The world’s largest plane has made it out of the hangar and onto the tarmac, and its builder, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, hopes it can take to the skies by next year.
The plane, which has two fuselages, six engines, 28 wheels and a wingspan 85′ wider than the length of a football field, got up to 46 mph in its first taxi test. It’s designed to hold a rocket slung between the two fuselages, take it into a low orbit above the earth, and sling it into space, using much less fuel than a ground-launched vehicle.
The project, underway since 2011, was able to fast-track development and save costs by using engines, landing gear and flight decks from two retired 747s. For more images and information from Stratolaunch, click HERE
