Oooh ooh I want one of these!

[Malcolm Teas]

From a posting about 6/21 at Mojave's Scaled Composites Space Ship One
launch event:

> There will be a press conference 2 hours after the flight, at which
> time the FAA will award the first ever Commercial Pilot's License
> with Astronaut rating.

Forget the instrument rating I was thinking of, I want an astronaut
rating! I wonder what FBO will rent me a space ship and who I can get
to instruct me? Actually, since it's above FL180, I'll need the
instrument rating too, and a high altitude endorsement, and a jet
endorsement (or is that last a type?) And, since there's no mention
of a Private Pilot's Astronaut rating, I'll need the Commercial
Pilot's license too.

Sounds like a busy training plan for me...

-Malcolm Teas

[gatt]

"Malcolm Teas" > wrote in message

> > There will be a press conference 2 hours after the flight, at which
> > time the FAA will award the first ever Commercial Pilot's License
> > with Astronaut rating.
>
> Forget the instrument rating I was thinking of, I want an astronaut
> rating!

NO KIDDING! Think of the practical application. For example...uh....
well... eh.....

-c

[tony]

>
>> > There will be a press conference 2 hours after the flight, at which
>> > time the FAA will award the first ever Commercial Pilot's License
>> > with Astronaut rating.
>>
>> Forget the instrument rating I was thinking of, I want an astronaut
>> rating!
>
>NO KIDDING! Think of the practical application. For example...uh....
>well... eh.....
>
>-c
>
Well, you could use Jackie Gleason's phrase, "One of these days, Alice, to the
moon" with the addendum "and I've got the license to take you there."

We all know about the hundred dollar hamburger. That little jaunt might cost
more.

[G.R. Patterson III]

tony wrote:
>
> We all know about the hundred dollar hamburger. That little jaunt might cost
> more.

And all you get is a cheese sandwich. :-)

George Patterson
None of us is as dumb as all of us.

[tony]

>
>
>
>tony wrote:
>>
>> We all know about the hundred dollar hamburger. That little jaunt might
>cost
>> more.
>
>And all you get is a cheese sandwich. :-)
>
>George Patterson
> None of us is as dumb as all of us.
>
If there's no beer and outside grilling, I'd have to rethink the rating.

[Mike Weller]

On 16 Jun 2004 13:40:25 -0700, (Malcolm Teas) wrote:

>
>Forget the instrument rating I was thinking of, I want an astronaut
>rating! I wonder what FBO will rent me a space ship and who I can get
>to instruct me? Actually, since it's above FL180, I'll need the
>instrument rating too, and a high altitude endorsement, and a jet
>endorsement (or is that last a type?) And, since there's no mention
>of a Private Pilot's Astronaut rating, I'll need the Commercial
>Pilot's license too.
>
>Sounds like a busy training plan for me...
>
>-Malcolm Teas

Get the astronaut rating first. It's all down hill after that!

Mike Weller

[TJ Girl]

(Malcolm Teas) wrote in message >...
> Actually, since it's above FL180, I'll need the instrument rating too,

Nah, it's class E above FL600. You can probably get a waiver to pass
through FL180-FL600 since you probably won't spend much time between
those altitudes :)

[Ace Pilot]

(Malcolm Teas) wrote in message >...
> From a posting about 6/21 at Mojave's Scaled Composites Space Ship One
> launch event:
>
> > There will be a press conference 2 hours after the flight, at which
> > time the FAA will award the first ever Commercial Pilot's License
> > with Astronaut rating.

Is this a new precedent that the FAA is establishing? Will they award
me a commercial, multi-engine instrument seaplane rating AFTER I
complete my first flight in one (and I don't even have to bother with
a checkride)?

[EDR]

In article >, Ace Pilot
> wrote:

> (Malcolm Teas) wrote in message
> >...
> > From a posting about 6/21 at Mojave's Scaled Composites Space Ship One
> > launch event:
> >
> > > There will be a press conference 2 hours after the flight, at which
> > > time the FAA will award the first ever Commercial Pilot's License
> > > with Astronaut rating.
>
> Is this a new precedent that the FAA is establishing? Will they award
> me a commercial, multi-engine instrument seaplane rating AFTER I
> complete my first flight in one (and I don't even have to bother with
> a checkride)?

How does one maintain currency?
Three takeoffs and landings in 90 days?

[Brenor Brophy]

I guess the FAA is following/Copying the Airforce Reglations. Fly one
operational flight above 50 miles and you get the astronaut rating. I wonder
when it will actually make it into Part 61?

From AIRFORCE INSTRUCTION (AFI) 11-402

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/afreg/blafi11-402.htm

"AVIATION AND PARACHUTIST SERVICE, AERONAUTICAL RATINGS AND BADGES"
Chapter 2, Page 19

2.3.2. A USAF rated officer who is qualified to perform duties in space (50
miles above the earth's surface) and completes a minimum of one operational
mission is eligible for the astronaut qualifier (pilot astronaut, navigator
astronaut, observer astronaut, flight surgeon astronaut).

[C J Campbell]

"Ace Pilot" > wrote in message
om...
> (Malcolm Teas) wrote in message
>...
> > From a posting about 6/21 at Mojave's Scaled Composites Space Ship One
> > launch event:
> >
> > > There will be a press conference 2 hours after the flight, at which
> > > time the FAA will award the first ever Commercial Pilot's
License
> > > with Astronaut rating.
>
> Is this a new precedent that the FAA is establishing? Will they award
> me a commercial, multi-engine instrument seaplane rating AFTER I
> complete my first flight in one (and I don't even have to bother with
> a checkride)?

It was only a matter of time before someone here started hinting that
getting an astronaut rating is too easy. :-)

[NW_PILOT]

I wonder if it will come in a tooth paste type tube and served with TANG.


"G.R. Patterson III" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> tony wrote:
> >
> > We all know about the hundred dollar hamburger. That little jaunt might
cost
> > more.
>
> And all you get is a cheese sandwich. :-)
>
> George Patterson
> None of us is as dumb as all of us.

[NW_PILOT]

"TJ Girl" > wrote in message
om...
> (Malcolm Teas) wrote in message
>...
> > Actually, since it's above FL180, I'll need the instrument rating too,
>
> Nah, it's class E above FL600. You can probably get a waiver to pass
> through FL180-FL600 since you probably won't spend much time between
> those altitudes :)

Yea the FAA will probably put a TFR around the moon after they award the
rating then add a new section to the FAR's

[Ace Pilot]

"C J Campbell" > wrote in message >...
> "Ace Pilot" > wrote in message
> om...
> > (Malcolm Teas) wrote in message
> >...
> > > From a posting about 6/21 at Mojave's Scaled Composites Space Ship One
> > > launch event:
> > >
> > > > There will be a press conference 2 hours after the flight, at which
> > > > time the FAA will award the first ever Commercial Pilot's
> License
> > > > with Astronaut rating.
> >
> > Is this a new precedent that the FAA is establishing? Will they award
> > me a commercial, multi-engine instrument seaplane rating AFTER I
> > complete my first flight in one (and I don't even have to bother with
> > a checkride)?
>
> It was only a matter of time before someone here started hinting that
> getting an astronaut rating is too easy. :-)

LOL!

[Paul Sengupta]

"EDR" > wrote in message
...
> How does one maintain currency?
> Three takeoffs and landings in 90 days?

Only if you want to take passengers.

Paul

[Justin Peer]

So, do you think Rutan's going to start offering kits of these things.
Now that would give you something to do in the garage of a Sunday
morning.

J.

[G.R. Patterson III]

Justin Peer wrote:
>
> So, do you think Rutan's going to start offering kits of these things.
> Now that would give you something to do in the garage of a Sunday
> morning.

Well, it's pretty useless without the "mother ship" to get it to the launch point.
That might make a good EAA chapter project, though. :-)

George Patterson
None of us is as dumb as all of us.

[Malcolm Teas]

(TJ Girl) wrote in message >...
> (Malcolm Teas) wrote in message >...
> > Actually, since it's above FL180, I'll need the instrument rating too,
>
> Nah, it's class E above FL600. You can probably get a waiver to pass
> through FL180-FL600 since you probably won't spend much time between
> those altitudes :)

Hm, I forgot about that. It never does go back to class G right?
But then there's not much problem with cloud clearances in lunar
orbit.

-Malcolm Teas

[Malcolm Teas]

"NW_PILOT" > wrote in message >...
> Yea the FAA will probably put a TFR around the moon after they award the
> rating then add a new section to the FAR's

It'll be the orbiting permanent TFR around the space station that'll
be hard to avoid. Then there's the DOD satelites too. And the
Russian and Chinese ones...

Uh, so that means that FAA and all the other country's avaiation
athorities can do TFRs in space? Ug, not fun. It'll make us long for
a simple FAA NOTAM system! That's the way I'd read the UN treaty on
space at least.

-Malcolm Teas

[Malcolm Teas]

EDR > wrote in message >...
> How does one maintain currency?
> Three takeoffs and landings in 90 days?

So, none of NASA's pilots are current. Unless simulator training can
count for everything.

-mhteas

[Malcolm Teas]

Justin Peer > wrote in message >...
> So, do you think Rutan's going to start offering kits of these things.
> Now that would give you something to do in the garage of a Sunday
> morning.

You should get a group together, the local EAA chapter can build one
mothership, and members can build multiple space ships to be carried
up. Kinda like a very high altitude glider tow operation.

Hm. I wonder what kind of boost could be gotten with the mothership
towing the space ship and not dropping it? You know, with some kind
of super bungee cord or something. Slingshot it upwards a bit.
<grin>

-Malcolm Teas

[Rolf Blom]

On 2004-06-18 15:55, Malcolm Teas wrote:
> Justin Peer > wrote in message >...
>
>>So, do you think Rutan's going to start offering kits of these things.
>>Now that would give you something to do in the garage of a Sunday
>>morning.
>
>
> You should get a group together, the local EAA chapter can build one
> mothership, and members can build multiple space ships to be carried
> up. Kinda like a very high altitude glider tow operation.
>
> Hm. I wonder what kind of boost could be gotten with the mothership
> towing the space ship and not dropping it? You know, with some kind
> of super bungee cord or something. Slingshot it upwards a bit.
> <grin>
>
> -Malcolm Teas

This cert could perhaps be used as a preparation for Mars flights?
I know of one simulator (X-plane) playing with designs for that atmosphere.

So when the little green guys wants to fly, FAA are ready...

/Rolf

[StellaStar]

>You should get a group together, the local EAA chapter can build one
>mothership, and members can build multiple space ships to be carried
>up.

ROTFL! From anecdotes I've heard about the arguments in an EAA builder's group
that shall go unidentified, I can only imagine that a project of this magnitude
would lead to an uproar that could only end in lasers at dawn, ten paces.

[gatt]

"Malcolm Teas" > wrote in message

> Uh, so that means that FAA and all the other country's avaiation
> athorities can do TFRs in space? Ug, not fun. It'll make us long for
> a simple FAA NOTAM system! That's the way I'd read the UN treaty on
> space at least.

Which reminds me. Instead of releasing M&Ms in the cockpit, he should have
filed a PIREP.

-c