Based at Mojave Air and Space Port, Stratolaunch operates Roc, the world’s largest aircraft by wingspan. While studying its complex aerodynamics, engineers calculated that Roc’s unusual design created a space in which a sufficiently powerful and stable car could travel beneath the aircraft during both takeoff and landing. The discovery sparked an ambitious collaboration between two engineering teams—and two remarkable machines.
Porsche engineers were equally intrigued by the prospect of proving the theory, but the challenge demanded exceptional power, stability and precision. The car would also need to exceed 160 mph to keep pace with Roc during takeoff.
The new Cayenne Turbo Electric was selected for the task. Joining the combustion-engine and E-Hybrid variants, it produces 1,139 hp, accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds and uses active aerodynamics to provide stability at high speed. A prototype was shipped to Mojave, where endurance racer and former Porsche factory driver Patrick Long volunteered to take the wheel.
Built from composites as a launch platform for spacecraft and hypersonic testing, Roc spans 385 feet and produces 340,500 pounds of thrust, making it substantially larger than an Airbus A380. Takeoff and landing generate intense jet blast and turbulence beneath the aircraft, but engineers identified a small area of relatively calm air behind the landing gear and ahead of the tail. Because this aerodynamic bubble moves with Roc, a driver attempting to remain inside it would have to maintain an exceptionally precise position throughout the run.
This was not a drag race down a runway, but a test of precision, nerves and complete reliance on two groundbreaking machines.
“It was probably one of the most focused and intense moments of my life,” said Patrick Long, reflecting on the minutes before the first flight. “We believed in the data, and I knew I could rely on the Cayenne and the pilots of Roc – we had a good team. Operating with a fully charged battery, we started slow – I was using minimal power and holding the car exactly where it needed to be and I knew I had the performance to maintain my position no matter what. The real acceleration occurred once all six engines spooled up. As the speeds shot north of 100 mph, I put it in Boost mode and utilized everything the Cayenne had – keeping right on the landing gear. It was an awesome feeling – the sound from those six engines was overwhelming and I could feel the turbulence bouncing off the car, but it remained rock solid, even after Roc took off and the engines were pointed down at me and the Cayenne. At that moment I glanced at the speed which showed somewhere north of 170 mph before I eased off the throttle,” he explained. Speeding towards the end of the runway, the massive optional Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brakes helped to slow down the Cayenne Turbo Electric from these extreme speeds with consistent authority.
“I trusted Patrick and the Cayenne completely to do their job – meaning I just focused on doing mine,” said Stratolaunch chief test pilot Jonathan ‘Beast’ Bearce. “I couldn’t see him at all from my position but watching the footage back he positioned himself perfectly – that took a lot of guts, I was seriously impressed by Patrick’s composure and how the car handled pressure,” he continued. “Roc is designed to carry up to half a million pounds into the sky, and since we were carrying no payload, our acceleration was pretty impressive for such a large aircraft. Later, I drove the Cayenne with Patrick and that was the fastest I’ve ever accelerated in a car – I’m not sure we would have known where he’d gone if he had put his foot to the floor! But this was not just about outright speed – it was about absolute precision. And he got it spot on.”
With the theory confirmed on the first flight, the teams expanded the experiment to Roc’s landing approach. The exercise echoed the U.S. Air Force practice of using chase cars to assist Lockheed U-2 landings, although Roc has roughly three times the wingspan. Coordinating closely with the flight crew, Long accelerated onto the runway and positioned the Cayenne just behind Roc’s landing gear as the aircraft descended.
The Cayenne Turbo Electric ultimately completed two takeoffs and two landings beneath Roc without damage. Long was joined during the runs by Porsche Design brand ambassador Orlando Bloom, automotive journalist and enthusiast Mat Watson, and Stratolaunch crew chiefs Shauntel Williams and John McKinney.
The experiment turned an aerodynamic calculation into reality, combining precise engineering, skilled pilots and driving, and confidence in two highly unconventional machines.
Above contents © 2026 Porsche Cars North America reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee , @rexmcafee 🏁
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