A rocket-powered racer successfully passed its first
three flight tests with a new liquid oxygen and alcohol engine, setting the
stage for a possible demonstration race in the sky at the 2008 Reno Air Races next
month.
Test pilot Len Fox flew the Bridenstine DKNY Rocket Racer
from Clinton Sherman Industrial Airpark in Burns Flat, Okla., this week on
Monday and Tuesday. Each of the three test
flights lasted about 10 minutes and reached speeds of up to 190 mph (305
kph) using a rocket engine built by the Mesquite, Texas-based firm Armadillo
Aerospace for the Rocket Racing League.
"Armadillo is an important partner to the Rocket Racing
League and we're thrilled with our initial test flights," said Granger
Whitelaw, Rocket
Racing League co-founder and CEO. "Now that we've successfully conducted a
test flight with the Armadillo engine, we are looking forward to getting to
racing and exhibiting a 21st century sport for the 21st century sports fan."
Founded in 2005, the Rocket Racing League hopes to pit a
rocket-powered race aircraft with the Armadillo engine against another that
boasts a liquid oxygen and kerosene engine developed by XCOR Aerospace. The XCOR
Aerospace engine made its public debut
in late July and early August during demonstration flights before thousands of
spectators at the EAA AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, Wisc.
Six teams have currently signed up on the Rocket Racing
League roster under sponsorship from DKNY Men, a New York City-based men's
sportswear line that also sponsors the Bridenstine Rocket Racing Team led by
former U.S. Navy jet pilot Jim Bridenstine. The league eventually plans on
showcasing NASCAR-style
racing in the sky as a new series of sporting events.
The Reno Air Races, set for Sept. 10-14 in Reno, Nev.,
could see the first public event pitting rocket racer against rocket racer, but
only if the Federal Aviation Administration grants its approval of the
Armadillo Aerospace engine by then.
Armadillo Aerospace conducted about 75 test burns prior
to the latest flight tests, and plans to schedule more test flights with the
Rocket Racing League in the coming weeks.
"Now we're aiming to build at least five more
engines for the Rocket Racing League and continue our mission of providing a
system that will not only be cost effective and robust for the teams involved,
but safe for the pilots and the thousands of fans in attendance at Rocket
Racing League events," said John Carmack, President of Armadillo Aerospace.
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