On the other hand, a fixed-wing aircraft.i.e. the B-70, can indeed be
designed to carry a large payload at high altitude. While a large blunt
cone would have to much drag for external carriage on an aircraft, a
saucer-shaped vehicle could be carried and launched edge first and
re-enter flat side first; this is pretty much what Rutan's SpaceShip
One does with its pivoting tail. This can spread the heating over a
large area as with the Apollo Capsule, reducing thermal loads.

The airplane is superior to rocket as a means of transportation
through the troposphere because it is slower and much more
reusable. It is however not as slow as the helicopter, and
the separation of the rocket launcher and its cargo from the
airplane is tricky due to the aerodynamic drag.

However, so long as the aircraft is designed with a thrust to weigth ratio
greater than 1:1 when loaded with the payload at altitude it can hover
vertically on its tail during the seperation manuver. The aircraft flies up
to launch altitude, goes vertical, releases the payload while hovering. The
payload ignites its next stage, the aircraft reduces throttle allowing
itself to tip over and power glide most of the way back to the launch site
with the engines at idle.