Talk:Scaled Composites Stratolaunch

Article name
The article is currently named Stratolaunch Systems Carrier. However, I've not seen any source that indicates that the manufacturer has given the aircraft that particular name. So it would seem to this editor that, until the manufacturer actually names the aircraft, we ought to refer to it without the capital letters that would indicate a proper name. So, maybe just call it the Stratolaunch carrier aircraft for now, since it is merely a descriptive name created by a Wikipedia editor as a placeholder. I have requested a citation for the aircraft name in the first sentence of the lede. Cheers. N2e (talk) 20:16, 14 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Someone has updated the first line of the article with a citation, and the first line now refers to the Stratolaunch Systems Carrier Aircraft which is more correct than merely Stratolaunch Systems Carrier, the current article title. However, in the source provided (the "Stratolaunch Systems Press Faq"), the aircraft is referred to as merely the "carrier aircraft" (with no caps) 13 times.  Only three times, and only then in section titles or graphics titles, is the aircraft referred to as the "Carrier Aircraft" (with initial capitals).  Thus, I think this supports the case that the plane has not yet been formally named, and is merely the Stratolaunch carrier aircraft or the Stratolaunch Systems carrier aircraft, NOT the Stratolaunch Systems Carrier Aircraft, and not, as the article is named today, Stratolaunch Systems Carrier.  N2e (talk) 18:52, 15 December 2011 (UTC)


 * I'm not an English major, just interested in aviation history. The page is open to anyone to edit, spell-check, and append as information as it becomes available, such as the proper name, make and model of this concept, which will probably be announced sometime in the future. Please make whatever correction you feel appropriate, and cite why you do it. If anyone has issues with why you are doing it, bring it up for discussion and consensus. WikiProject Aviation/Style guide/Naming has some guidelines. FlugKerl (talk) 20:12, 15 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Well, the plane's manufacturer has not really named it yet, just referred to it as the "carrier aircraft" (sometimes, but infrequently and only when used in section titles and graphics text, capitalized). Thus, it seems we ought to work to develop a consensus on the Talk page before doing a Move of the article to a more correct name.  Anyone else have ideas on what to do here? N2e (talk) 15:43, 16 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Okay, based on consensus to move forward, and no negative view expressed, will proceed with the move. Today.  N2e (talk) 03:25, 18 December 2011 (UTC)


 * ✅ Move has been completed. Article name is now Stratolaunch carrier aircraft.  I expect it will change in the future once Stratolaunch Systems or Scaled Composites formally names the aircraft.  Cheers.  N2e (talk) 15:05, 26 December 2011 (UTC)

Requested move (1)

 * The following discussion is an archived discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. No further edits should be made to this section. 

The result of the move request was: move. Andrewa (talk) 07:35, 26 December 2011 (UTC)

– The aircraft's manufacturer has not named the aircraft, but merely refers to it as the "carrier aircraft" -- the name "Stratolaunch Systems Carrier" was created by a Wikipedia editor, with no source for that name being the correct name for this notable and important aircraft now under development. N2e (talk) 03:35, 18 December 2011 (UTC)
 * Stratolaunch Systems Carrier → Stratolaunch carrier aircraft
 * Stratolaunch carrier aircraft → Stratolaunch Systems Carrier
 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on this talk page. No further edits should be made to this section.

Article needs an image
This article would be improved by the addition of an image of the aircraft now under development, and perhaps a comparison image of how large the plane is relative to other familiar large structures. Adding a reqimage tag. N2e (talk) 15:08, 27 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Ten months later, the article yet needs an image of the entire aircraft, rather than merely the wing length comparison graphic. Anyone know where to find a free image?  N2e (talk) 20:57, 27 October 2012 (UTC)

Boldly moving
I've moved the article here to "Scaled Composites Stratolaunch". It matches the general convention (Manufacturer+name) for aircraft articles, and seems to be the most commonly used acutal name in sources; "Stratolaunch carrier aircraft" is often used, but as a description of the aircraft, not its name. (I'm sure "F-16 fighter" is used extremely often in sources, for instance, but we don't title the page that for good reason.) - The Bushranger One ping only 22:55, 28 March 2012 (UTC)
 * Except that the company that ordered the airplane is called "Stratolaunch" (shortened form of "Stratolaunch Systems") so "Scaled Composites Stratolaunch" is just the two companies involved with the airplane. 70.24.244.198 (talk) 13:24, 29 March 2012 (UTC)

Recent press
There are quite a few details in these two articles in the mainline aerospace or technology press, that could be used to better detail and better source the Wikipedia article: Cheers. N2e (talk) 04:45, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
 * Concepts Abound As Launch Market Loosens, Aviation Week, 18 Apr 2012.
 * Say Hello to Stratolaunch, the World's Largest Plane, Popular Mechanics, 17 Apr 2012.

New look for the Carrier Aircraft (completely different)
The new design for the Stratolaunch carrier aircraft has been publicly released: Check Out Birdzilla’s Awesome New Design, in ParabolicArc, on 19 Mar 2013 has the story. "Stratolaunch Systems has tweaked the design of its carrier aircraft to look less like a 747 and more like…something else entirely. The nose and cockpit resemble the Concorde — but that’s where the comparisons end. The old design is below." Go to the link for the photo. Cheers. N2e (talk) 23:10, 19 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Would be good to get a "fair use" rationale approved to use the photo released to the press for use in the Wikipedia article.
 * Given precedent at Chengdu J-20, don't hold your breath. - The Bushranger One ping only 01:17, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

Not 238ft long, more like 157ft
Just examine the diagram...-- 12 April 2018‎ 2.28.209.111


 * Well, you are correct in that there is a problem somewhere. I just used a vector app and did some measuring. Establishing the scale using the original drawings of the other aircraft. For the overall length I get 163.46 feet. However, there is a problem with the drawing of the Stratolaunch that has been added. The wingspan is 5.3 feet less than what is quoted in the Wiki entry, ("385 feet") at 379.87 ft. Unfortunately this reminds of the RQ-170 "Sentinel" Wiki entry where the wingspan has been overstated by about 61% for almost a decade now, based on a quote from an Iranian in their military, and I have been unable to do anything about it. truthdowser (talk) 04:32, 3 September 2018 (UTC)


 * The diagram shows WhiteKnightTwo not the Stratolaunch carrier. Dimensions in specs have up to date references.--Marc Lacoste (talk) 04:46, 3 September 2018 (UTC)

B class
I was looking at the article and thinking that it may be B class, but there are two unreferenced paragraphs in the Design section. If these were referenced, I'd be happy to upgrade. Mjroots (talk) 07:01, 14 April 2019 (UTC)
 * I don't see any now; maybe they got fixed? --Doradus (talk) 10:58, 17 April 2019 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion
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 * 2018-01-28 Stratolaunch Aircraft.png

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 * StratolaunchHangar.jpg

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 * StratolaunchHangar.jpg

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 * Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch.jpg

Contradictory facts: 9 Flights or 10?
The box on top says Flights: 9, and a couple of lines below that, end of first paragraph, it says "As of April 2023, the Stratolaunch has flown ten times" 2A02:8388:8884:3480:A85D:42E6:1B15:188E (talk) 01:58, 23 August 2023 (UTC)