Alt-aviation wizard Burt Rutan set out to design a plane that could haul rockets to the edge of space. Then he persuaded Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen to build a dual-fuselage beast with a wingspan longer than a football field.Building Stratolaunch, the Most Audacious Flying Machine Ever.

Here's how alt-aviation wizard Burt Rutan and Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen set out to build a dual-fuselage beast that could haul rockets to the edge of space...

Alt-aviation wizard Burt Rutan set out to design a plane that could haul rockets to the edge of space. Then he persuaded Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen to build a dual-fuselage beast with a wingspan longer than a football field.Building Stratolaunch, the Most Audacious Flying Machine Ever.

Here's how alt-aviation wizard Burt Rutan and Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen set out to build a dual-fuselage beast that could haul rockets to the edge of space...