Stratolaunch plane founded by Microsoft’s Paul Allen takes flight in California

An aeroplane, which was the brainchild of Microsoft founder Paul Allen and has the widest wingspan in history has completed its first flight.

Stratolaunch, a giant six-engine aircraft with the world’s longest wingspan, makes its historic first flight from the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California. Picture: AP

A giant aircraft with a wingspan stretching beyond the length of two Olympic swimming pools has undertaken its maiden flight in the US.

The six-engine Stratolaunch jet took-off from California on Saturday local time (Sunday AEST).

It is designed to carry as many as three satellite-laden rockets under its wings, which stretch about 117 meters.

Artist's impression provided by Stratolaunch Systems. Picture: Supplied

Founded by the late Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen, Stratolaunch is vying to be a contender in the market for air-launching small satellites.

“We all know Paul would have been proud to witness today’s historic achievement,” Chair of Vulcan Inc. and Trustee of the Paul G. Allen Trust, Jody Allen said.

“The aircraft is a remarkable engineering achievement and we congratulate everyone involved.”

Co-founder of Microsoft Corporation Paul Allen. Picture: AFP

Stratolaunch aircraft first emerged from its Mojave hangar in 2017 and underwent ground tests, including taxiing and rolling down a runway at near-takeoff speeds.

The jet is powered by the same type of engines used by Boeing 747s and is designed to take off at a maximum weight 589,676 kilograms.

Stratolaunch, a giant six-engine aircraft with the world’s longest wingspan, makes its historic first flight from the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California. Picture: AP

It features twin fuselages — sort of the aeroplane equivalent of a catamaran — that span 72.5 meters long.

Stratolaunch originally touted this jet as the world’s biggest aircraft, but toned down that statement this weekend referring to it as the “world’s largest all-composite aircraft”.

The world’s biggest aircraft will deploy launch vehicles powered by the world’s most efficient hydrogen rocket engines.

Listen to the roar of our #PGAEngine preburner, the fastest development since public records began. pic.twitter.com/rmL5dodKLu

— Stratolaunch (@Stratolaunch) December 7, 2018

Other aeroplanes exceed it in length from nose to tail, including the six-engine Antonov AN 225 cargo plane, which is 84 meters long, and the Boeing 747-8, which is about 76.3 meters long.

The previous world wingspan record holder was Howard Hughes’ World War II-era eight-engine H-4 Hercules flying boat — nicknamed the Spruce Goose.

Its wings stretch about 97.5-meters and can still be seen today at an aviation museum in Oregon.

Stratolaunch, a giant six-engine aircraft with the world’s longest wingspan, makes its historic first flight from the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California. Picture: AP