Stratolaunch composite carrier aircraft completes fourth flight test

On Feb. 24, Stratolaunch LLC (Mojave, Calif., U.S.) successfully completed the fourth flight flight for its carrier aircraft, known as “Roc.” According to the company, Roc represents the largest application of composites in an aircraft, with a 385-foot wingspan. The aircraft flew for one hour, 43 minutes over the Mojave Desert and reached an altitude of 15,000 feet (4,572 meters), compared to an altitude of 14,000 feet during its second test flight and an altitude of 23,500 feet for its third flight test. Each test ultimately prepares the aircraft to support launching the hypersonic testbed vehicle, Talon-A, rocket-powered, autonomous, reusable testbeds carrying customizable payloads at speeds above Mach 5.  

Initial results from this flight’s test objectives include:

• Continued evaluation of the aircraft’s performance and handling characteristics
• Validation of full landing gear operations including door functionality,  and alternate gear extension. 

“This successful flight demonstrates and validates improvements to the carrier aircraft’s systems and overall flight performance,” says Dr. Zachary  Krevor, Stratolaunch president and chief operating officer (COO). “The full  landing gear retraction and extension brings the carrier aircraft closer to operational status, a milestone that is necessary to ready the aircraft for Talon-A separation and hypersonic flight tests later this year.” 

In addition to testing the carrier aircraft, the team continues to make progress on system integration of two Talon-A test  vehicles, TA-0 and TA-1. The team has also started fabrication of a third vehicle, TA-2, reported to be the first fully reusable hypersonic test vehicle. The company anticipates beginning hypersonic flight testing in 2022 and delivering services to government and commercial customers in 2023.