Stratolaunch@StratolaunchFive years ago today, on April 13, 2019, Stratolaunch made history when the world’s largest aircraft took to the sky for its first flight over Southern California. Today we honor the legacy and history of Roc and the innovation it has made possible. Let’s Roc!
Today Roc begins its flight envelope expansion series, the 16th flight for the world’s largest aircraft. This test series is an effort to advance the demonstrated capabilities and performance of the aircraft, and ultimately expand the Talon-A hypersonic testbed’s performance range. We’re also utilizing the series to train new team members on flight operations, and to keep our current operations team sharp as we prepare for TA-2’s flight later this year.
Stratolaunch’s Roc launch platform took off for its first integrated flight with the Talon-A2 (TA-2) vehicle this morning over the Mojave Desert. This is the 19thflight of the world’s largest flying aircraft, and the first fueled captive carry of the TA-2 hypersonic vehicle. TA-2 is the first fully recoverable testbed, equipped with landing gear. The objectives of the flight test were to validate our thermal and aerodynamic models at the higher operational altitudes recently established during envelope expansion and monitor the new flight systems in TA-2 that allow landing and recovery.
November 29, 2024Hypersonic flight remains one of aviation's most elusive challenges. Defined by speeds greater than Mach 5, it is a realm where air becomes fire and the laws of physics wage war against human ambition. Against a rapidly progressing global competitive landscape, the need for repeatable hypersonic flight testing is greater than ever. Meet the Stratolaunch Roc, the largest operational aircraft in the world. From its development history to the engineering firsts along the way, Roc, and the missions it enables, are unlike anything else on Earth.Directed by Cray Novick. Hosted by Tracy LaTourrette
