Paul Allen just rolled out the world’s largest airplane.

[PastTense]

Updating this thread:

The Stratolaunch twin-hulled airplane, its wings stretching wider than a football field, took its first flight Saturday morning and spent more than two hours soaring above California’s Mojave Desert.

In taking off from the Mojave Air and Space Port, the plane brought closer to reality the dream of launching satellites from the air. The idea is that the aircraft — which has conjoined-twin fuselages and is powered by six Boeing 747 engines — would eventually hoist a rocket carrying a satellite to a higher altitude before releasing it to blast into space.

Stratolaunch’s gigantic twin-bodied plane takes its first flight

[PastTense]

Bad news:

Stratolaunch Systems Corporation, the space company founded by late billionaire and Microsoft Corp co-founder Paul Allen, is closing operations, cutting short ambitious plans to challenge traditional aerospace companies in a new “space race,” four people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-exploration-stratolaunch-exclus/exclusive-space-firm-founded-by-billionaire-paul-allen-closing-operations-sources-idUSKCN1T12FD

I suppose it is still possible someone would take over the plane but as the article notes:

As of April 1, Stratolaunch had only 21 employees, compared with 77 last December, one of the four sources said. Most of the remaining employees were focused on completing the carrier plane’s test flight.

So it doesn’t look likely.

[N9IWP]

I’m glad the plane got a flight, if only to break some records. I love unusual (even if impractical) planes.

Brian

[Melbourne]

As I recall, the Spruce Goose had to fly – to meet the terms of a development grant from the milityary – even though it was already obsolete… I wonder if there was any similar justification here? Or if they just couldn’t bring themselves to stop and fire everybody?

[PastTense]

My impression is that the justification was Paul Allen’s sister honoring his wishes (he died in October).

[Richard_Pearse]

Stratolaunch deny they are closing down.

Stratolaunch space company denies rumors it's closing down

[PastTense]

Richard: see my quote they are down to 21 employees in post 62. That indicates they have shut down for all practical purposes.