just not in the subject right now. The larger one has not yet flown. The name is like a "white knight", but I can confuse it over the limitation of years.

[prosto_rgb]

Quote: Monos

Quote: Sharansky

Here is an airplane with exactly the same layout. It flies confidently for itself. What is the problem then?

Uh ... Forgive me for my lack of education, but what is this plane? It looks like a hand-drawn picture.

It seems to be similar, but flies since 2011

[NordUral]

In the load.

[Scoun]

Quote: Sharansky

Here is an airplane with exactly the same layout. It flies confidently for itself. What is the problem then?

Imha.

An “capsule / modular” type aircraft will soon be created.
That is, passengers are brought into the cabin, seated in places, the cabin / unit is towed and docked with the airframe. Reduces the time of boarding landing, cleaning, kitchen, and tb and tp. In case of emergency, the unit will be reset.
The video is not what I wanted to lay out, but it is not very convenient to search from the phone)))

[Orionvit]

Quote: Monos

It will be interesting to see his flight. And especially the landing.

In my opinion you have to wait a long time. Even when it was rolled out and shown to the whole world, and now, not even a year had passed before he still bothered to start the engines (by the way, everything was used), and then one by one. they’ll probably test the electronics for another year, It’s not clear when taxiing starts, runs on the strip, or maybe they just want to take off. In any case, at such a pace, we risk not waiting. Although yes, it would be interesting to see this device in flight ..

[NordUral]

And it would be better if ours.

[Same lech]

Damn how such a design can withstand the moments of torsion of the wing in the middle ... with such a weight of the car ... what will happen if the plane gets into an air hole for example

[patsak]

I agree, the design somehow looks flimsy. Takeoff and landing will be a special type of attraction for the release of adrenaline from the body through the seat.

[Vadim237]

The designers are not, for sure, the core of the fuselage wing is hardened, perhaps even by elastic steel elements - judging by the mass of the aircraft.

[oldseaman1957]

The aircraft has a mass of 226,8 tons and a maximum take-off weight of 589,7 tons.

- Although they are not very “friends” to us now, it’s impossible not to admire the genius of American designers. Progress is still moving forward!

[DenZ]

Quote: oldseaman1957

Although they are not very “friends” to us now, it’s impossible not to admire the genius of American designers.

So far, there is nothing to admire. If it does not work out in the first year or two of operation, it can and will be good. But in fact a barn with wings. SR-71 is really an achievement of the American aviation industry, and this miracle is still a big question.

[NordUral]

In this case, plagiarists.

[NordUral]

Add:
The tradition of borrowing ideas has been preserved in the future. The recent presentation of the American StratoLaunch is the best proof of this. This is for the press and everyone involved the aircraft is the crown of the technology of aircraft manufacturing, and the contours of the two-fuselage aircraft are familiar to Soviet and Russian scientists and engineers. It is believed that the Soviet An-225, designed to transport the reusable Buran spacecraft, was the largest Soviet aircraft ever designed. This statement is only partially true, since the An-225 really was and remains the champion in terms of the tonnage of goods transported, but the genius of the Soviet cosmonautics Gleb Lozino-Lozinsky used something more seriously as an aviation segment for the “Air Launch”.
For the "air" missile launches and the transportation of oversized cargo, the Molniya Scientific and Production Association developed a unique in all respects heavy-duty triplane "Hercules", better known as the "Lightning-1000". Despite the extremely non-standard approach, the aircraft was supposed to be relatively small.
The dimensions of the Lightning were comparable to the An-225. However, the bearing properties of all three structural elements made it possible to take significantly more cargo. Instead of 250 tons, the An-22 Hercules could take a payload weighing 450 tons - almost twice as much.
“Cargo is only a small part of its functionality. The main purpose was, of course, carrying out air launches of launch vehicles or the withdrawal of manned ships on upper stages. Low-cost space exploration, if you like, ”said Andrei Sofienko, Ph.D. in Engineering Science, in an interview with Zvezda.

[Blackmokona]

Americans have long indulged in this too

[Topotun]

Maybe it was easier to invest money and develop a normal engine for the carrier? Ordinary ground launch?

[Infinity]

A “regular start” is more expensive than an air one.

As for the design, I think there were a lot of headaches among designers when it came to withstanding loads. But it’s evident that they came up with something, used all sorts of modern light and heavy-duty materials, etc.

In general, nothing is impossible!

[Topotun]

About more expensive - I would not get excited. The content of such an aviation system (especially in a single implementation, and there are unlikely to be several) is also a pleasure. A one-time carrier with well-developed engines will fully pay for itself. However, I will not argue - there is no information. It is difficult to compare without knowing what, what, and how much ...

[WUA 518]

The victory of technology over common sense!
A group of engineering professors was invited to fly on an airplane.
After they conveniently sat down, they were informed that their students had built the plane.

All but one rushed to the door in a panic.

The remaining professor, sitting calmly in his place, was asked: "Why did you stay?"

“I am completely confident in my students. Knowing them, I can assure you that this piece of shit will not even fly up. "

[ICT]

Quote: WUA 518

common sense!

[Vpk72]

in the picture Project of the heavy transport aircraft Yakovlev Design Bureau "Starlifter" (USSR. 1990-1991)
The maximum carrying capacity of the system was estimated at 408 tons, which can be raised to a height of 9 kilometers. The maximum speed is 0,65-0,75 M. The height of the aircraft is 9 meters. Span between racks -24 meters
And he looks sensible, unlike a chicken stratum launcher

[gukoyan]

Something tells me that there will be problems on twisting, the center looks rather sickly.

[Topotun]

Well, theoretically, the plane wasn’t doing stupid people, they had to do strength calculations. True, yes, it looks flimsy, especially when you consider that there is still a load to hang out .....

[gukoyan]

Here I come to this ...
Although they compare the wingspan with MRIA, but it has a fuselage and two wings, there is a huge wingspan, two fuselages and between them another wing of the same thickness ...
And so I agree if the skeleton is titanium with composite reinforcement, then strong loads are not so scary ... But again, 2 fuselages, there will be difficulties during take-off / landing.

[K-50]

A little bit is not clear why such a large distance between the fuselages. Before covering the strip, it is much smaller, therefore, cylindrical loads will have large “windows” at the edges, and now all the missiles are like that. If only air turbulence is reduced between the load and the fuselages. Yes, and let them indulge, experiment.

[Vadim237]

If the carrying capacity is 250 tons, then the distance is probably due to the fact that in the future this aircraft will launch new Shuttles.

[NordUral]

All their new is ours well forgotten. And not in the best performance. It is still unknown how this long wing and unconnected tail feathers behave.

[Golibjon]

All developments Union stole with Germany and the West using the KGB (copy with changes)

[HEATHER]

A controversial machine. In turbulence, the fuselages can spin (and will go) in a mess. What prevented another stabilizer beam? Too healthy and unfinished engine. By engines. AN-224 on the gas engine drove all the engines at once. Advertising. A healthy bitugai. I had to see him in the late 80s with a load on his back. The livery remained with him. Strange.

[Orionvit]

Sharansky,
Where do you see the salt lake? So far, he stands at the hangar and is barely included in the dimensions of taxiing. Maybe the strip will be wider, if not, then I do not envy pilots on takeoff.

[NIKNN]

Quote: Orionvit

Sharansky,
Where do you see the salt lake? So far, he stands at the hangar and is barely included in the dimensions of taxiing. Maybe the strip will be wider, if not, then I do not envy pilots on takeoff.

Especially with a crosswind .... how interesting is the wind clearance ....

[Alex20042004]

To the big ship - a big torpedo!

[pafegosoff]

Sharansky,
Moreover, on the lake you can always sit upwind

[Goblin13]

The air launch has a certain problem that cannot be solved so simply: the aircraft entering the corkscrew after the rocket is dropped. In the USSR, a MIG-23d was made for these purposes, but a missile weighing 2 tons was provided for it. When it was dropped, it fell into a tailspin and only very serious pilots were able to pull it out of the tailspin. Now imagine what will happen to this machine if 20 tons are dumped from it, and this can only be verified in a practical way. No wind tunnel will give you a solution. Until a practical launch of a rocket from this unit is carried out, talking about its steepness is not worth the trouble.

[kotuk_ha_oxote]

There is such a magical thing - autopilot. More serious than all. Not drinking, not smoking, not pissing, not mistaken.

[Vadim237]

But they give solutions - 3D modeling CAD programs, they have already calculated and tested everything.

[iouris]

Why does this monster need a fuselage, especially two?

[Vpk72]

empty idea
1. no payload
canceled Pegasus-2 and so on
2. specially made satellites are needed (another direction of overloads acting on the payload)
3. use for other purposes is necessary for payback application
(at least once every 2 weeks).
Stratolaunch was created for a large rocket (more than 200 tons) - 2 different rockets were developed under full load
Space X Falcon 9 Air - abandoned development focusing on the Falcon family
"Development ceased in 4Q2012 as SpaceX and Stratolaunch" amicably agreed to end [their] contractual relationship because the [Stratolaunch] launch vehicle design [had] departed significantly from the Falcon derivative vehicle envisioned by SpaceX and does not fit well with [SpaceX's] long -term strategic business model. "
pegas -2 office did not pull. Moreover, in the process they turned the wrong way - they developed a solid-fuel rocket (and this is a small impulse),
although just for an air launch it is more profitable to make a rocket with a high momentum - either hydrogen or methane and immediately with a high-altitude nozzle.
Therefore, being without rockets management
arranged a clownish senile excuse
- they say we will start immediately 3 pegas -1 !!!
it’s impossible to come up with more stupidity - even if there is a task to launch 3 Pegasus in a short period of time
it’s better easier it’s more reliable to make 3 flights,
not to mention the fact that a carrier with a carrying capacity of 30 tons is enough for this - 8 times less !!
So, I’m sure that in a year or so they’ll launch a little pegasik for PR, and that's it and die

[Vadim237]

Well, this aircraft was designed for future air launches - something that weighs 250 tons.

[understanding]

You read my post inattentively -
- I just point out that there are no projects on "something that weighs 250 tons"
when the stratoloncher was designed, there were such projects, but now it’s not.