N348MS

The airframe bearing tail number N348MS is a Scaled Composites 348 White Knight Two (VMS Eve) completed in 2008 with manufacturer serial 001. The aircraft is owned by VIRGIN GALACTIC VEHICLE HOLDINGS INC, a corporate owner based in Las Cruces, NM, US, and is registered in the US registry. As this specific airframe was produced as the first serial of its type, its record reflects a unique role within its operator’s program and a continued corporate ownership profile centered at the owner’s New Mexico location. Notable registry actions include its US civil registration and retention under the corporate owner.

The airframe is fitted with a mission-configured 8-place layout intended for crew and support personnel rather than a conventional passenger cabin, reflecting its specialized operational role. Typical operations for this configuration center on mission support flights and program-specific transport tasks originating from the owner’s base in Las Cruces, NM. Avionics fit and specific equipment lists are not published for this entry; maintenance and operational planning therefore emphasize the airframe’s role as a program-dedicated platform rather than a standard transport. The aircraft’s design and seating arrangement prioritize mission systems and crew support functions over passenger comfort, and maintenance considerations align with multi-engine turbine operations and program-specific inspection regimes.

The Scaled Composites 348 White Knight Two occupies a specialized niche as a large, multi-engine, high-ceiling carrier-type platform with four PW308A turbofan engines enabling operations to altitudes up to 50,000 ft. Its role and mission-configured interior limit typical buyer and charter demand to organizations needing dedicated support or launch-mission capability rather than conventional business aviation markets. Maintenance and resale considerations are likewise distinctive: the airframe’s serial 001 status and corporate program ownership enhance historical significance but constrain broader marketability, requiring buyers to have access to specialized sustainment, engine support for the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308A, and mission-oriented refurbishment capability.