Rocket racer goes public

Fadda Eart — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:51:44 GMT

TV needs to place cameras inside the vehicles...and have perimeter feeds to blend the action...one second you are inside, with a 360 degree pan...maybe helmet cam...but I bet those pilots don't move their heads around very much...better a gimbled, pivoting steady-cam...controlled by someone who is seeing the action from above, so what to feature next onscreen is obvious...next second, it's a sweeping shot of the action you just experienced caught from outside the course perimeter...with exceptional zoom and focus cameras...
I'm getting knots in my stomach, and my butt is grabbing the seat just from writing about it.
Rocket Science grows up!

Rocket racer goes public

Delmar Fairchild, Barron, WI — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:53:31 GMT

They need to find out how long a pilot can keep this plane in the air with the tiny burps of ignition. What a way to save on fuel for all air planes. An airplane that turns into a glider, that turns into an airplane, that turns into a glider..... Can this plane get us into space?? Go to the jet stream and glide until you can burst into space when it is the best time to do so??

Rocket racer goes public

Bill Jackson — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:20:42 GMT

Crash and Burn...Just like the XFL.

Rocket racer goes public

Abby, California — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:51:59 GMT

Sorry - It just looks like another wasteful, unnecessary thing to me.

Rocket racer goes public

Dave Mosher — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:58:31 GMT

Great post Alan! I felt like I was right there.
Any mention of these planes always makes think of those airshow crash horror stories with jet and prop planes... somehow low-flying, rocket-powered racers near thousands of watchers seems like, um, a bad idea. I hope I don't have to ever say "I told you so."

Rocket racer goes public

steve smyth — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:06:20 GMT

Delmar..that's pretty much how Gaia Two works.
Propulsion into space is via a burst of compressed gas just at the moment when the vehicle has begun to skip-off.
It has been on Branson's desk as a potential in atmosphere sailor/glider/burster for quite some time.
Extended stays aloft could be aided by soaring on Equatorial Currents...burt upward, and drop to wherever...piece of cake...
I like your way of thinking.

see the page Branson sees by clicking my name below...

Rocket racer goes public

G, Staunton, VA — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:05:47 GMT

are you kidding me!

Rocket racer goes public

Chris Forry — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:12:08 GMT

Nascar is appealing because most all Americans drive a car and can connect with the race car drivers. I don't think that connection will be there for the rocket aviators. Neat idea, but I don't think it is all that its investors are hoping for. Time will tell.

Rocket racer goes public

john — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:20:08 GMT

I'm sure that NASA is looking into this near future venture for going into outer space.Does anyone remember the X-15 rocket plane.?We have the techn ology to make great strides in the future of rocketry.This is only just the beginning of something big later on inthis the 21st century.

Rocket racer goes public

Cain, Miami, FL — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:41:50 GMT

I wonder why wouldn't they use a secondary smaller rocket to switch from the main one and gain some kind of reduced throtle. Maybe act as a landing backup if needed. It's probably not worth the money, complication, & compromises needed for such an upgrade yet, but when winning the race becomes the focus I bet we will see the technology really "Take Off"

Rocket racer goes public

Scott Bateman, IL — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:25:45 GMT

I play this video game, would be sweet to see it 'take off' in reality. just gotta watch out for the other racers as well as the environment- it wouldn't do to crash your racer and not survive; as it happens in the game.

Rocket racer goes public

HF201 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:12:50 GMT

I think the NASCAR comparison is off. A lot of people relate to NACAR because they're familiar with the task of driving a car - what makes the drivers special is that they do the same task at a much higher level with a very specialized vehicle. Most people, even aviation enthusiasts, will never pilot a plane and so will be one step removed from the action compared with NASCAR. Bad idea for a money-making venture.

Rocket racer goes public

Kirt, Detoit, MI — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:13:45 GMT

AWESOME! I wanted to see the Red Bull Air race in Detroit, but weather was bad and they cancelled the day I could go.

I think a rocket race with limited fuel is neat! Reminds me of 1980's game Omega Race.

Rocket racer goes public

Pedro Mendoza. Scarsdale N.Y. — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:49:05 GMT

Hopefully behind the idea of a new sport in the air, this guys develop a vehicle that is propelled by magnetic force just few inches of the ground and put transportation were it should be into the 21th century.Spending millions in something that all ready exist is not so smart.Still something may come out of it.Perhaps.Other way they should be sponsored by any big fish from Dubay.!!I think that while we are struggling whit this fuel prices and an economy in peril it is a crime any sport that features the waste of this energy resource and the proliferation of green gases just for fun.Lest get serious about our planet.

Rocket racer goes public

Mat, San Diego, CA — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:29:21 GMT

I would compare this to the Red Bull Air Race, not an automobile race, precisely because it is an aviation event. Do I relate to a Red Bull racing pilot? Probably not, but I can tell you that it is quite an event to see anyway! I believe rocket planes can offer a similar thrill to potential audiences around the world, because they are fantastic. The key is finding pilots, organizing events, and making sure they happen.

Rocket racer goes public

Hoang Pham — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:34:59 GMT

Our planet is not our planet anymore if there's no fun on it anywhere.

I can't wait to the day that those sports like this will be the only things that burn fuel because we master the renewable energy like solar, wind, ocean wave...or nuclear power.

It's like sail boats today. It is just for fun.

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Scotty, Ogden, UT — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:00:48 GMT

I think this is a great idea! How long has it been since an interesting, technologically-advanced spectator sport came around. We have water races, we have land races, we do have air races with airplanes. I have been waiting for a new sport to watch and think my wait is over!

Rocket racer goes public

Doug, Austin, TX — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:27:45 GMT

Delmar --
It actually makes more sense to have an engine that is only a little bigger than is needed, and leaving it on all the time. Also, there's a safety issue -- each time that happens there's a chance it won't come back on. Probably OK for a race (engine breaks? Ok, you lost, land your glider), but you don't want that happening in a 747 over the ocean (though if you have a few other engines, it's not usually a catastrophe.)

Rocket racer goes public

Ron, Houston — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:50:21 GMT

This is the perfect time to do something like this. Show 'em that world conditions aren't going to stop us from having some fun. This is great! I'd go just to see the rocket technology and hear those engines rip through the air! There doesn't need to be a practical reason for everything. If they actually get it off the ground as a regular event, it would be the first sport to hold my attention for longer than it takes to change the channel.
As for relating to it, why should I watch people do as a sport what I do everyday? Auto racing? Bor-ring!...unless of course there is a spectacular crash (the only reason people actually watch that stuff anyway, I guess). Rocket plane crashes would be even more spectacular...ejection seats anyone?

Rocket racer goes public

Ricardo F. Santa Barbara Ca — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:05:56 GMT

WOW Pedro hit it on the head! What a waste of money and resources. If I want high speed thrills it's off to a coaster or taking my mountian bike down a hill!
I can barely justify riding a bus, plane or train..let alone going to rocket race?

Rocket racer goes public

Jaded, Mission Viejo, CA — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:07:25 GMT

Question is: Will they all ground long enough for the 15 minutes of commercials required mid-race?

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Beamshipcaptain — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:08:59 GMT

Professor Searl's Inverse Gravity vehicle(powered by the SEG or Searl Effect Generator-first SEG built in 1946 in the UK) would blow them all away in terms of speed, cannot crash (the Earth REPELS the disc-shaped vehicle) and does not use fuel. NASA has been aware of Prof Searl's work since the 1960s, as the dics need a life-support system to be manned, as the power unit 3-ring SEG excludes air, the disc sits inside a self-made vacuum. We cannot get mankind into space in reasonable time and economy with jet-(impulse) propulsion, but we CAN with force-field propulsion, and use of already invented technologies. Rockets were invented by Chinese 1200-years ago. The visitors to our planet in their manned and unmanned systems appear to use force-field propulsion methodologies, which are also clean and non-polluting, and clean the air as they fly. They don't use heat energy, as we do, for propulsion, no fossil-fuels nor nuclear. We need to clean up, and grow up, on any level. RRL idea is cool, however, and will also get American kids interested in science and mathematics.

Rocket racer goes public

John R, Pioche Nevada — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:24:13 GMT

I believe that this venture is exactly what we need to give an edge to commercially viable space flight. This is just the first step folks! When the racing starts, it will produce some healthy competition with engine technology and race platforms that will carry over into exoplanetary exploration/ operation. Let's hope this thing pans out!

Rocket racer goes public

Jim Pettit, Naples, FL — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:31:09 GMT

Yes, it appears to be a big waste of resources, and something for the elitist class. But remember, long before there was commercial airline travel, there were barnstorming biplane thrilling crowds all over the world. This had two major effects: 1) it helped folks get used to the idea of airplanes and air travel, and B) the experience and money earned by these early efforts paved the way for safer and better airplanes. In short: don't poo-pooh the whole idea; without barnstormers, there'd be no commercial air travel...and without rocket racing and quick touristy jaunts into space, there'll be no future in space--and we need that future for our survival.

Rocket racer goes public

jon t, tampa, florida — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:42:31 GMT

Lets all chime in on the 'its a bad idea' bandwagon. Hey..why fly at all, heck why drive..its not safe past 3mph. I think you should all smear twinkies onto whats left of your lazy shortsighted brains, turn on the tv... and check out of living, thinking & dreaming. Might as well just wait til death seperates you from the need to deal with exerting energy and thought. Pathetic lazy American brains..products of the public 'edyakashun' system. With that kind of 'why bother attitude'..it wont take long before this country is overtaken by exuberant optimistic Chinese and other peoples who still know how to use ther brains for something besides a place to grow Brittany hair.

Rocket racer goes public

Todd, Billerica, MA — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:45:15 GMT

Barnstorming helped the aviation industry improve/upgrade technology while introducing air travel to folks the world over. It is certainly a valid experiment to see if this will too work for rocket improvements/upgrades and getting the giggle factor out of many folks. Go Go Rocket Racing League. I have nothing but the best of luck for this venture.