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Rocket Racing Gets Its First Team

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the rednecks-of-the-sky dept.

quad4b writes to tell us Wired is reporting that the Rocket Racing League (RRL), launched last October by Granger Whitelaw and Peter Diamandis of Ansari X Prize fame, has its first official team. "Leading Edge Rocket Racing" was launched by entrepreneurs and former F-16 pilots Don "Dagger" Grantham and Robert "Bobaloo" Rickard who see this as the "next great flying experience."

4 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Not going to work by TubeSteak · · Score: 4, Informative
    no popular "airplane racing" sport to speak of
    Define popular.

    http://www.airrace.org/racingClasses.php

    Those nutjobs go out and fly anywhere from 200~500 mph around a course. And they have fans.
    --
    [Fuck Beta]
    o0t!
  2. Re:safely by POKETNRJSH · · Score: 2, Informative

    Not a gimmick. Tons of info in PopSci (was it PopMech? one of them) last month on it.

  3. Significance; prototype test-pilot video by FleaPlus · · Score: 2, Informative

    Hm... I tried submitting this story a couple times in the past week, with no luck. I've pasted my submission below, which has a little more info on why the Rocket Racing League could be significant, and a video of former Shuttle Commander Rick Searfoss test-piloting the rocket-plane prototype:

    X Prize founder Peter Diamandis's Rocket Racing League has announced its first rocketplane team, headed by two F-16 pilots. The team's expected annual operating cost is up to $1 million, compared to $18 million for a NASCAR vehicle. A video is also available of former Shuttle Commander Rick Searfoss test-piloting a prototype racer at the 2005 X Prize Cup. It's hoped that the competition will help foster the development of more robust, economical, and reliable rocket technology.

    I'm still not sure on whether or not this League will be successful. It's a neat idea, but it'll be tricky to do this well, without making it boring or too tacky.

  4. Re:Maverick's re-engaging sir! by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 2, Informative
    Yes, most of them acquire nicknames. It's somewhat a sign of acceptance by your fellow pilots.
    No, they don't use that nick as a radio call sign.
    In the USAF, a pilot may have his name on the side of a plane, but it's not 'his' a/c. That's just for a pic to send home to mom. He flies whatever maintenance gives him that day.
    This pic shows the right side of an F-16, with the crew chief's name on it. Some pilots name will be on the other side, sans nickname.