posted 10-03-2005 04:15 PM               

The man behind the $10 million X Prize for private spaceflight is joining forces with a venture capitalist who's also an Indy car backer to establish a NASCAR-like racing league for rocket-powered aircraft.

X Prize founder Peter Diamandis and race car capitalist Granger Whitelaw took the wraps off the Rocket Racing League during a Monday news conference, just days before a rocket plane demonstration that could serve as a model for the races.

posted 10-04-2005 10:13 AM               

Preparations are in full swing for the Countdown to the X Prize Cup--a celebration of a new generation of private passenger-carrying spaceships built for speed and to foster space tourism.

An array of spaceship concepts will be spotlighted during a Spaceflight Exposition, to be held here October 9 at the International Airport-Las Cruces, along with entrepreneurs, engineers, and pilots involved in the projects.

Peter Diamandis is the mastermind behind the Countdown to the X Prize Cup, and is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the X Prize Foundation.

"My goal is to create an event that will be the Oshkosh or grand prix of space...an event that will attract space fans and families from around the world who want to come and see these rocket-powered ships fly and meet the entrepreneurs building them," Diamandis told SPACE.com.

posted 10-05-2005 10:13 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Philip:
Amazing, they were inspired by that Star Wars movie I guess.

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posted 04-14-2008 05:37 PM               

New Entertainment Sports League to Stage First Exhibition Race at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh August 1st and August 2nd

Armadillo Aerospace to provide LOX Engine for Rocket Racer Rocket Racing Composite Announces Acquisition of Velocity Aircraft

The Rocket Racing League, the new entertainment sports league that combines the exhilaration of racing with the power of rocket engines, today announced that the First Exhibition Race of the Rocket Racing League will take place on August 1st and August 2nd at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. In addition to announcing the dates of the First Exhibition Races, the Rocket Racing League also announced the remaining series of exhibition races for the rest of 2008, the acquisition of Velocity Aircraft by Rocket Racing Composites Corp., and announced that Armadillo Aerospace will manufacture liquid oxygen (LOX) engines for the Rocket Racing League.

First Exhibition Race

On August 1st and August 2nd, the first Exhibition Race of the Rocket Racing League will be held at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI, the largest air show in the world. For the first time ever, two Rocket Racers will compete head-to-head in a demonstration race in the raceway in the sky. The Rocket Racer pilots will view the "raceway in the sky" via in-panel and 3D helmet displays and the 700,000 people in attendance at EAA AirVenture will witness the racing action live on multiple large projection screens.

"The first Exhibition Race of the Rocket Racer is an important milestone in the progression of the Rocket Racing League," said Granger Whitelaw, Chief Executive Officer of the Rocket Racing League. "We look forward to sharing the experience and thrill of rocket racing with the public."

"EAA has followed the development of the Rocket Racing League concept with great interest," said EAA President Tom Poberezny. "We are excited about the opportunity to develop a whole new audience of aviation enthusiasts, while at the same time promoting aviation innovation."

Exhibition Race Schedule

Following the first Exhibition Race at EAA AirVenture, the RRL will hold exhibition races at venues around the country, including:

• Reno National Championship Air Races (NV) - September 10-14
  
• X Prize Cup (Las Cruces, NM) - TBD 2008
  
• Aviation Nation, Nellis AFB, (Las Vegas, NV) - November 8-9

Velocity Aircraft Acquisition

Rocket Racing Composite Corporation, a subsidiary of the RRL, announced the acquisition of Velocity Aircraft of Sebastian, FL, a leading manufacturer of four-seat canard pusher experimental aircraft. Under the terms of the agreement, Velocity Aircraft will become a wholly owned division of Rocket Racing Composite Corp. and will produce an airframe that will be consistent for all competing Rocket Racers. Through a rigorous research and development, all Velocity-constructed Rocket Racers will be equipped with the safest-possible airframe for any kind of aircraft. The cockpit seats for all Rocket Racers will be reinforced to withstand impacts up to 20G load and other safety measures will be added using a methodology similar to that of F-1 and Indy Car to better protect pilots and passengers alike.

Scott Baker, president of Velocity, Inc. offered his enthusiastic remarks that, "Velocity is truly excited to be a part of Rocket Racing. Many of the technology advances that are planned for the Rocket Racer models transcend and offer performance and comfort benefits to Velocity owners who use their aircraft for personal and business travel."

Armadillo Aerospace

Rocket Racing is also pleased to announce that Mesquite, Texas-based Armadillo Aerospace will be providing LOX engines for the Rocket Racing League. A leading provider of reusable rocket-powered vehicles, Armadillo Aerospace is focused on vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) suborbital research and passenger flights, with an eye towards eventual paths to orbit.

"Flying people on our rockets has been our goal from day one, and we are excited to work with the Rocket Racing League to provide a system that will be safe for the pilots, cost effective and robust for the teams, and spectacular for the crowds," said John Carmack, President of Armadillo Aerospace.

About The Rocket Racing League

Founded in 2005 by two-time Indianapolis 500 winning team partner Granger Whitelaw and X PRIZE Chairman and CEO Peter Diamandis, the Rocket Racing League (RRLTM ) is a new entertainment sports league that combines the exhilaration of racing with the power of rocket engines. To be held at venues across the country, the Rocket Racing League will feature multiple races pitting up to 10 Rocket Racers going head to head in a 4-lap, multiple elimination heat format on a 5-mile "Formula One"-like closed circuit raceway in the sky. For more information on the Rocket Racing League, please visit rocketracingleague.com.

posted 04-15-2008 04:23 PM               

A leading provider of reusable rocket-powered vehicles, Armadillo Aerospace is focused on vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) suborbital research and passenger flights, with an eye towards eventual paths to orbit.

I won't be flying with these folks soon. And since I don't believe their schedules - they won't be, either!

posted 07-30-2008 05:30 PM               

A small rocket-powered plane streaked across the sky Tuesday, trailing a bright yellow plume of flame and kicking off what its sponsors hope will be the next Nascar-but with tracks in the sky...

The plane that flew Tuesday took off under a threat of rain. It was piloted by a former space shuttle commander, Richard A. Searfoss, and used the XCOR (Aerospace of Mojave, Calif.) rocket engine. Searfoss fired the engine for takeoff, and for the crowd along the flight line, the flame was bright enough to bring on a squint.

The 1,500 pounds of thrust quickly took the plane to a height of several hundred feet, and Searfoss turned off the engine. He then relaxed the plane into a curving glide. He popped the engine a few more times for several seconds, turning a dark speck in the sky to a brilliant point of light, before gliding to the airstrip.