Re: the principle of an air-launched second stage is one worth pursuing
I'm not convinced. It adds a lot of complexity for not a lot of gain. The height and delta-v gains are trivial. The main benefits are avoiding most of the atmosphere, being able to use a nozzle tuned for near-vacuum, and some flexibility over where you launch from. It just doesn't seem worth the effort and complexity of adding a whole other aircraft.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
