Question about SpaceShipOne...

[Oscar S Alonso]

A stupid question for RAS members...

Assuming you have the financial resources could you legally fly the
SpaceShipOne with a Private Pilot Glider with a Motor glider endorsement?

Regards,
Oscar.

P.S. -- The Space/Aircraft has an "N"umber.

[JC]

Oscar S Alonso > wrote:

>
>
>A stupid question for RAS members...
>
>Assuming you have the financial resources could you legally fly the
>SpaceShipOne with a Private Pilot Glider with a Motor glider endorsement?
>
>Regards,
>Oscar.
>
>P.S. -- The Space/Aircraft has an "N"umber.
>
If a check of the "N" number indicates it is a glider the answer is
Yes. If it is registered in another class other than glider the answer
is no. At least in the U.S.

But I would still like to see the look on the local FSDO
representatives face when you get ramp checked and show your glider
license with self launch privileges.

[Doug Easton]

Don't think you need self launch privileges. It's really a sustainer motor!


<JC> wrote in message ...
> Oscar S Alonso > wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>A stupid question for RAS members...
>>
>>Assuming you have the financial resources could you legally fly the
>>SpaceShipOne with a Private Pilot Glider with a Motor glider endorsement?
>>
>>Regards,
>>Oscar.
>>
>>P.S. -- The Space/Aircraft has an "N"umber.
>>
> If a check of the "N" number indicates it is a glider the answer is
> Yes. If it is registered in another class other than glider the answer
> is no. At least in the U.S.
>
> But I would still like to see the look on the local FSDO
> representatives face when you get ramp checked and show your glider
> license with self launch privileges.
>

[TOM RENT]

http://www.ipilot.com/aircraft/acreg.asp?n=328KF

[Eric Greenwell]

Doug Easton wrote:
> Don't think you need self launch privileges. It's really a sustainer motor!
>

So, what kind of log book endorsement do you need for a "drop launch"
from an airplane? It's not aerotow, ground launch, or self-launch, so
maybe a waiver is needed from the FAA?

Oddly, it's listed with "no engine".
--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

[Mark Zivley]

Guess that in FAA lingo a "rocket" is not the same as an "engine".

Eric Greenwell wrote:
> Doug Easton wrote:
>
>> Don't think you need self launch privileges. It's really a sustainer
>> motor!
>>
>
> So, what kind of log book endorsement do you need for a "drop launch"
> from an airplane? It's not aerotow, ground launch, or self-launch, so
> maybe a waiver is needed from the FAA?
>
> Oddly, it's listed with "no engine".

[Bruce Hoult]

In article >,
Eric Greenwell > wrote:

> So, what kind of log book endorsement do you need for a "drop launch"
> from an airplane? It's not aerotow, ground launch, or self-launch, so
> maybe a waiver is needed from the FAA?

As I undestand it, in the USA you can use any launch method you like
unless your license is endorsed. So if your license says "aerotow only"
then that's all you can do, but if you are rated for both aerotow and
ground launch and therefore have no endorsement then you could do air
drop too.

--
Bruce | 41.1670S | \ spoken | -+-
Hoult | 174.8263E | /\ here. | ----------O----------

[David Starer]

Presumably the two pilots have now qualified for their "A" and "B"
certificates?

David Starer

"Bruce Hoult" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Eric Greenwell > wrote:
>
>> So, what kind of log book endorsement do you need for a "drop launch"
>> from an airplane? It's not aerotow, ground launch, or self-launch, so
>> maybe a waiver is needed from the FAA?
>
> As I undestand it, in the USA you can use any launch method you like
> unless your license is endorsed. So if your license says "aerotow only"
> then that's all you can do, but if you are rated for both aerotow and
> ground launch and therefore have no endorsement then you could do air
> drop too.
>
> --
> Bruce | 41.1670S | \ spoken | -+-
> Hoult | 174.8263E | /\ here. | ----------O----------

[For Example John Smith]

There's no requirement for a "drop launch" endorsement in any regs that I
can find.
So, do we just show up, help drag the ships out to the line and wait our
turn?

When I first heard of Virgin Galactic and their plans and prices a little
image flashed in my mind--
Me: (arriving home with a smile) "Hi honey, I'm back from another run of
the mill west coast biz trip"
She: (very ****ed look) "What happened to our 401(k) balance?
Me: (working hard at looking nonchalant) "I dunno, we didn't have another
one of those bubble things did we?"

"Eric Greenwell" > wrote in message
...
> Doug Easton wrote:
> > Don't think you need self launch privileges. It's really a sustainer
motor!
> >
>
> So, what kind of log book endorsement do you need for a "drop launch"
> from an airplane? It's not aerotow, ground launch, or self-launch, so
> maybe a waiver is needed from the FAA?
>
> Oddly, it's listed with "no engine".
> --
> Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly
>
> Eric Greenwell
> Washington State
> USA

[Mark James Boyd]

Oscar S Alonso > wrote:
>
>
>A stupid question for RAS members...
>
>Assuming you have the financial resources could you legally fly the
>SpaceShipOne with a Private Pilot Glider with a Motor glider endorsement?
>
>Regards,
>Oscar.
>
>P.S. -- The Space/Aircraft has an "N"umber.

A assume it's experimental, so there is no cat/class requirement by
US regulations when flying SOLO.

As of Sept 1st, the exemption for flying with passengers
in an experimental without appropriate cat/class has been removed.

This really sucks, since I can't go fly with Hans in his gyrocopter
now :(

Oh, and there's no "motor glider endorsement" only a
self-launch endorsement. SpaceShipOne doesn't launch using the motor,
it is released. So I don't see where an endorsement is required.

Actually, I don't see why a glider pilot couldn't take a regular
aerotow in a motorglider either. And even use the
motor while in flight. The endorsement seems to be for
launch.

But keep in mind, I'm not an expert on this, given I don't have
a motorglider endorsement...
--

------------+
Mark J. Boyd

[Mark James Boyd]

In article >,
Bruce Hoult > wrote:
>In article >,
> Eric Greenwell > wrote:
>
>> So, what kind of log book endorsement do you need for a "drop launch"
>> from an airplane? It's not aerotow, ground launch, or self-launch, so
>> maybe a waiver is needed from the FAA?
>
>As I undestand it, in the USA you can use any launch method you like
>unless your license is endorsed. So if your license says "aerotow only"
>then that's all you can do, but if you are rated for both aerotow and
>ground launch and therefore have no endorsement then you could do air
>drop too.
>
>--
>Bruce | 41.1670S | \ spoken | -+-
>Hoult | 174.8263E | /\ here. | ----------O----------

As of 1997, it seems endorsements were required to self-launch,
ground launch, or aerotow. But no prohibitions of other techniques
are in the regs (such as drop-launch or slope launch/pushed off
of a hill). The restriction on glider licenses requiring a
check-ride to remove was discontinued in 1997 in favor of
the endorsement option by a CFI. It's much easier to get a
CFI endorsement than find a DPE qualified to do this...

But again, if solo and with some pilots license already, an experimental
doesn't require cat/class of the pilot.

So someone with a PPL/ballon LTA would be legal in the USA.
--

------------+
Mark J. Boyd

[F.L. Whiteley]

"Mark James Boyd" > wrote in message
news:4165e49c$1@darkstar...
> Oscar S Alonso > wrote:
> >
> >
> >A stupid question for RAS members...
> >
> >Assuming you have the financial resources could you legally fly the
> >SpaceShipOne with a Private Pilot Glider with a Motor glider endorsement?
> >
> >Regards,
> >Oscar.
> >
> >P.S. -- The Space/Aircraft has an "N"umber.
>
> A assume it's experimental, so there is no cat/class requirement by
> US regulations when flying SOLO.
>
> As of Sept 1st, the exemption for flying with passengers
> in an experimental without appropriate cat/class has been removed.
>
> This really sucks, since I can't go fly with Hans in his gyrocopter
> now :(
>
> Oh, and there's no "motor glider endorsement" only a
> self-launch endorsement. SpaceShipOne doesn't launch using the motor,
> it is released. So I don't see where an endorsement is required.
>
> Actually, I don't see why a glider pilot couldn't take a regular
> aerotow in a motorglider either. And even use the
> motor while in flight. The endorsement seems to be for
> launch.
>
> But keep in mind, I'm not an expert on this, given I don't have
> a motorglider endorsement...
> --
>
> ------------+
> Mark J. Boyd

T models do it all the time. SSO has a sustainer. The pilots hold glider
ratings.