New SS2/WK-II pic

[Dr Mordrid]

White Knight II gets 4 engines and a 42 meter (140 foot) wingspan. This is a bit less than a Boeing 767's 47.6 meters (156 feet), but the 767 only has 2 engines and is much heavier. Can you say "overpowered"?

White Knight I has two engines and 25 meter (82 foot) wingspan.

[VJ]

White Knight II gets 4 engines and a 42 meter (140 foot) wingspan. This is a bit less than a Boeing 767's 47.6 meters (156 feet), but the 767 only has 2 engines and is much heavier. Can you say "overpowered"?

How powerfull are the engines?

At what altitude do they separate? (I'm also wondering if it could have to do with the fact that as the air gets thinner, normal jet engines perform less.)

Also, security through redundancy will be an aspect.


Jörg

[Dr Mordrid]

White Knight I

Flight capability: aerobatic + cargo
Engines: two afterburning General Electric J85-GE-5A's (18 kN/2,950 lbf dry - 17.1 kN/3,850 lbf afterburn each)
Payload: 3,628.8 kg (8,000 lbs)
Service ceiling: 16.15 km (53,000 feet)

White Knight II

Flight capability: aerobatic + cargo
Engines: four Pratt & Whitney PW308C turbofans (31 kN/7,000 lbf each) (possibly biofuels)
Payload: 30,500 kg (67,252.5 lbs)
Service ceiling: 18.29 km (60,000 feet)

SS1 flight profile

Drop altitude: 14 km (45,934 feet)
Service ceiling: 112,000 m (367,360 ft)
Passenger G-load: 4 G's
Rate of climb: 416.6 m/s (82,000 ft/min)
Climb angle: 65°
SS1 thrust/weight: 20

SS2: ?