posted 06-03-2021 10:29 AM               

Some people may find this shape of the aircraft odd, but I love these experimental aircraft — especially those that are designed by Scaled Composites. I even have a custom built SpaceShipOne and SpaceShipTwo model that were the predecessor of the Stratolaunch Air Vehicle.

The idea behind Stratolaunch originally started back in 2011 when it was announced by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and Scaled Composites founder Burt Rutan. Its primary objective is to be a air-launch platform into space at high altitude for a lower fuel cost compared to launching from the ground.

Only one aircraft was fully developed by the time of Paul Allen's death in 2018. With an impressive wingspan of 385 feet and the twin fuselages at 238 feet each, it is technically the world's largest airplane. (Yes, it has a larger wingspan than the Antonov An-225, which is at 290 feet. Even Howard Hughes's Spruce Goose can't compared at a wingspan of 320 feet.)

Therefore in 1/200 scale, this is a HUGE model! I can barely find space for it since it's 23.25 inches wide and around 14 inches long. The Stratolaunch has a max takeoff weight is 1.3 million pounds (650 tons) and it is powered by six Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines — same ones used on the B747-400s. This aircraft only flew two times: the maiden flight back in 2019 and (more recently) this year in 2021 when it changed owners.

ASModels did a very impressive job on the details and fulfilled my request to have the Dream Chaser rocket removeable (including the center support structure) so I have the option to display the aircraft on her maiden flight. You can see all the little details have been added such as the small markings/logos and even the pitot tube. I was even supplied two display stand, one for the Stratolaunch and the other is for the Dream Chaser rocket to stand upright. Here's a few photos of the model:

A close-up of the Dream Chaser and its rocket (although this has yet to be fully developed, this is an idea of how to get the small reusable spaceplane into Earth's low orbit). It even has its own vertical display stand. I love how the mounting holes are kept very discreet on the rocket so it cannot be seen.

And here's a closeup on some of the little details:

Here's an idea of the size comparison compared to the Orbital ATK's Lockheed L-1011, which currently delivers the Pegasus rockets into low Earth Orbit. The Stratolaunch proposed they can launch multiple Pegasus XL rockets in one flight.

posted 06-03-2021 12:40 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by SuperKungFu:
Its primary objective is to be a air-launch platform into space at high altitude for a lower fuel cost compared to launching from the ground.

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