The aeronautics company founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen provided the first look at the world's largest airplane based on wingspan. The airplane from Stratolaunch weighs 500,000 pounds, and rested on all 28 wheels for the first time, the company said in a statement. "This was an important step in preparing the aircraft for ground testing, engine runs, taxi tests, and finally the first flight," said Jean Floyd, CEO of Stratolaunch, in a statement.
The plane is the largest in the world based on wingspan, measuring 385 feet, which is longer than a football field. The Stratolaunch aircraft features two cockpits and six Boeing 747 engines. It's capable of carrying the weight up to 550,000 pounds.
Allen founded the company in 2011 as part of a plan to make travel to low Earth orbit more accessible. "Opening up access to low Earth orbit will deliver many benefits," Allen wrote on LinkedIn last year. "For example, we could use more satellites that would enable better understanding of why our weather patterns are changing and help increase agricultural productivity. And, we could study atmospheric chemistry more closely to better study and reduce the climate change."
Floyd says the aircraft will start testing at the Mojave Air and Space Port over the coming months, with plans for a launch demonstration in 2019. "This is a first-of-its-kind aircraft, so we’re going to be careful throughout testing and continue to make our pilots, crew and staff safe at the first place," said Floyd. Allen is among several tech companies with an eye toward space. Tesla CEO Elon Muskand, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos both run their own aerospace companies — Space X and Blue Origin respectively.
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