Composites à l’échelle modèle 348 - Photos et vidéos

Scaled Composites Model 348
Pays	Usa
Rôle	Transporteur d’avion spatial volant
Premier vol	Le 21 décembre 2008
Construit	1

Lla Modèle composite à l’échelle 348 White Knight Two (WK2) is a quadjet cargo aircraft that is used to lift the SpaceShipTwo spacecraft to release altitude. It was developed by Scaled Composites from 2007 to 2010 as the first stage of Tier 1b, a two-stage to suborbital-space manned launch system. WK2 is based on the successful mothership to SpaceShipOne, White Knight, which itself is based on Proteus. With an « Architecture ouverte » conception et plans explicites pour une utilisation polyvalente, l’avion pourrait également fonctionner comme un avion zéro-g pour la formation des passagers ou les vols scientifiques en microgravité, gérer des missions d’essais à haute altitude plus généralement, ou être utilisé pour lancer des charges utiles autres que SpaceShipTwo. Une étude sur l’utilisation de l’avion comme bombardier d’eau de feu de forêt a également été mentionnée, qui utiliserait un grand réservoir d’eau composite de carbone qui pourrait être rapidement réapprovisionné pour effectuer des courses répétées au-dessus des incendies.

Source: Scaled Composites Model 348 sur Wikipedia

Scaled Composites Model 348 WhiteKnightTwo Walk Around
Photographer	Vladimir Yakubov
Localisation	Edwards Air Force Base Air Show
Photos	105

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General Characteristics and Role

The Scaled Composites Model 348, officially known as the WhiteKnightTwo (WK2), is a large, quadjet carrier aircraft developed by Scaled Composites for Virgin Galactic. It serves as the mothership for the SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane. Its primary role is to lift the smaller spaceplane and its crew/passengers to an altitude of approximately 45,000 to 50,000 feet (15,240 m). At this altitude, the SpaceShipTwo is released to ignite its rocket motor and continue to the edge of space. The WK2 is notable for its twin-fuselage, twin-boom configuration and extensive use of lightweight carbon fiber composites. The first unit, named VMS Eve, was rolled out in 2008.

Property	Typical Value (Model 348 WK2)
Rôle	Carrier/Mothership for Space Launch System
National Origin	États-Unis
Fabricant	Scaled Composites / The Spaceship Company
First Flight	Le 21 décembre 2008
Crew	2 (Flight Crew) + Launch Crew
Capacity (Payload)	17,000 kg (37,479 lb) to 50,000 ft
Length	24 m (78 ft 9 in)
Envergure	43 m (141 ft 1 in)
Configuration	Twin-fuselage, high-wing, quadjet

Powerplant and Performance

Engine: 4 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308 turbofan engines.
Thrust (Each): Approximately 30.69 kN (6,900 lbf).
Service Ceiling: Designed to reach 70,000 ft (21,300 m).
Construction: Largely built from composite materials (carbon fiber) for strength and lightness.
Design Detail: One of the twin fuselages is an exact replica of the SpaceShipTwo cabin, intended for passenger familiarization and training flights.

Program and Versatility

Program: The WhiteKnightTwo/SpaceShipTwo combination forms the « Tier 1b » launch system for Virgin Galactic’s commercial suborbital space tourism venture.
Versatility (Open Architecture): The design features an « Architecture ouverte » that allows it to serve multiple roles beyond space tourism. These include launching other high-altitude payloads, conducting microgravity science flights, and performing zero-G passenger training maneuvers.
Predecessor: The design is a scaled-up successor to the White Knight (Model 318) carrier aircraft, which launched the record-breaking SpaceShipOne.
Naming: The first WhiteKnightTwo aircraft is named VMS Eve after Eve Branson, the mother of Virgin Group founder Richard Branson.