The Rocket Racing League did it! They flew Tuesday, and they flew up a storm. And make no mistake about it, this was no taxi test.
Just after 2:30pm, former NASA astronaut and Space Shuttle Commander Rick Searfoss took off for a demo flight. Despite threatening clouds which imposed a 2,000-foot ceiling on what was supposed to be a 4,000 foot vertical climbout after takeoff, Searfoss did a nice job improvising a "low show" to show off the rocket racer's turns and burns for the crowd. More demos are scheduled later this week for Friday and Saturday.
Founded in 2005 by two-time Indianapolis 500 champion team owner Granger Whitelaw and aerospace pioneer and X PRIZE Foundation founder Dr. Peter Diamandis, the Rocket Racing League (www.rocketracingleague.com) is the only entertainment sports league that combines the exhilaration of racing with the power of rocket engines, fully satisfying our universal love for power and flight through the thrill of Rocket Racers.
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. The Rocket Racer pilots see the "raceway in the sky" via in-panel and 3D helmet displays. For the hundreds of thousands of fans in attendance, they will witness the racing action live and in real-time display on multiple large projection screens. For the millions of fans watching on televisions and PCs at home, they will experience the thrill of the Rocket Racing League via unique remote and rocket-mounted cameras that give at-home fans the sensation of riding right alongside famed League pilots.
Aero-TV Zooms Towards The Heavens With The Rocket Racing League
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Aero-TV: Red Tail Project Update – Taking the Mission to the People
The Red Tail Project Continues Effort Towards ‘Rise Above Program’
The Red Tail Project is a true example of this unbreakable spirit. In 2004, the project experienced a tragic setback when leader Don Hinz lost his life after the organizations P-51C Mustang suffered a catastrophic engine failure. The Red Tail Project quickly set forth an ambitious mission to restore the airplane and continue Don Hinz’s remarkable vision, to inspire youth and tell the story of the Tuskegee Airmen across the country.
Aero-TV: Avionics Tip of the Week – An Introduction to Sarasota Avionics, Inc.
An Introduction To A Trusted Friend... And A Major Aid In Our Aero-TV Avionics Coverage
We're going to depart a little bit from some of our normal formats in these avionics tips and chat about one of the companies that is helping us bring some truly great coverage to the ANN universe. Sarasota Avionics is the company that we chose to do our massive Avidyne Release 9 Upgrade, and the same company that we have been coming to for EXPERT assistance in putting together some of our avionics coverage. The folks are the best we've worked in many years and we're pleased to have them on our side. So... without further interruption, let's introduce you to Sarasota Avionics... a great company that not only helps us keep you informed but puts up with all our insanity in the process (no small order, that).
ComLinkPro premiered their latest in headset technology, introducing the Angel to the general aviation market. With an effortless, yet powerful audio interface, pilots can create a high fidelity Bluetooth connection by simply plugging in a headset. Audio clarity, achieved through a high quality audio Codec with low distortion audio amplifier and RF rejection, quickly eliminates cockpit noise for clear, understandable communication. The Angel’s cell phone capabilities allow a pilot to answer and initiate calls, end and mute calls, as well as engage in conference calls.
Aero-TV: Safety Tip of the Week – The Emergency Vision Assurance System
CEO Captain John Cox Explains a Simple Solution for a Complex Problem
According to the Airline Pilots Association, there are an average of three smoke incidents daily in the United States. In all, one out of every third emergency landing is due to smoke. Air Safety Week reports that smoke is the leading defined cause of emergency landings for extended Twin-Engine Operations aircraft; dense smoke in a cockpit renders essential flight instrument panels useless if they are unable to be seen.
Aero-TV: A New Milestone – FAA Certifies Cecil Field Spaceport
Jacksonville's Cecil Field Becomes Nation’s 8th Commercial Spaceport
The Navy's former Master Jet Base in Jacksonville, Florida, has received a Launch Site Operators License from the FAA, making it the nation's 8th designated horizontal launch commercial spaceport. As part of receiving a license to operate a spaceport, the JAA and FAA conducted an extensive environmental study and a comprehensive application process.
Aero-TV: Profiles in Aviation – The Cessna T-50 ‘Bobcat’
Owner Thomas Huf Introduces the Aircraft of “Sky King” Renown
In 1940, Cessna introduced their very first twin-engine aircraft to the civilian market, the T-50 “Bobcat.” Shortly after, the U.S. Army ordered 33 specially crafted T-50s for multi-engine advanced trainers, designated as "AT-8s." With the outbreak of the of World War II, however, the United States Army Air Forces adopted the Bobcat as a light personnel transport, designating them as “US-78s.” It was through these roles that the Bobcat earned the famous “Bamboo Bomber” nickname. By the end of the war, Cessna produced more than 4,600 US-78s for the USAAF and over 800 for the Royal Canadian Air Force. From the 5,400 Bobcats produced overall, about 42 airframes remain today, with only half of that number airworthy.
Aero-TV: The Lancair Factory – Where High Performance Begins
Kim Lorentzen Provides a Tour of Lancair’s Redmond Facility
As composite structures began to emerge in the late 1970s, Lance Neibauer’s aviation interest quickly went from hobby to inspiration; having graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design, Neibauer believed he could develop a sleekly designed aircraft that optimized both performance and handling. The resulting Lancair 200 made its aviation debut in 1984, premiering for Oshkosh attendees the following year. Exhibiting such advancement, the Lancair 200 is now displayed at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Museum in Oshkosh, WI.
Aero-TV: The Dornier CD2 Seastar – Classic Design Meets Modern Innovation
One Hundred Years of Tradition Reborn in the Seastar CD-2
After being introduced to aviation by Count Zeppelin, Claudius Dornier founded his first company, Dornier Metallbauten, in 1914. Over the years, the company remained an integral part of the emerging aviation industry, producing more than 100 designs for both the civil and military markets. Through the process, Dornier accomplished numerous technological advancements including the first fully metal aircraft. Building on the family's aviation legacy, Claudius Dornier Jr. turned his focus to the design, production, and operation of flying boats. After years of development, Dornier received the first type certificate for an all-composite commercial aircraft.
Aero-TV: Flight Tip of the Week – Randy Babbitt, A Mental Checkride
FAA Administrator Emphasizes Continued Focus on Pilot Professionalism
At the 2009 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention, Randy Babbitt took to the stage once again to promote safety and professionalism in aviation. With nearly 70,000 operations throughout the U.S. each day, and over 753 million people transported each year, Babbitt continues to place safety in the aviation workplace as his number one FAA Administrator priority.
Aero-TV: Functional Aesthetics – Inside Cessna’s Citation X
Cessna’s Tom Heck Details the Interior Design Features of the Citation X
Cruising at Mach .92, the Citation X is one of the fastest civilian aircraft available in the business aviation market. Design, however, has not been lost to functionality; the Citation X design features highlight comfort, aesthetics, and technological advancements to make it, as Heck states it, “a high-class mobile office in the sky.”
Aero-TV: Avionics Tip of the Week – How to be ADS-B Compliant
Industry Leaders Explain Necessary Components for ADS-B Requirements
On November 5th through November 7th, 2009, AOPA held their annual AOPA Aviation Summit at the Tampa Convention Center located in Tampa, Florida. Over 7,500 aviation enthusiasts attended various forums, speeches, as well as hundreds of booths featuring the latest in G.A. technology.
Aero-TV: Skycatcher Update – Production Ramps Up for 2010
Bob Stangarone Details Cessna’s Newest Contender in the LSA Market
At the 2009 AOPA Summit, attendees experienced an up-close encounter with Cessna’s newest aircraft to enter the LSA market. Since the announcement of the 162 Skycatcher program in 2007, Cessna has received over 1,000 orders.
Aero-TV: Flight of a Lifetime – Brian Binnie Recounts X PRIZE Win
X PRIZE Foundation Celebrates Five Years Since the Ansari X PRIZE Win
On October 4th, 2004, the X PRIZE Foundation made international headlines when they awarded the Ansari X PRIZE to Scaled Composites for the successful launch of their craft, SpaceShipOne. Inspired by the Orteig Prize, won by Charles Lindbergh in 1927 for the successful completion of the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris, Peter Diamandis formally announced the X PRIZE competition in 1996. The competition offered the largest incentive prize in history, a stunning $10 million dollar award, to the first non-government organization to launch a reusable manned spacecraft 100 kilometers above the earth’s surface twice within two weeks.
Aero-TV: ICAS Perspectives – What Does it Take to be an Air Show Pro?
Leading Air Show Performers Give Their Perspective and Their Advice
On December 6th through December 9th, the Paris Las Vegas Hotel hosted over 1,500 air show professionals and enthusiasts to the 2009 International Council of Air Shows Convention. Started in 1967, the annual ICAS Convention provides professionals a community forum in which to network with industry leaders, plan upcoming air shows, and offer continued support to fellow performers and representatives.
Aero-TV: LSA in 2010 – The U.S. Sport Aviation Expo
Chairman Bob Wood Discusses the Sport Aviation Industry in 2010
On January 21st through January 24th, 2010, sport aviation enthusiasts gathered at the Sebring Regional Airport for the annual Sport Aviation Expo. Held in Sebring, Florida, the Expo is the place to see, buy, and sell aircraft operating under the LSA rule such as fixed-wings, trikes, powered parachutes, motor-gliders, and gyroplanes. In addition, LSA industry leaders display the latest in sport aviation technology including new aircraft and electronics. The Expo also provides educational forums, such as training programs and insurance seminars, specifically geared towards aviation’s Sport Pilot.
