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Rocket Racing League First Exhibition Race August 1st and August 2nd, 2008
Pylon racing and now Rocket Racing! http://www.rocketracingleague.com/ Rocket Racing League he 21st century's newest and greatest sport - racing rocket- powered aircraft The Rocket Racing League® is an aerospace sports and entertainment organization that combines the competition of racing with the excitement of rocketry. The RRL was established by X-Prize founder Peter Diamandis and two-time Indianapolis 500 champion team partner Granger Whitelaw to advance the technology and increase public awareness of space travel. The NASCAR-style racing league features rocket-powered aircraft that will be flown by top pilots through a 'three-dimensional track way' at venues throughout the world. With millions of fans who enjoy racing and air shows, and an even wider audience enthralled with humanity's next step into space, rocket racing is destined to become the future of racing! Video: http://www.rocketracingleague.com/todayshowclip.html http://www.rocketracingleague.com/foxnewsclip.html http://www.rocketracingleague.com/me...4_oshkosh.html Rocket Racing League® Announces First Exhibition Race, Upcoming Race Schedule, Key Partnership and Acquisition New Entertainment Sports League to Stage First Exhibition Race at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh August 1st and August 2nd Armadillo Aerospace to provide LOX Engine for Rocket Racer Rocket Racing Composite Announces Acquisition of Velocity Aircraft NEW YORK - April 14, 2008 )-The Rocket Racing League® (RRL TM), the new entertainment sports league that combines the exhilaration of racing with the power of rocket engines, today announced that the First Exhibition Race of the Rocket Racing League® will take place on August 1st and August 2nd at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. In addition to announcing the dates of the First Exhibition Races, the Rocket Racing League® also announced the remaining series of exhibition races for the rest of 2008, the acquisition of Velocity Aircraft by Rocket Racing Composites Corp., and announced that Armadillo Aerospace will manufacture liquid oxygen (LOX) engines for the Rocket Racing League® . First Exhibition Race On August 1st and August 2nd, the first Exhibition Race of the Rocket Racing League® will be held at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI, the largest air show in the world. For the first time ever, two Rocket Racers will compete head-to-head in a demonstration race in the raceway in the sky. The Rocket Racer pilots will view the "raceway in the sky" via in-panel and 3D helmet displays and the 700,000 people in attendance at EAA AirVenture will witness the racing action live on multiple large projection screens. "The first Exhibition Race of the Rocket Racer is an important milestone in the progression of the Rocket Racing League® ," said Granger Whitelaw, Chief Executive Officer of the Rocket Racing League® . "We look forward to sharing the experience and thrill of rocket racing with the public." Exhibition Race Schedule Following the first Exhibition Race at EAA AirVenture, the RRL will hold exhibition races at venues around the country, including: * Reno National Championship Air Races (Reno, NV) - September 10-14 * X Prize Cup (Las Cruces, NM) - TBD 2008 * Aviation Nation, Nellis AFB, (Las Vegas, NV) - November 8-9 News: http://www.rocketracingleague.com/pr...-releases.html |
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Rocket Racing League First Exhibition Race August 1st and August2nd, 2008
On Jun 28, 11:06*am, Larry Dighera wrote:
Pylon racing and now Rocket Racing! * *http://www.rocketracingleague.com/ * * Rocket Racing League * * he 21st century's newest and greatest sport - racing rocket- * * powered aircraft OK. I am a bit out of date but my understanding is that it is timed circuits, not 2 or more in the air at the same time. Not what I consider 'racing'. Further, reading between the lines of the press release. You won't see the planes flying except on a video screen. If either of them, especially the 'screen' bit is correct, color me very bored. Harry K |
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Rocket Racing League First Exhibition Race August 1st and August 2nd, 2008
On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:06:27 -0700 (PDT), Harry K
wrote in : On Jun 28, 11:06*am, Larry Dighera wrote: Pylon racing and now Rocket Racing! * *http://www.rocketracingleague.com/ * * Rocket Racing League * * he 21st century's newest and greatest sport - racing rocket- * * powered aircraft OK. I am a bit out of date but my understanding is that it is timed circuits, not 2 or more in the air at the same time. Not what I consider 'racing'. Where did you get that idea? Further, reading between the lines of the press release. You won't see the planes flying except on a video screen. I believe that is incorrect also. If either of them, especially the 'screen' bit is correct, color me very bored. Harry K View this video, and then tell me what you believe is correct: http://www.rocketracingleague.com/foxnewsclip.html |
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Rocket Racing League First Exhibition Race August 1st and August 2nd, 2008
On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:06:27 -0700 (PDT), Harry K
wrote: OK. I am a bit out of date but my understanding is that it is timed circuits, not 2 or more in the air at the same time. Not what I consider 'racing'. No, from what I understand, it's head-to-head. However, the rockets burn through fuel quickly...I've heard that less than half of a typical 15-minute flight will be under power. The RRL is doing pit stops, but of course a plane just out of the pits will be a lot slower and have less acceleration than those already aloft (due to still carrying a heavy fuel load). Further, reading between the lines of the press release. You won't see the planes flying except on a video screen. You won't see the *course* any way than on a video screen. Unlike Red Bull and Reno, there are no physical pylons. The pilots apparently follow their flight directors, which are programmed with the route. If you want to see how they're doing, you have to view the information on the video screens. You'll see the planes flying, but I've heard that most the flying will occur at 1,000 feet or above (one guy told me 5,000 feet!). Since the majority of each flight is power-off, they probably need the altitude to stretch their endurance. The most interesting aspect will probably be the pit stops...the current record for a rocket-powered-airplane pit stop is something like two hours! They've supposedly reduced that by more than an order of magnitude. However, as most airports don't have grandstands, you probably won't be able to watch the action in the pits directly since the people in front will block everyone else's view. Hence, you'll probably end up watching the pit stops on the video monitors as well. It *does* look like the RRL was considering grandstands, at least initially. Check out their proximity to the runway on this promotional artwork on the RRL web page: http://www.rocketracingleague.com/pr.../runwaybig.jpg Ten rocket planes going by, a half a wingspan away? I don't think they even MAKE Excedrin tablets that large... :-) Ron Wanttaja |
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Rocket Racing League First Exhibition Race August 1st and August2nd, 2008
On Jun 30, 7:01*pm, Ron Wanttaja wrote:
On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:06:27 -0700 (PDT), Harry K wrote: OK. *I am a bit out of date but my understanding is that it is timed circuits, not 2 or more in the air at the same time. *Not what I consider 'racing'. No, from what I understand, it's head-to-head. *However, the rockets burn through fuel quickly...I've heard that less than half of a typical 15-minute flight will be under power. *The RRL is doing pit stops, but of course a plane just out of the pits will be a lot slower and have less acceleration than those already aloft (due to still carrying a heavy fuel load). * Further, reading between the lines of the press release. You won't see the planes flying except on a video screen. You won't see the *course* any way than on a video screen. *Unlike Red Bull and Reno, there are no physical pylons. *The pilots apparently follow their flight directors, which are programmed with the route. *If you want to see how they're doing, you have to view the information on the video screens. You'll see the planes flying, but I've heard that most the flying will occur at 1,000 feet or above (one guy told me 5,000 feet!). *Since the majority of each flight is power-off, they probably need the altitude to stretch their endurance. The most interesting aspect will probably be the pit stops...the current record for a rocket-powered-airplane pit stop is something like two hours! *They've supposedly reduced that by more than an order of magnitude. *However, as most airports don't have grandstands, you probably won't be able to watch the action in the pits directly since the people in front will block everyone else's view. Hence, you'll probably end up watching the pit stops on the video monitors as well. It *does* look like the RRL was considering grandstands, at least initially. Check out their proximity to the runway on this promotional artwork on the RRL web page: http://www.rocketracingleague.com/pr.../runwaybig.jpg Ten rocket planes going by, a half a wingspan away? *I don't think they even MAKE Excedrin tablets that large... :-) Ron Wanttaja Okay. Still skeptical of it turning into much of a spectator sport. Harry K |
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Rocket Racing League First Exhibition Race August 1st and August 2nd, 2008
On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:03:39 -0700 (PDT), Harry K
wrote: Okay. Still skeptical of it turning into much of a spectator sport. I don't think they'll have trouble getting attendees for the first couple of races. The question is, how many people will be interested in spending money to see it a SECOND (and third, and fourth...) time. It could probably survive forever as one of the acts at places like Oshkosh and Reno, but they're apparently trying to make it a stand-alone attraction like the Red Bull air races. IMHO, I think the Red Bull events, with their visible course markers (where a "cut pylon" is REALLY a cut pylon) and the low-level aerobatics is a much more visceral experience for the average spectator. Sure, folks will initially come to see the rockets. Once that interest is sated, though, the question is whether the action itself is exciting enough to lure them to buy a $50-$100 ticket just to watch the rockets race again the next time they come to town. Ron Wanttaja |
#7
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Rocket Racing League First Exhibition Race August 1st and August 2nd, 2008
In article , Ron Wanttaja wrote:
On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:03:39 -0700 (PDT), Harry K wrote: Okay. Still skeptical of it turning into much of a spectator sport. I don't think they'll have trouble getting attendees for the first couple of races. The question is, how many people will be interested in spending money to see it a SECOND (and third, and fourth...) time. It could probably survive forever as one of the acts at places like Oshkosh and Reno, but they're apparently trying to make it a stand-alone attraction like the Red Bull air races. IMHO, I think the Red Bull events, with their visible course markers (where a "cut pylon" is REALLY a cut pylon) and the low-level aerobatics is a much more visceral experience for the average spectator. Sure, folks will initially come to see the rockets. Once that interest is sated, though, the question is whether the action itself is exciting enough to lure them to buy a $50-$100 ticket just to watch the rockets race again the next time they come to town. Ron Wanttaja It would seem to me that the way for them to make money is television. Since you have to watch a screen to see whats going on, why not put it on everybody's screen and make your money selling advertising? Proper use of cenematic technique could make it far more exciting in people's living rooms than it would be to view the action on site. |
#8
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Rocket Racing League First Exhibition Race August 1st and August2nd, 2008
On Jul 1, 12:37*am, Ron Wanttaja wrote:
On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:03:39 -0700 (PDT), Harry K wrote: Okay. *Still skeptical of it turning into much of a spectator sport. I don't think they'll have trouble getting attendees for the first couple of races. *The question is, how many people will be interested in spending money to see it a SECOND (and third, and fourth...) time. * It could probably survive forever as one of the acts at places like Oshkosh and Reno, but they're apparently trying to make it a stand-alone attraction like the Red Bull air races. *IMHO, I think the Red Bull events, with their visible course markers (where a "cut pylon" is REALLY a cut pylon) and the low-level aerobatics is a much more visceral experience for the average spectator. Sure, folks will initially come to see the rockets. *Once that interest is sated, though, the question is whether the action itself is exciting enough to lure them to buy a $50-$100 ticket just to watch the rockets race again the next time they come to town. Ron Wanttaja One of the big problems is teh pit stop plus short flying time. Even if they get it down to 15 minutes, they have each plane on the ground for as long, or longer, than they ar flying. I can see the announcers hyping the pit stops..."looks like Jim Campbell is going to set a new course record folks, he is almost ready to leave the pits in under.... 13.56!!" With two planes going head to head in the exhibition it will be 15 minutes flying and 15 minutes for the crowd to make their own pit stops for muchies and p calls. If that is the way it goes, I will bet the at least half the crowd will find something better to do after the first pit. Harry K |
#9
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Rocket Racing League First Exhibition Race August 1st and August 2nd, 2008
"Ron Wanttaja" wrote in message ... On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:06:27 -0700 (PDT), Harry K wrote: ... of course a plane just out of the pits will be a lot slower and have less acceleration than those already aloft (due to still carrying a heavy fuel load). Reduced acceleration yes, but a heavier aircraft has a faster best L/D, (all else being equal) which is why competition gliders often fly with water ballast. If you take the time to think about it, the optimum Fuel Consumption vs Gross Weight vs Altitude vs Speed vs Flight Duration vs Range strategy for these birds gets more and more complicated. Vaughn |
#10
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Rocket Racing League First Exhibition Race August 1st and August 2nd, 2008
On Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:44:03 GMT, "Vaughn Simon"
wrote: ... of course a plane just out of the pits will be a lot slower and have less acceleration than those already aloft (due to still carrying a heavy fuel load). Reduced acceleration yes, but a heavier aircraft has a faster best L/D, (all else being equal) which is why competition gliders often fly with water ballast. If you take the time to think about it, the optimum Fuel Consumption vs Gross Weight vs Altitude vs Speed vs Flight Duration vs Range strategy for these birds gets more and more complicated. You're right, of course. As an engineer, it's a problem that really tickles my fancy. However, we're right back to considering how interesting the races will be (e.g., how willing they are to pay for another) to the average spectator. A spectator at a NASCAR race or at Reno can easily judge how their favorite racer is doing...e.g., if he's passing a lot of other vehicles, he's probably a front-runner. Not the case with the RRL. For one thing, the planes stagger their takeoffs...they don't start at the same time. So unless the course length differs for each aircraft (which is a really, REALLY thorny problem in fuel planning), the order they cross the "finish line" has nothing to do with their standings. Plus, EVERY plane will be getting passed by the other planes in the first half of their flight, and passing more and more of the other planes as their tanks go dry and their acceleration increases (a RRL plane has about a 0.75G capability at takeoff, but is able to accelerate at 1.5Gs just prior to running out of fuel). I'm sure the NASCAR and Reno events are complicated enough that to truly understand how each competitor is doing, the spectator must consult the scoreboard. But if a guy is a Rare Bear fan, he can probably tell pretty well how the plane is doing just by watching it. Not so in the RRL. It doesn't mean a thing if their favorite is passing other racers; it just means the aircraft has burned more fuel. It doesn't mean a thing if a racer crosses the finish line in front of others; it may have taken off minutes before they did. So the spectator's eyes gravitate towards the video monitors. By the end of the day, he'll probably come to the conclusion that he could have followed the race better from his computer at home. The discussion on this thread started when Harry asked if the racers were just racing against the clock. I corrected him... but the more I think about it, the more I think he had it right. The rockets are aloft at the same time, but each is racing against an individual clock. Ron Wanttaja |
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