Virgin Galactic Delta Class

In production

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Rocket engine powered suborbital 'spaceplane', design originated from Scaled Composites Model 316 SpaceShip One. Seats 8, including pilots.

Photo: Business Wire

Lift type

Fixed wing

Construction

Factory-built

Control

Piloted

Engine type

Unpowered

Application

Experimental

Design & construction

Primary structure

Composite

Wing

Composite

Ice protection

None

Pressurisation

Unpressurised

Flight controls

Full FBW digital

Autopilot

3-axis

Avionics architecture

Integrated glass suite

Wing position

Mid

Planform

Swept

Certification

Experimental-LSA

Minimum crew

Composite wing (primary structure) Primary Composite fuselage (primary structure) Primary

Technical reference compiled with AI research; a value appears only where two independent research passes and a web fact-check agree. Gaps are deliberate.

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Type variants

Variant	Launch / first flight	Production end	Notes
The Spaceship Company SpaceShip Two	2009 / 2010	2016	Enlarged development of SpaceShip One, formerly known as Scaled Composites Model 339 SpaceShipTwo. Includes 2 vehicles: VSS Enterprise and VSS Unity, (VSS: Virgin Space Ship).
The Spaceship Company SpaceShip III	2021 /	2024	Upgraded variant, includes VSS Imagine and VSS Inspire, development ceased to focus on Delta class vehicles.
Virgin Galactic Delta Class	2024 /		Third generation of spaceplane program, design comparable to SpaceShip III but redesigned to aid production. First spaceflight planned summer 2026, carrying research payloads.

Airframer

The Spaceship Company	News	Manufacturing subsidiary of Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic	News

Other aircraft programs: Virgin Galactic Mach 3 · Virgin Galactic Mothership ·

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Program milestones 8 dated events

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Information on this page is compiled from a variety of published sources; links do not necessarily imply recommendation or confirmation by the airframe manufacturer.