Stratolaunch Roc flies twice in a single day for pilot proficiency
After a five-month hiatus, the world's largest aircraft returned to flight at Mojave Air & Space Port, completing two sorties dedicated to crew training and hypersonic support operations.
On 2 October, Stratolaunch resumed flight operations with Roc, registered N351SL, logging two separate flights on the same day from California's Mojave Air & Space Port. The twin-fuselage carrier aircraft, featuring a record wingspan of 117 metres (385 feet), ended a five-month period of inactivity.
According to tracking data, the first sortie departed Mojave at 08:54 local time and landed at 09:34 after 39 minutes airborne. The aircraft took off again at 11:27 and touched down at 12:02 following a 35-minute flight focused on airfield circuits. Stratolaunch confirmed that neither mission carried external payloads, serving instead for flight crew proficiency and training to sustain hypersonic flight-test activities.
These sorties marked the fifth and sixth flights of the aircraft in 2026, following operations on 20 January, 19 April, and 2 May. Powered by six Pratt & Whitney PW4056 turbofans, the platform was initially designed for airborne rocket launches before shifting toward deploying autonomous Talon-A test vehicles.
Stratolaunch is also broadening its fleet flexibility. Alongside a converted Boeing 747-400 named Spirit of Mojave, the company acquired a Boeing 777-200ER in September. The twinjet is scheduled to enter service in 2027, expanding aerial launch capacity by approximately 35%.
Why it matters for your training
Maintaining flight proficiency on non-standard, six-engine multi-fuselage platforms illustrates currency requirements and operational management specific to experimental heavy carrier aircraft.
Sources
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