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The Experimental Aircraft Association's Air Venture's annual gathering saw the first public viewing of the plane that will allow Sir Richard Branson's spaceship take to flight.

The twin-fuselage plane, WhiteKnightTwo, is the platform that will lift Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo into the atmosphere. When it reaches 50,000 feet, Branson's spaceship detaches and rockets into space at four times the speed of sound.

It can carry six passengers who would experience five minutes of weightlessness over a two and half hour journey and be able get a glimpse of the Earth from space for around £120,000 each.

Virgin Galactic has already taken 300 reservations but a launch date is yet to be confirmed.