Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, April 19, 2019

FLIGHT, from 1
“Saying Stratolaunch, the aircraft with a 385-foot wing- span is huge, is an understatement! I was between some hangars, behind the flightline fence and saw the chase plane take off, shortly thereafter I heard the six jet engines roar- ing with take-off power and getting closer, as it lifted from runway 30. All of a sudden I saw a gigantic shadow and as this colossal airplane became visible, I gasped — it literally took my breath away! She was climbing into the Mojave skies so gracefully. What a magnificent sight to behold! I heard people cheering, whistling and clapping their hands. So thankful I was able to witness another ‘First Test Flight’ at Mojave!”
Cathy Hansen
“Stratolaunch, Scaled Model 351, takes to the skies! It’s been an exciting day for the Scaled team as the world’s largest wingspan aircraft completed its maiden flight.”
Scaled Composites Facebook Page
gear assemblies and the rest distributed across six main gear trucks with four wheels each. Additional components from the 747 include cockpit windows, avionics, and control system actuators.
The maiden flight followed a series of ground checkouts and taxi tests earlier this year. The much-antici- pated takeoff from Mojave was flaw- less and the Roc was soon circling
the sparsely populated desert region between Ridgecrest and Tehachapi. During the 2.5-hour shakedown, Scaled Composites test pilots Evan Thomas and Chris Guarente achieved a maximum speed of 189 miles per hour while climbing as high as 15,000 feet. As is typical during such tests, the landing gear remained extended throughout the flight. The crew landed
the giant plane safely after conducting a standard series of flying qualities and handling maneuvers.
“For the most part, the plane flew as predicted,” said Thomas, a former Air Force fighter test pilot. “I honestly could not have hoped for more on a first flight, especially of an airplane of this complexity and this uniqueness.”
Sadly, Paul Allen passed away only
six months before his dream took flight. “We finally did it,” said Floyd at a postflight news conference. “I had imagined this moment for years, but I had never imagined it without Paul standing next to me,” he added.
“Even though he wasn’t there to- day, as the plane lifted gracefully from the runway, I did whisper a ‘thank you’ to Paul for allowing me to
Photograph by Peter W. Merlin
be a part of this remarkable achieve- ment,” he said.
Many more test flights will be re- quired to check and verify aircraft performance, and Stratolaunch still needs to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. If all goes as planned, the first satellite launch from the giant craft could occur some- time next year.
Dick Rutan was part of the crowd in the Stratolaunch reserved VIP section watching the takeoff and observing every detail of the flight. He was on the phone with his brother Burt Rutan, famed aircraft designer and Scaled Composites founder, from take-off to touchdown. Burt was at home in Idaho and had encouraged Allen to form the company.
“Burt was monitoring the flight on his computer and had the test cards,” said Dick. “He knew what the test points were and he was really excited.”
“We weren’t allowed to take photos in the reserved section,” said Dick. “But in only minutes after the take-off, the internet and Twitter was alive with pictures and videos.”
April 19, 2019
Aerotech News and Review
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Stratolaunch photograph