The Stratolaunch Roc officially known as the Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch holds the title of the world’s largest operational aircraft by wingspan, a true giant of the skies with an astonishing 385‑foot (117 m) wingspan, surpassing all other flying machines ever flown.
Built by Scaled Composites for Stratolaunch Systems, the Roc made its maiden flight on April 13, 2019 and has since completed numerous test missions from the Mojave Air & Space Port in California. Its twin‑fuselage design and six powerful turbofan engines allow it to carry massive payloads high into the atmosphere.
Originally conceived as a platform to air‑launch rockets into orbit, Roc’s mission has since evolved toward supporting hypersonic flight testing including carrying and releasing test vehicles such as the Talon‑A, which are designed to reach speeds greater than Mach 5 after launch.
The aircraft’s unparalleled size and capabilities have made it a focal point of aerospace innovation, offering an alternative to traditional ground‑based launch systems and helping advance hypersonic research. Recent test flights have continued to refine Roc’s flight performance, including longer duration missions and deployments of test payloads. Named after the mythical giant bird “Roc,” famed for lifting elephants in legend, this extraordinary aircraft remains a testament to modern engineering and ambition — a record‑breaking flying platform that continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in aerospace.
