Rutan speech & interview....

[docm]

Link....<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>><br />Rutan did provide a glimpse of what the SpaceShipTwo system will be like. The aircraft, <b><font color="yellow">White Knight Two, will have the wingspan of a B-29 (43 meters) and be powered by four jet engines</font>/b>; a single aircraft could carry out four launches in a day. <br /><br />Each SpaceShipTwo vehicle will be capable of two flights a day. Rutan did state at one point that <b><font color="yellow">SS2 will look “a lot different†from SS1, with a low wing instead of a high wing “because we had way too much dihedral effect, which gave us stability control problems on boost.â€</font>/b><br /><br />“<b><font color="yellow">We hope to build at least 50 spaceships</font>/b>,†he said, “and we believe that at the direct operating costs that they will be operating under, ticket prices will come down to the level where millions of people can afford to do this.â€<br /> /><br />Rutan said he’s spent much of his time attending funerals for the three people killed: Eric Blackwell, Todd Ivens, and Glen May. “This is a tough thing. It’s something we’re not familiar with.†He added that the company had appreciated the outpouring of support it’s received in the aftermath of the accident. “We have gotten significant contributions to a family support fund from people all over the world. People like Paul Allen and Richard Branson have donated money to help the families†of those killed and injured. “That’s been extremely helpful.â€<br /><br />Rutan had little new to add about the status of the investigation into the accident. <font color="yellow"><b>“Our rocket propulsion is on hold. We’re not doing any development work on rocket propulsion after the accident,†he said. “We don’t know what’s going to come out of the propulsion. We have not yet ide</b></font></b></b></b></p></blockquote> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MannyPim]

Thanks Docm !<br /><br />Very interesting stuff.<br />Burt is a hero of mine. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="2" color="#0000ff"><em>The only way to know what is possible is to attempt the impossible.</em></font> </div>

 

[spacetourism]

It's too bad Rutan had another aircraft go down today. This was an aerobatic plane flown by Billionaire Steve Fossett and their is a big search on now for him.

 

[docm]

<font color="yellow">It's too bad Rutan had another aircraft go down today.</font><br /><br />Fossett was flying a Bellanca Citabria Super Decathlon registered to the Flying M Hunting Club in Yerington, NV. Unless Rutan owns the club....<br /><br />http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N240R.html <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>