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Paul Allen’s rocket-launching plane is the biggest in the world — here is how it stacks up to other great flying machines

The Stratolaunch plane is now the biggest in the world. This GIF shows its immense size in comparison to other planes.

The Stratolaunch plane is now the biggest in the world. Owned by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, its 385-foot wingspan bests the next biggest, Ukraine’s Antonov An-225 at 290 feet.

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The 500,000-pound aircraft is 238 feet long, 50 feet tall, and rolls on 28 wheels. It’s powered by six engines.

Stratolaunch plans to use the aircraft as a platform to launch rockets into orbit. It may one day be able to deliver as many as three rockets into orbit on a single mission. According to Stratolaunch, the aircraft is on track to perform its first launch demonstration in 2019.

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