Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 04-18-2003 06:13 PM               

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I found this interesting article. It looks like Burt Rutan is going for a Sub-Orbital system. They even mention he has 4 astronauts in his group!
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030418-023930-7720r

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Warm Regards

Douglas Henry

Enjoy yourself and have fun.... it is only a hobby!

Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

Posts: 836
From: Lafayette, CA
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 04-18-2003 09:07 PM            

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Cool.

Not only am I guessing -- I'm hoping -- that there's a private suborbital flight before the Shuttle is back to flight status.

Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000

Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 09-08-2003 07:33 PM               

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I just did a little catch up reading on the SS1. Looks like they have already done a successful glide flight. There are even photos of the first glide flight on the above-mentioned web-site.

They mention that footage of the first glide flight will be shown this month at the SETP. I imagine that may be at one of the technical workshops versus the dinner though.

Reading up on his rocket design and flight profile was very interesting. Rutan is a serious contender to win. This is starting to get a little exciting. At this rate we may just pick up the paper one day and read that he has got it done without much advance warning.

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Warm Regards

Douglas Henry

Enjoy yourself and have fun.... it is only a hobby!

Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001

posted 09-08-2003 08:09 PM               

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quote:

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Originally posted by Aztecdoug:
Rutan is a serious contender to win. This is starting to get a little exciting. At this rate we may just pick up the paper one day and read that he has got it done without much advance warning.

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Yes his site states that they have never said when they would fly. So I took from that that it will be a surprise.

BTW that is one wicked looking bird he's got there - he deserves some kind of prize just for that.

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posted 09-09-2003 09:06 AM               

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I don't think there's any doubt Burt - who is truly an aeronautical/aerospace genius - and his crew will be the ones to do it. It's almost pathetic.
Keep an eye peeled, I am working with their PR people to create covers commemorating the glide flight, and want to do it as a series.
Annnd if I had to make a guess, yes it will be a secret when it happens.

Al

Posts: 535
From: Atlanta, GA USA
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 09-09-2003 09:41 AM               

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I interviewed Rick Searfoss (X-prize chief judge) for an article on the X-Prize in this month's edition of AutoPILOT magazine. I have a few extra copies. If anyone wants one, send me a couple of bucks for postage and I'll get one headed your way.
Russ Still
P.O. Box 832
Roswell, GA 30077

Or go to www.autopilotmagazine.com to subscribe. BTW, the two cover stories "Ron Young" and "Unusual Attitudes Made Usual" are also mine. Click on the Current Georgia issue and Current Florida Issue links to see them if you're curious.