Stratolaunch completes 5th test flight of giant Roc airplane
Capitalism in space: Stratolaunch yesterday successfully completed the fifth test flight of its giant Roc airplane, now being designed for testing hypersonic vehicles in flight.
You can read the press release here [pdf], which stated the following:
The fifth flight debuted a new pylon on the aircraft’s center wing that will be used to carry and release Talon-A hypersonic vehicles. The hardware is comprised of a mini-wing and adapter that is constructed with aluminum and carbon fiber skins. It weighs approximately 8,000 pounds and occupies 14 feet of Roc’s 95-foot center wingspan, allowing for adequate space between the aircraft’s dual fuselages for safe vehicle release and launch. The state-of-the-art structure also features a winch system that will load Talon onto the platform from the ground, expediting launch preparation and reducing the need for ground support.
The company has been building two Talon hypersonic vehicles, and now has a third under construction. This third Talon is intended to be reuseable. All will be used as part of the company’s contract with the Air Force to test hypersonic technology, with the first flights now scheduled for ’23.
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Air launching a test vehicle is always spine tingling as the vehicle falls away, lights off and accelerates past the drop plane
https://www.britannica.com/video/111213/bomb-bay-aircraft-Bell-X-1-bomber-1947
Bell X-1A Composite Mission – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSEywbqi5ps
OK, here’s the X-1A video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sBWSGJ-vJ8
https://youtu.be/AISAfmSh1IQ
High drama!