For decades, the concept of air launch has captivated many aerospace engineers, government agencies, and companies. In theory, the case for air launch looks compelling. Using an aircraft as, in effect, a reusable first stage reduces the size of the rocket required to place a payload into orbit versus a conventional ground-launched system. An air launch system also reduces the ground infrastructure needed to support a launch—no pad, no gantry, etc.—and potentially allows any airport with a sufficiently long runway to serve as a spaceport.'
