Paul Allen creates "FrankenJumbo" - twin booms, 6 B747 engines
Feb 19, 2015, 10:19 pm
#1
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Paul Allen creates "FrankenJumbo" - twin booms, 6 B747 engines
The idea is to be able to sling a rocket under the wing connecting the two 747 fuselages, haul it up to 30,000+ feet and launch the rocket. Stratolaunch is in construction now, scheduled to fly next year and enter commercial service in 2018.
Wingspan of 380 feet, 747-8 is a mere 225 feet, weight 590 tons.
http://www.stratolaunch.com
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/n....html?page=all
http://www.ausbt.com.au/microsoft-co...o-frankenjumbo
Wingspan of 380 feet, 747-8 is a mere 225 feet, weight 590 tons.
http://www.stratolaunch.com
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/n....html?page=all
http://www.ausbt.com.au/microsoft-co...o-frankenjumbo
Feb 21, 2015, 2:48 am
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
He couldn't have gone for an Airbus Beluga and customized it further, if he wasn't wedded to Washington and the sentimental difficulty to buck Boeing for Airbus?
http://www.rfi.ro/sites/default/files/articol/37.jpg
Those are of course on back-order too even for Airbus' own use.
http://www.rfi.ro/sites/default/files/articol/37.jpg
Those are of course on back-order too even for Airbus' own use.
Feb 22, 2015, 11:03 am
#5
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
He couldn't have gone for an Airbus Beluga and customized it further, if he wasn't wedded to Washington and the sentimental difficulty to buck Boeing for Airbus?
http://www.rfi.ro/sites/default/files/articol/37.jpg
Those are of course on back-order too even for Airbus' own use.
http://www.rfi.ro/sites/default/files/articol/37.jpg
Those are of course on back-order too even for Airbus' own use.
There's also Boeing's Dreamlifter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_Dreamlifter
Or the Antonov An-225 Mriya, which already has six engines. https://iraqstudy.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/2251.jpg
We just have to see how this works out for smaller payloads.
Feb 22, 2015, 2:29 pm
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Feb 24, 2015, 8:06 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,662
Well, it is a Burt Rutan design so unconventional looks are a given!
Also to those upthread who are saying that could have used an AN225, Beluaga, Dreamlifter etc. - You do realize that the payload is slung between the two 747 fuselages, right? So I can't easily see how any of the existing aforementioned platforms would work.
I've also seen it in the flesh (well flesh parts) out at Mojave and the idea is pretty sound IMHO.
Also to those upthread who are saying that could have used an AN225, Beluaga, Dreamlifter etc. - You do realize that the payload is slung between the two 747 fuselages, right? So I can't easily see how any of the existing aforementioned platforms would work.
I've also seen it in the flesh (well flesh parts) out at Mojave and the idea is pretty sound IMHO.
Feb 27, 2015, 6:15 pm
#10
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Well, it is a Burt Rutan design so unconventional looks are a given!
Also to those upthread who are saying that could have used an AN225, Beluaga, Dreamlifter etc. - You do realize that the payload is slung between the two 747 fuselages, right? So I can't easily see how any of the existing aforementioned platforms would work.
I've also seen it in the flesh (well flesh parts) out at Mojave and the idea is pretty sound IMHO.
Also to those upthread who are saying that could have used an AN225, Beluaga, Dreamlifter etc. - You do realize that the payload is slung between the two 747 fuselages, right? So I can't easily see how any of the existing aforementioned platforms would work.
I've also seen it in the flesh (well flesh parts) out at Mojave and the idea is pretty sound IMHO.
Feb 27, 2015, 10:42 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,662
You're right. My mistake. I thought the thread was about Allens Strato-Launch, but it seems it is really about heavy-lifters in general. Again apologies for getting off track there.