
The world's largest plane, Stratolaunch, could be just months away from its first flight.

The aircraft - which is the vision of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen - has a wingspan longer than a football field and comes equipped with two cockpits, 28 wheels and six engines normally used to power 747 jumbo jets.

Eventually will be used to transport rockets carrying satellites and people into the Earth's upper atmosphere, where they will blast off into space.

At the 34th Space Symposium in Colorado, Stratolaunch revealed that it hoping to conduct the monster plane's first flight this summer.

It has already gone through two taxi tests in the past few months, with top speeds if 28mph (41km/h) and 46mph (74km/h).

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The world's largest plane, Stratolaunch, could be just months away from its first flight. The aircraft has a wingspan longer than a football field and comes equipped with two cockpits, 28 wheels and six engines normally used to power 747 jumbo jets

The plane still has to go through three more taxi tests before it can fly, the company said.

According to Engadget, Stratolaunch has to reach taxi speeds up to 80mph (128km/h) and then 138mph (222km/h) during its next tests.

For comparison, typical jetliners have to go as fast as 150 to 180 mph to take off (241km/h to 190km/h).

As well as sending cargo to space, the plane could be used to launch a secretive Shuttle-sized rocket codenamed 'Black Ice', according to its creator.

The claims were made earlier this year by Christian Davenport, a reporter who covers the defence and space industries for the financial desk of the Washington Post.

Eventually, the aircraft will be used to transport rockets carrying satellites and people into the Earth's upper atmosphere, where they will blast off into space. At the 34th Space Symposium in Colorado, Stratolaunch revealed that it hoping to conduct the monster plane's first flight this summer.

Stratolaunch has already gone through two taxi tests in the past few months, with top speeds if 28mph (41km/h) and 46mph (74km/h). The plane still has to go through three more taxi tests before it can fly, the company said

The graphic above illustrates the Stratolaunch's wingspan compared to other aircraft models, including the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental and the Airbus A380-800

He interviewed Stratolaunch and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, in preparation for his upcoming book on the new space race developing between tech billionaires - including Tesla and Space X CEO Elon Musk, and Amazon and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos.

During conversations last summer, Allen - who wants the Stratolaunch to act as a giant air pad in the sky, allowing payloads to reach space faster and at a lower cost than existing technologies - detailed the firm's plans for the giant aircraft.

In an excerpt published by the Washington Post, Allen said: 'I would love to see us have a full reusable system and have weekly, if not more often, airport-style, repeatable operations going.'

Black Ice could be launched from anywhere with a runway large enough to safely accommodate the giant plane it would be strapped to.

Once its mission is complete, the vehicle could then land back on a runway and be prepared to fly once more.

Speaking about the possibility of manned missions, Allen said: 'If you caught the bug back in the Mercury era, of course it’s in the back of your mind.

'But I think you’re seeing right now, other than [space station] resupply missions, most spaceflights are about launching satellites. That’s the reality. As well as sending cargo to space, the plane could be used to launch a secretive Shuttle-sized rocket codenamed 'Black Ice', according to its creator.

'And they are extremely important for everything from television to data all over the world. You can get data in the Kalahari Desert because there’s a satellite up there.'

In its latest low-speed taxi test, conducted on February 25, 2018, all six of its 8,940lbs (4,000kg) engines were fired.

The Stratolaunch is so large it needs twin fuselages, each equipped with its own cockpit.

The main purpose of the latest test, which took place at California's Mojave Air and Space Port, was to put the aircraft’s ability to steer and stop through its paces.

A ground team from Stratolaunch Systems Corp monitored a number of systems, including steering, braking, anti-skid and telemetry.

Engineers conducted the aircraft's first low-speed taxi test in December, but during this run the vehicle only hit 25 knots (28mph/45km/h).

When the aircraft is eventually airborne, the three-person crew - pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer - will sit in the right-hand fuselage, steering the plane a fair distance to the right of the centerline.

The left-hand fuselage has what looks like a cockpit with windows to onlookers, but the section is in fact empty and unpressurised.

The Stratolaunch weighs approximately 500,000 pounds without any cargo, and designed to carry a maximum takeoff weight of 1.3 million pounds, according to The Verge.

WHAT IS PAUL ALLEN'S STRATOLAUNCH AIRCRAFT AND WHEN ARE ITS FIRST TEST FLIGHTS? Stratolaunch is an aircraft with a wingspan of a football field that could one day help to fire satellites and other objects into space. Its first test flights are planned for later this year. The vehicle sports twin fuselages each with its own 'cockpit', forming a bizarre 'H' shape under its wings, which stretch 385 feet (117m) tip to tip. The three-person crew - pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer - will sit in the right-hand fuselage, steering the plane a fair distance to the right of the centerline. The left-hand fuselage has what looks like a cockpit with windows to onlookers, but the section is in fact empty and unpressurised. The Stratolaunch weighs approximately 500,000 pounds without any cargo. Stratolaunch is an aircraft with a wingspan of a football field that could one day help to fire satellites and other objects into space. Its first test flights are planned for 2018. Pictured is the vehicle during a test flight in December 2017 It is designed to carry a maximum takeoff weight of 1.3 million pounds, according to The Verge. The plane rolls around with the aid of 28 wheels. Once airborne, it is powered by six 747 aircraft engines. The size of the plane will enable it to serve as an airborne rocket launcher. Traditionally, satellites and other aircraft have been launched into space from a launchpad. This requires a tremendous amount of fuel. The Stratolaunch, on the other hand, will enable rockets to have a 'head start' since they will be carried into the sky before they launch into space. Once testing is complete, the aircraft will help to fire satellites and other objects into space, including a 'Dream Chaser' spaceship that could shuttle astronauts or payloads to and from low Earth orbit within 24 hours. The plane is the vision of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen who wants it to act as a giant air pad in the sky, allowing payloads to reach space faster and at a lower cost than existing technologies. Since the first engine runs in September, the Stratolaunch team has performed a series of engine tests from a newly established Stratolaunch Mission Control Center (MCC) located at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. The MCC serves as the Seattle-based firm's hub for testing communications and will eventually be the centre of its aircraft and launch operations. Advertisement

The plane rolls around with the aid of 28 wheels, and once airborne will be powered by six 747 aircraft engines.

The size of the plane will enable it to serve as an airborne rocket launcher.

Traditionally, satellites and other aircraft have been launched into space from a launchpad, which requires a tremendous amount of fuel.

The Stratolaunch, on the other hand, will enable rockets to have a 'head start' since they will be carried into the sky before they launch into space.

Since its first engine runs in September, the Stratolaunch team has performed a series of engine tests from a newly established Stratolaunch Mission Control Center (MCC) located at the Mojave Air and Space Port.

The MCC serves as the Seattle-based firm's hub for testing communications and will eventually be the centre of its aircraft and launch operations.

Traditionally, satellites and other aircraft have been launched into space from a launchpad, which requires a tremendous amount of fuel. The Stratolaunch (pictured in December 2017), on the other hand, will enable rockets carrying these objects to have a 'head start' since they will be carried into the sky before they launch into space

The company Mission Control Centre at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California serves as the Seattle-based firm's hub for testing communications and will eventually be the centre of its aircraft and launch operations

In a written statement George Bugg, aircraft program manager at Stratolaunch, said: 'This was another exciting milestone for our team and the program.

'Our crew was able to demonstrate ground directional control with nose gear steering, and our brake systems were exercised successfully on the runway.

'Our first low speed taxi test is a very important step toward first flight. We are all proud and excited.'

The aircraft is so huge if it sat in the centre of a football field, it would be wide enough for its wings to reach 12.5 feet (3.8 metres) beyond each goalpost.

Test flights were expected for 2016 and 2017, but project delays have pushed back the date to sometime this summer.

The Stratolaunch team completed fuel testing of all six fuel tanks on September 19, to ensure their proper operations, at the Mojave Air and Space Port.

Each of the six tanks were filled independently to check their fuel mechanisms were working correctly and to that they were properly sealed.

In addition to fuel testing, engineers began testing the flight control system.

Paul Allen unveiled the world's largest aircraft at the start of June 2017.

The massive plane rolled out by Allen's aerospace firm, Stratolaunch Systems, features a 385 feet (117 metres) wingspan, the longest of any aircraft ever built, according to Popular Mechanics.

The six-engine plane is larger than Howard Hughes' 1947 H-4 Hercules, known as the 'Spruce Goose,' and the Antonov An-225, a Soviet-era cargo plane originally built to transport the Buran space shuttle that is currently the world's largest aircraft.

HOW DOES STRATOLAUNCH COMPARE TO SPACEX, BLUE ORIGIN AND VIRGIN GALACTIC? Stratolaunch is an aircraft with a wingspan of 385 feet (117 metres) that will help to fire satellites and other objects into space. With test flights planned for 2019, the aircraft could one day launch a 'Dream Chaser' spaceship that shuttles astronauts or payloads to and from low Earth orbit within 24 hours. Last year, Stratolaunch - which is the vision of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen - signed a deal with aerospace and defense firm Orbital ATK. Under terms of the deal, the Stratolaunch will propel Orbital's Pegasus XL rocket, which is used to send small satellites into space. Allen's move coincides with a surge of new businesses planning to sell internet access, Earth imagery, climate data and other services from networks of hundreds of satellites in low-altitude orbits around Earth. But his vision is different from what Elon Musk's SpaceX, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic and other companies have for building commercial highways to space. Musk's goal is to fly people to Mars. Bezos is developing low-cost, reusable rockets with the goal of moving energy-intensive, heavy industry off Earth. Branson is focused on space tourism and a small satellite launcher. The advantage of Allen's approach will be the ability to position the plane so satellites can be directly delivered into very precise orbits and do so quickly, without launch range scheduling issues and weather-related delays, Chuck Beames, who oversees Allen's space ventures, said. Advertisement

In 2011, the project's cost was initially estimated to be at £215 million ($300 million), though there is no word as to the updated figures.

The Stratolaunch is designed to carry rockets between its two fuselages.

After the plane reaches altitude, it will then drop the launch vehicle, which will subsequently fire its boosters and launch into space from the air.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen unveiled the world's largest aircraft in June 2017. The massive plane rolled out by Allen's aerospace firm, Stratolaunch Systems, features the longest wingspan of any aircraft ever built

The plane was built by Scaled Composites, an aerospace company founded by Allen's partner in the Stratolaunch project, Burt Rutan.

Scaled is owned by defense contractor Northrop Grumman.

In 2016, Stratolaunch signed a deal with aerospace and defense firm Orbital ATK.

In 2016, Stratolaunch signed a deal with aerospace and defense firm Orbital ATK. Under terms of the deal, the Stratolaunch will propel Orbital's Pegasus XL rocket, which is used to send small satellites into space

Under terms of the deal, the Stratolaunch will propel Orbital's Pegasus XL rocket, which is used to send small satellites into space.

Allen's move coincides with a surge of new businesses planning to sell internet access, Earth imagery, climate data and other services from networks of hundreds of satellites in low-altitude orbits around Earth.

But his vision is different from what Elon Musk's SpaceX, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic and other companies have for building commercial highways to space.

Musk's goal is to fly people to Mars. Bezos is developing low-cost, reusable rockets with the goal of moving energy-intensive, heavy industry off Earth. Branson is focused on space tourism and a small satellite launcher.

The advantage of Allen's approach will be the ability to position the plane so satellites can be directly delivered into very precise orbits and do so quickly, without launch range scheduling issues and weather-related delays, Chuck Beames, who oversees Allen's space ventures, said.

The Stratolaunch plane looks nothing like its behemoth predecessor aircraft.

Rather than transporting heavy cargo inside a main body section, Stratolaunch is a twin-fuselage craft that incorporates engines, landing gear, avionics and other parts from a pair of Boeing 747 jets coupled with a frame, wings and skin handmade of lightweight composites.

Designed and built by Northrop Grumman Corp's Scaled Composites, the plane is similar in form and function to Scaled's aircraft built to ferry spaceships into the air and release them for independent rocket rides beyond the atmosphere, a service Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic intends to offer to paying passengers.

Stratolaunch plans a similar service for satellites, particularly the low-Earth orbiting multi-hundred member constellations under development by companies including SpaceX and Google's Terra Bella to provide internet access, Earth imagery and other data.

But Stratolaunch will offer quick and precise satellite positioning, a service that will set it apart from competitors.

These satellite networks, based on low-cost spacecraft, are the fastest-growing segment of the global satellite industry which reported more than $208billion (£150billion) in revenue 2015, according to a Satellite Industry Association report.