World’s Biggest Airplane

The world’s largest airplane recently completed its first test flight. Dubbed Stratolaunch, the new aircraft is designed to someday serve as an airborne launch pad for rockets carrying satellites into orbit. It’s also being touted as the next-generation Air Force One, expected to debut in 2024.

The six-engine, double-fuselage plane has the longest wingspan of any aircraft to date, stretching 385 feet (117 meters). That’s wider than three 737 MAX aircraft placed side by side. The gigantic plane is also longer than a football field, stands 50 feet (15 meters) tall, and has a maximum take-off weight of 1.3 million pounds (nearly 600,000 kilograms), which is distributed evenly over 28 wheels. The body is built from carbon-reinforced materials and can support a load of up to 500,000 pounds (227,000 kilograms).

During its two-and-a-half-hour maiden flight, Stratolaunch reached a maximum speed of 189 miles (304 kilometers) per hour and an altitude of 17,000 feet (5,200 meters). Dates for subsequent flights have not yet been announced.