Misplaced Pages

#784215

26-668: VMS Eve was built by Scaled Composites for Virgin Galactic . The aircraft was named after Evette Branson , the mother of Richard Branson , Chairman of the Virgin Group . The jet plane has nose art of a blonde woman holding a banner with the Virgin Galactic logo. The image is based on how Evette Branson looked when she was younger and is called Galactic Girl . The aircraft was officially launched on July 28, 2008, in Mojave , California ,

52-586: A campaign led by Dennis Conner , representing San Diego Yacht Club , to win back the America's Cup in the 1987 competition in Fremantle , Australia. The movie Wind is loosely based on Dennis Conner's experience, from the 1983 America's Cup loss to his America's Cup win in Perth, and on a number of events that occurred on various competitor boats throughout the match races of the 1987 America's Cup. For artistic reasons,

78-509: A commercial variation of his Model "VariViggen" prototype" he began building in his garage in 1968 which he called The Model 32, also known as the VariViggen SP. This model utilized a slightly longer fuselage, larger span and winglets in order to increase efficiency. Within 8 years after its founding, this company became one of the world's important aircraft design and prototyping companies. The Rutan Aircraft Factory sold over 600 plan sets for

104-486: A dismasting during a Mackinac race which resulted in her being stored for several years. In 2015, Freddie Mills acquired the vessel and has re-rigged and re-commissioned her as a private racing yacht operating out of Newport, Rhode Island. In October 2017 Stars & Stripes (soft sail) was acquired by Key Lime Sailing Club and Cottages in Key Largo to be used for day charters and racing. Fossett's Stars & Stripes yacht

130-701: A major shareholder in the company with a 40% stake, said it would acquire the company outright on July 20, 2007. Both companies said Northrop Grumman's acquisition would not affect Scaled Composites' strategy or involve replacing Burt Rutan as senior manager. The acquisition by Northrop Grumman was completed on August 24, 2007. Rutan retired in April 2011. Ben Diachun, a long time employee, was president of Scaled from Oct 31, 2015, until April 2019. Cory Bird, another long-time employee, became president of Scaled in April 2019. Before forming Scaled Composites, Burt Rutan had designed several aircraft for amateur builders, including

156-643: A platform from which air-launch space missions can be staged. In August 2015, Scaled Composites president Kevin Mickey stated the company has so far assembled "roughly 200,000 pounds of composite structure" for the vehicle and if put on a football field, "its wingtips would extend beyond the goalposts by 15 feet on each side." Each of the twin fuselages of the aircraft is 238 feet (73 m) long and will be supported by 12 main landing gear wheels and two nose gear wheels. It will require 12,000 feet of runway to lift-off. Burt Rutan created Rutan Aircraft Factory to market

182-493: A sub-orbital trajectory. The Mojave Airport , operating part-time as Mojave Spaceport , is the launch point for SpaceShipOne. SpaceShipOne performed the first privately funded human spaceflight on June 21, 2004. Flight 16P on September 29, 2004, and Flight 17P on October 4, 2004, won the X-Prize for Scaled Composites and SpaceShipOne. Scaled Composites Model 351 (nicknamed the "Roc") was built for Stratolaunch Systems to provide

208-561: Is located at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California , United States. Founded to develop experimental aircraft , the company now focuses on designing and developing concept craft and prototype fabrication processes for aircraft and other vehicles. It is known for unconventional designs, for its use of non-metal, composite materials , and for winning the Ansari X Prize with its experimental spacecraft SpaceShipOne . Scaled Composites

234-460: Is the name of an America's Cup syndicate operated by Dennis Conner and its racing yachts , which are among the most famous in the world. The name "Stars & Stripes" refers to the nickname often used for the flag of the United States . TDC was registered under the flag of San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC). The well funded Sail America Foundation commissioned four 12-metre yachts to support

260-476: The U.S. Department of Transportation issued the company what it called the world's first license for a sub-orbital crewed rocket flight. The license was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration 's Office of Commercial Space Transportation , which has backed licenses for more than 150 commercial launches of uncrewed launch vehicles in its 20 years, but never a license for crewed flight on

286-662: The United States , at the Mojave Spaceport , home of Scaled Composites. On December 12, 2008, the aircraft performed first taxi tests, and a week later the maiden flight. Eve was used in the Virgin Galactic testflight program before entry into commercial usage. Burt Rutan has dismissed fears that pressurization cycles might induce fatigue failure in the composite structure. Richard Branson has also announced that it will be highly fuel efficient. The initial flight occurred on 21 December 2008, after an initial low speed taxi test

SECTION 10

#1733085675785

312-529: The VariEze , often considered one of general aviation's most innovative designs. He also designed the Beechcraft Starship , which was a commercial failure. These aircraft were distinctive because of their canard configuration, winglets and pusher propellers. In 2005, the single-jet GlobalFlyer was flown by billionaire adventurer Steve Fossett on the first solo non-stop, non-refueled flight around

338-606: The 12-metre Stars & Stripes 87 was dramatized in the film as Geronimo . During the 2017 Hurricane Irma , Stars & Stripes 87 , the third iteration of the Stars & Stripes sustained major damage in Sint Maarten. A total of five 12 meter yachts were damaged, sunk, or were dismasted. It had previously sunk, in 2002 when the rudder shaft broke while the crew was training. The surprise challenge by Sir Michael Fay caught San Diego Yacht Club unprepared. They initially rejected

364-743: The VariViggen to homebuilders, and eventually about 20 of the aircraft were built. Following the crash of one in New Brunswick , Canada , in September 2006 due to wing tank fuel contamination, fewer than five are currently still flying. The prototype aircraft, N27VV, was donated to the EAA AirVenture Museum in 1988. 35°03′23″N 118°09′40″W  /  35.0564°N 118.1610°W  / 35.0564; -118.1610 Stars %26 Stripes (yacht) Stars & Stripes ( Team Dennis Conner )

390-629: The challenge, but were compelled to respond when Mr. Fay brought the matter before the New York courts. The court's decision was handed down in November 1987, leaving little time to prepare for the 1988 challenge race. As the challenge used the original Deed of Gift as its basis, the design requirements specified only that she be a single masted yacht no more than 90 feet at the waterline. San Diego Yacht Club and Dennis Conner's syndicate chose to respond with an assuredly faster multi-hull design. Conner enlisted

416-643: The challenger from New Zealand . Following the race the New Zealand team sued and initially won the America's Cup trophy in a court case. The decision was reversed on appeal, and San Diego Yacht Club retained the cup. After the 1988 America's Cup, the wing masted catamaran was bought by Mexican yachtsman Victor Tapia and currently sails in Mexico. The soft sail yacht was bought by Steve Fossett and used to set speed records in various yacht races. The soft sail yacht suffered

442-455: The defender series, the Citizen Cup against Young America USA-36 and Mighty Mary USA-43 , by use of tactics. However, it was considered to be the slowest of the three defending yachts, partially due to an old sail inventory, and also a result of neglecting important recommendations from the design team. The defender can choose which boat to use, so Team DC selected Young America , considered

468-510: The double slotted wing mast for the Stars & Stripes catamaran for Dennis Conner 's entry in the 1988 America's Cup . The company announced in April 2003 that it was working on a privately funded spacecraft , in an attempt to win the Ansari X PRIZE for the first private crewed spaceflight. This experimental rocket-powered spacecraft was given the name SpaceShipOne . On December 17, 2003, they announced SpaceShipOne's first supersonic flight,

494-452: The fastest defender, instead of Stars & Stripes in the America's Cup final, losing to Team New Zealand. Dennis Conner did not run a two boat campaign due to cost, so there was no second Stars & Stripes . Conner again ran a one-boat campaign, entering Stars & Stripes USA-55 . Eliminated in the semi-final repechage after an unexpected loss against America True . Conner's $ 5 million 2002 entrant, Stars & Stripes USA-77 ,

520-530: The first flight of its kind by a privately funded aircraft. SpaceShipOne successfully made this flight, reaching 68,000 feet (21,000 m) and 930 mph ( Mach 1.2). The craft was taken aloft by the White Knight carrier aircraft. On the same day, Paul Allen , one of the founders of Microsoft , confirmed publicly the rumors that he was the angel investor behind the SpaceShipOne venture. On April 1, 2004,

546-486: The help of designers Morrelli, Chance & Hubbart & MacLane , and aircraft manufacturer Scaled Composites . Two Stars & Stripes cats were built, one with a conventional soft sail ( Stars & Stripes S1 ), and the second with a wing mast ( Stars & Stripes H3 ) built by Scaled Composites. The wing masted boat proved to have superior performance, and so was used in the defense. To no one's surprise, Stars & Stripes dominated its match races with KZ 1 ,

SECTION 20

#1733085675785

572-472: The world, and later in the longest flight in history: 41,467.53 km (25,766.73 mi). It had been designed by Rutan, with aerodynamics by John Roncz , and built by Scaled Composites. as the Model 311. Although their role was not widely publicized, Rutan and Roncz, who had provided aerodynamics support to a number of previous Rutan projects including Starship, helped design, and Scaled Composites manufactured,

598-411: Was carried out at Mojave followed by a high speed taxi on 16 December. By September 2009 the flight envelope was extended to 50000 feet. As of 19 September 2014 the total flight time for WhiteKnightTwo was 333.96 hours. Scaled Composites Scaled Composites (often called simply Scaled ) is an American aerospace company founded by Burt Rutan and currently owned by Northrop Grumman . It

624-487: Was entered in the 84th running of the annual Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race to Mackinac from Port Huron, Michigan , and was favored to win and set a new record time. An experienced Chicago sailor Donald Wilson captained the yacht, chartering it from a Florida businessman for both the Port Huron and Chicago to Mackinac races. The same yacht previously competed in the 74th running of the Port Huron regatta (1998) but

650-521: Was established in 1982 and purchased by the Beech Aircraft Corporation in 1985, as a result of the collaboration on the Starship project. In 1988, Beech's parent company, Raytheon, sold Scaled back to Rutan, who then sold it to Wyman-Gordon . After Wyman-Gordon was acquired by Precision Castparts Corp., Rutan and ten investors re-acquired the company as Scaled Composites, LLC. Northrop Grumman,

676-457: Was unable to complete the race after the mast broke off near Alpena, Michigan . The yacht was again dismasted mid-race in heavy winds while leading a rival multihull yacht Earth Voyager , which then went on to finish the race in record time. Conner's 1992 IACC AC yacht, Stars & Stripes USA-11 lost the defender series final, the Citizen Cup , to Bill Koch's America3 USA-23 . Conner's 1995 AC yacht, Stars & Stripes USA-34 won

#784215