Built to carry rockets and ultrasonic aircraft three at a time , the large - wingspan aircraft ever built has just completed itsfifth trial run flight , reaching a vast milestone in campaign it into service . The Stratolaunch mail carrier aircraft soared to an altitude of 6,858 meters ( 22,500 ft ) and aviate for almost five hr , testing a newfangled addition to the nub of the aircraft that will be used to attach and launch hypersonic vehicles .

While the Antonov-225 “ Mriya ” , whichtragically perishedin the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine , was technically the largest aircraft ever built ( using the plane ’s overall dimensions , include weight and fuselage length ) , Roc   – bring up after the fabled birdie of quarry in mediate Eastern mythology   – absolutely pulverize all others when it comes to wingspan .

Using a configuration that is essentially two 747s joined together wing - to - extension , the Stratolaunch has a wingspan of 117 meter ( 384 feet ) compare to the An-225 ’s 88.4 m ( 290 feet ) , and there ’s a reason for the unbelievable width .

The Stratolaunch carrier is custom - designed by Scaled Composites to carry massive rocket and fomite payloads , with a maximum takeoff weight of 590   tons . This falls only more or less short of the An-225 , but the conformation allows a gravid rocket to be carry in the center and to then be launched at high altitude . Specifically , this planer will be persuade Talon - A vehicles , a Mach 6 hypersonic test bed , plan for scientific and technological testing of hypersonic vehicles .

The belated test was designed to try out the performance and manipulation of the aircraft with the pylon attachment , as well as testing the landing place gear .

" Today ’s successful flight formalize significant computer hardware improvements to the carrier aircraft , ” said Dr Zachary Krevor , Stratolaunch Chief Executive Officer and President in astatement . “ The power pylon is a crucial component of our combined launching scheme , and I am proud of the team ’s timely and quality integration oeuvre that fall out since our last test flight . It is through their dedication that we continue to make unfaltering progress toward achieving our next milestones of Talon - A flight test later this year . ”

Stratolaunch is plan the first hypersonic flight examination in 2023 .