Giant plane drops hypersonic aircraft for the first time

The carrier plane Roc from the US company Stratolaunch has its experimental for the first time Hypersonic aircraft dropped. The drop worked without any problems, the company announced.

In the test over the Pacific Ocean, only that jettisoning the aircraft with the label Talon-A tested. Videos show how the carrier aircraft takes off with the hypersonic aircraft and lands again without the vehicle.

First hypersonic flight later this year

A test model of the hypersonic aircraft was dropped, which no own engine has. Hence the model designation of the Vehicle TA-0.

With TA-0 there were a few more glide tests carried out before it – as planned – fell into the sea and at the same time destroyed became. The telemetry data these glide tests are now evaluated by Stratolaunch.

“Following this important milestone, we are now preparing for our first hypersonic flight im late autumn this year,” said Zachary Krevor, CEO of Stratolaunch.

Stratolaunch’s Mach 5 plan

With a span of 117 meters is Roc that largest airplane in the world. Between the two fuselages is the hypersonic aircraft called Talon-A mounted and brought the air.

Stratolaunch’s plan is for it to be dropped there. Then there should be Talon-A rocket engine ignite and speeds beyond Mach 5 to reach.

Talon-A only has small mini wings and some kind of rudder. Its surface consists of aluminum and carbon. Stratolaunch gives the weight 3.630 Kilograms at. The wingspan is a little over 4 meters.