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White Knight
Scaled Composites · Mother ship · United States · Modern (1992–2009)
The Scaled Composites Model 318 White Knight is a jet-powered carrier aircraft that was used to launch its companion SpaceShipOne, an experimental spaceplane. The White Knight and SpaceShipOne were designed by Burt Rutan and manufactured by Scaled Composites, a private company founded by Rutan in 1982. On three separate flights in 2004, White Knight conducted SpaceShipOne into flight, and SpaceShipOne then performed a sub-orbital spaceflight, becoming the first private craft to reach space.
Specifications
- Category
- Fixed Wing
- Domain
- Civil
- Era
- Modern (1992–2009)
- Country
- United States
- Manufacturer
- Scaled Composites
- Primary Role
- Mother ship
- Status
- Retired
- Service Entry
- 2002
- Produced
- 1
- Engine
- 2× afterburning turbojet
- Thrust / Power
- 2400 |eng1 lbf-ab=3600 lbf each
- Wingspan (ft)
- 83
- Empty Weight (lb)
- 6360
- MTOW (lb)
- 18000
- Service Ceiling (ft)
- 53000