From: rijrunner@frii.com   
      
   Gordon D. Pusch wrote:   
      
   > "Joe Claffey Jr."  writes:   
   >   
   >   
   >>In article ,   
   >> henry@spsystems.net (Henry Spencer) wrote:   
   >>   
   >>   
   >>>That aside, such an aircraft would certainly be interesting for such   
   >>>uses... *if* it already existed.  It's very unlikely to be cost-effective   
   >>>to build such a thing solely as part of a launch system.  A rocket stage,   
   >>>even a reusable one, is easier and cheaper.   
   >>   
   >> Burt Rutan did design (and build) an aircraft specifically for his   
   >>X-Prize entry. It's not hypersonic (AFAIK),   
   >   
   >   
   > It's not even _supersonic_ !!!  It's basically a big high aspect-ratio   
   > sailplane-like design with a couple of jet engines --- essentially a   
   > civilian re-invention of the U2 spyplane. It's top speed is at most   
   > a few hundred knots!   
   >   
      
      Hmm. Are you referring to SS1 or the carrier? They achieved   
   supersonic speeds with SS1. It's not necessary for the carrier to   
   be supersonic, in any case. They have air-launched Pegasus from   
   a B-52 and a Lockheed L1011. (IIRC). Pegasus is comparable in weight   
   to SS1. By any stretch of the imagination, the carrier is cheaper than   
   the aircraft used by Pegasus.   
   >   
   >   
   >>but its existence does suggest that designing a custom launch aircraft is   
   >>a viable approach.   
   >   
   >   
   > Viable for _WHAT_ ?!?   
   >   
   > Rutan is =NOT= planning to launch payloads into orbit economically ---   
   > he is planning to try and win a ONE-SHOT PRIZE, and _maybe_ take up   
   > a few tourists with more money than sense !!!   
   >   
      
      Slight difference here. Rutan is not planning to try to   
   win a one-shot prize. He's planning on building a vehicle he   
   has been contracted to build. He gets paid whether they get   
   the prize, or not.   
      
      But, this thing is being funded by someone who does not need   
   $10 million and this was in works for years prior to actually   
   being announced and even before the prize was fully funded.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)