The Rocket Racing League will be doing flight demos of the Rocket Racer in Oshkosh later this month, between July 28th and Aug 3rd.
The RRL team has been working overtime to meet its goals for demonstration flights planned for three days during the convention. The flights, planned for July 29, August 1 and August 2, use aircraft based on Velocity Aircraft homebuilt canard designs. It marks the first public flights of these aircraft, which were first introduced in April.
I have heard (unconfirmed) as many as three RRL members may have their racers present. The development work on these craft was carried out by XCOR Aerospace at which a number of our readers work. Some of the Rocket Racers may use an engine from John Carmack’s Armadillo Aerospace. Because of the use of different fuel combinations a real race will see rockets with long colored flame tails behind them. Armadillo has been working on the injection of trace chemicals to allow an even wider range of colors for what many of us hope will become the most spectacular sport of the 21st Century.
Also on the near horizon is the third flight of the Spacex Falcon 1. The best information I have to date is it will occur no sooner than July 30 when the Kwajalein range again becomes available.
I would love to see the RRL sometime. Too bad this demonstration is in Oshkosk, of all places. Could they possibly have found a more out-of-the-way venue?
That should have been “Oshkosh“, of course.
During the week of the Annual EAA event, Oshkosh becomes one of the busiest airports in the world. It’s *the* big event on the aviation calendar.
Laird,
If experimental things that fly in air is your thing, Oshkosh is the center of the Universe. I’ve only been 2 or 3 times but that is every single opportunity I’ve had after my first visit. It is not to be believed. Bring comfortable shoes. Really REALLY comfortable shoes. The open to the public flight line is long enough to launch a loaded tanker. Taking a motor home is a good way to go, spend several days.
OK, if you all say so I’ll accept that Oshkosh the center of the experimental flight universe. It’s still about as remote as you can get!