Stratolaunch Flight-Testing Program Pushes Forward | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.21.25

Airborne-NextGen-04.22.25

AirborneUnlimited-04.23.25

Airborne-FltTraining-04.24.25

AirborneUnlimited-04.25.25

Tue, Jun 21, 2022

Stratolaunch Flight-Testing Program Pushes Forward

Lucky Seventh Test-Flight Gets Roc Out of a Hard Place

Stratolaunch—the Seattle-based aerospace concern providing high-speed flight-test services—has announced the completion of the seventh flight-test of Roc, the company’s aerial launch-vehicle and world’s largest flying aircraft.

In its latest Mojave test-flight, Roc remained aloft just over three-hours and reached an altitude of 27,000-feet—a new altitude record for the aircraft.

Following a less than perfect, 09 June, sixth flight that was cut short following atypical, inflight vibrations and the failure of a wing sensor, the seventh flight succeeded in expanding Roc's flight-envelope subsequent the addition of an eight-thousand pound, 14-foot pylon to the immense aircraft’s 95-foot, center wing-section.

Objectives of the seventh flight included:

  • Demonstration of increased maximum altitude capability.
  • Continued validation of the aircraft's general performance and handling characteristics with the addition of the pylon structure.
  • Continued validation of landing gear operations including door functionality, and alternate gear extension.

The pylon, which will be used to securely transport and release Stratolaunch’s hypersonic test-vehicles, includes a mechanism designed to lift subject vehicles from the ground and onto a staging platform.

Recently, the Stratolaunch team executed the first integration of Roc and the company’s TA-0 separation test vehicle, thereby implying captive carry and separation testing might commence later this year.

Stratolaunch is also working on system-integration of its first hypersonic flight test vehicle, TA-1, and on the fabrication of a third vehicle, TA-2—the first fully reusable hypersonic test vehicle. Stratolaunch anticipates delivering hypersonic flight services to government and commercial customers in 2023.

Stratolaunch Chief Executive Officer and President Dr. Zachary Krevor called the flight, “ … a success story of the Stratolaunch team's ability to increase operational tempo to the pace desired by our customers for performing frequent hypersonic flight-test.” Dr. Krevor added, “ … the team reached a new altitude record of 27,000 feet, thereby demonstrating the aircraft performance needed for our Talon hypersonic vehicle to reach its wide design range of hypersonic conditions."

FMI: https://www.stratolaunch.com

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.22.25): Landing Area

Landing Area Any locality either on land, water, or structures, including airports/heliports and intermediate landing fields, which is used, or intended to be used, for the landing>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.22.25)

Aero Linx: North American Trainer Association NATA is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the preservation, restoration and safe operation and enjoyment o>[...]

Airborne 04.23.25: CAF C-47 Skytrain, Tough Low-Level Drone Regs, NEW NOTAMs

Also: Astronaut Pettit & Cosmonauts Return, Malaysia Wants Boeing Slots, Germany Nixes Typhoon Sale, More Boeing Woes The CAF’s restored C-47 Skytrain “Ready 4 Duty>[...]

Airborne 04.21.25: Charter Bust, VeriJet Woes, Visual Approach Risks

Also: Sun Country CEO to Spirit, Indian AF Rafale Jets, Archer-United, Avflight Grows Federal prosecutors recently filed a lawsuit against an uncertified charter flight company and>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.23.25)

“The Notice to Airmen system is deeply outdated and showing serious cracks. Over the last few years, we’ve seen multiple system outages ground regional air travel, crea>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC