Flight enthusiast needed.

[rich 36]

Can someone tell me about [url]this|http://www.eaa.org/communications/eaanews/pr/050223_ss1_photos.html[/url]
and what its purpose is please.

[pic]http://tinypic.com/esj11c.jpg[/pic]

[Eric Mc]

Easy one

Its Burt Rutan's Spaceship 1 mated to its mother craft.

[rich 36]

Eric! just the chap,
but to re-itterate,
what the hell is going on in the mojave desert

[Eric Mc]

Not a mystery. I watched it all live on TV last year. Spaceship 1 was built by Rutan to have a go the $10 million "X - Prize" for the first privately funded flight into space.

Job done - $10 million now in Rutan's bank account (although the project cost him and his company a lot more than $10 million).

His company, Scaled Projects Inc, is based at Mojave Airport, just down the road from Edwards Air Force Base.

Scaled Projects have their own website if you want to check out all the weird and wonderful projects Rutan and his team are engaged in.

>> Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 20th October 21:56

[rich 36]

Bloody weird looking thing,
nearly as bad as that, sun powered round-the-world thing,

[Eric Mc]

Methinks you might know a bit more than you are letting on

[simpo two]

What a shame that (1) this trip didn't make headline news, (2) our Governments are incapable of funding it or understanding it. Instead, it takes a millionaire with vision and courage, a la Branson, to achieve it.

[rich 36]

More luck than judgement,
whats that sun powered thing with about a million propellors, and a mile wingspan,
that can stay aloft nearly all the time.
and no it was'ent Captain scarlets base either, although that was bad enough

[Eric Mc]

Weren't NASA involved in the solar powered plane project (possible use on Mars perhaps?).

[rich 36]

No, this thing


Probably tows a Mc donalds banner along behind it, for all I know, still I expect it makes somone very happy

[Eric Mc]

You never know, at 30,000 feet the sun is always shining. How about a nice leisurely cruise around the world, with no need for fuel stops.

What's ground breaking technology today could be accessable technology in 40 or 50 years.

[Pigeon]

Nah, it'd have to be a bloody fast cruise, otherwise it'd get dark and you crash.

[victormeldrew]

Pigeon said:

Nah, it'd have to be a bloody fast cruise, otherwise it'd get dark and you crash.

Ah, the Reverse Icarus manouevre!

[8Pack]

rich 36 said:

No, this thing

Flies forever at 90,000 feet, solar powered, Satelite controlled, Radar invisable, stays up there for ever, American, MMmh! ............bet it's got a camera and wideband radio on it folks..... (forget that super fast stuff) it's a con!......

[Eric Mc]

It's real, of course. Whther it will lead to anything practical is another matter.

[rich 36]

perhaps this will be un-mothballed in preparation for our step to the stars.



getscoat;