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How many runways do you see for Mojave airport (USA) ? : The answer is on https://www.bigorre.org/aero/meteo/kmhv/en #mojave #usa #mojaveairport #kmhv #mhv #airport #aviation #avgeek vl

"Mystery Tiltrotor Aircraft Emerges" by TWZ (mirror bot @thewarzonewire) - Unpainted #VTOL (vertical takeoff & landing) aircraft spotted at Mojave Air & Space Port #KMHV. Mojave serves an industry niche for development and testing of experimental aircraft and spacecraft. New aircraft get spotted on occasion emerging unannounced from hangars where they were built. This one looks like it could be #military, civilian or both. https://www.twz.com/air/mystery-vertical-takeoff-and-landing-aircraft-emerges-at-mojave-air-and-space-port #aviation #avgeek

"Boom Supersonic XB-1 smashes the sound barrier, becoming the 1st civil aircraft to go supersonic in US history" by @LiveScience - Actually #BoomXB1 is the first jet-powered civil aircraft to go supersonic. SpaceShipOne also launched from Mojave #KMHV, flew supersonic on its December 17, 2003 atmospheric test flight (100th anniversary of Wright Brothers' 1st powered flight). SS1 later flew supersonic again on 3 suborbital space flights in 2004. https://www.livescience.com/technology/engineering/boom-supersonic-xb-1-smashes-the-sound-barrier-becoming-the-1st-civil-aircraft-to-go-supersonic-in-us-history #aviation #business #avgeek

20 years ago, Oct 4, 2004: SpaceShipOne won the $10M X-Prize for a spacecraft to make two crewed space launches above 100km altitude in 2 weeks. I was there at Mojave Air & Space Port #KMHV to witness the #history. Some of my pictures. #NewSpace #aviation #avgeek

White Knight carrier twin-jet with SpaceShipOne slung beneath it, taxiing for takeoff at Mojave Air & Space Port KMHV (officially renamed Mojave Spaceport at the time, before Air was added back) on October 4, 2004

This flight was an attempt at the second of two space flights in less than 2 weeks to win the $10M X-Prize. Later that morning they successfully won the X-Prize and set a new winged-flight altitude record beating the X-15.

photo by Ian Kluft

White Knight carrier plane with SpaceShipOne followed by Beechcraft Starship chase plane as they climb to altitude above Mojave to air-launch SpaceShipOne for its X-Prize space flight attempt on October 4, 2004

photo by Ian Kluft

SpaceShipOne was air-launched from White Knight at 43,000ft/13000m altitude. The contrails show SpaceShipOne's orange flame under the boost phase of its flight as the White Knight carrier plane banks away from the rocket ignition. The other contrail on the right is the Alpha Jet chase plane recording in-flight video.

October 4, 2004, Mojave, California

photo by Ian Kluft

SpaceShipOne returns gliding to Mojave Spaceport KMHV after a successful space flight to 112km/367,500ft which won the $10M X-Prize and beat the X-15 winged-flight altitude record

October 4, 2004, Mojave, California

photo by Ian Kluft

A true #avgeek can't take just one picture when at Mojave Air & Space Port #KMHV in Southern California. #aviation #NewSpace #business

Once at Mojave #KMHV, I was taxiing a C182 to Rwy 30. CFI on C150 in the pattern said, "We'll let the little Cessna go first." C182 is bigger. But it was a trap. I recognized Dick Rutan's voice😀, thanked him & took off. If I had challenged him, he would have won saying he flew Voyager. (He was too well known to pull off that trap.) #aviation #avgeek

"Boom Supersonic Receives Special Flight Authorization to Exceed Mach 1" by @simple_flying - Test flights of XB-1 prototype from Mojave #KMHV will go faster than Mach 1 in #supersonic test airspace of nearby Edwards AFB https://simpleflying.com/boom-supersonic-sfa-to-exceed-mach-1/ #aviation #travel #avgeek

"Boom Supersonic Announces First Flight of XB-1 Jet Demonstrator" by @FlyingMagazine - XB-1 experimental engineering prototype plane makes first flight at Mojave #KMHV, part of development of a modern supersonic airliner. https://www.flyingmag.com/boom-supersonic-announces-first-flight-of-xb-1-jet-demonstrator/ #aviation #supersonic #avgeek

Jack @JackBeyer posted a picture from Mojave Air & Space Port #KMHV in front of the airport admin building and Voyager Restaurant. Rotary Rocket's Roton ATV (atmospheric test vehicle) stands in view. The enclosure on the right has a full-scale replica of SpaceShipOne (1 of 5). [birb link provided because Jack doesn't seem to be simulcasting his tweets to his Mastodon account yet. Hint hint Jack...] https://twitter.com/AstroHawk/status/1761625414982828384 #NewSpace

20 years ago, December 17, 2003 (on Wright Brothers centennial) #SpaceShipOne🚀 Flight 11P piloted by Brian Binnie made 1st private non-govt piloted supersonic flight. Flown at Mojave #KMHV, air launched from WK (White Knight) carrier plane. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceShipOne_flight_11P #NewSpace #aviation #avgeek #history

Scaled Composites flight log entry:

Flight: 43L / 11P
Date: 17 Dec 03
Flight Time 1.2 hr / 18 min 10 sec
WK Pilot: Siebold WK CoPilot: Bird
SS1 Pilot: Binnie
High Chase-Starship Pilot: Karkow
Low Chase-Extra Crew: Melvill / Coleman

Objectives:
The eighth flight of SpaceShipOne and first powered flight. 15 second burn of the rocket motor and supersonic flight. Motor light off at altitude and inflight engine performance. Vehicle handling qualities through transonics and feather performance from altitude.

Results:
Launch conditions were 47,900 feet and 112 knots. Motor light off was achieved at 44,400 feet and 0.55M. Burnout occurred at 1.2M and apogee was 67,800 feet. There was no noted flight control flutter or buzz during the climb. Feather recovery exhibited a +/-30 roll initially and then settled down into the familiar falling bathtub mode. The wing was de-feathered and locked by 35,000 feet. A nominal landing pattern was flown, but touchdown caused the left main gear to collapse and the vehicle rolled to a stop off the runway in the soft sand. Although the damage was not major, repairs are expected to take approximately three weeks to complete.

19 years ago, Oct 4, 2004, I was one of thousands at Mojave Air & Space Port #KMHV to witness #SpaceShipOne piloted by Brian Binnie win $10M X-Prize for a 2nd space flight of the same craft in less than 2 weeks. They did it on the anniversary of Sputnik launch. #NewSpace #aviation

White Knight begins its takeoff roll carrying SpaceShipOne on Mojave Air & Space Port Runway 30 at sunrise, October 4, 2004. photo by Ian Kluft

Dramatic moment captured in the sky above Mojave Air & Space Port on October 4, 2004. SpaceShipOne can be seen near left-center in the boost phase of its rocket-powered ascent to space. SS1 was piloted by Brian Binnie, who earned his commercial astronaut wings with this flight, only the 2nd person the FAA awarded them to. This flight also broke the X-15's 1963 (a 41 year old record at the time) record for altitude of a winged flight, a record which still stands today. In the lower left, the White Knight carrier plane can be seen by its contrail banking away from the area where it dropped SS1 for air-launch. In the lower right, a high altitude chase plane (probably the Beech Starship, but maybe the Alpha Jet) leaves a shorter contrail. photo by Ian Kluft

SpaceShipOne's triumphal return to Mojave with all the chase planes following. SS1 is in the lead in the photo. Chase planes, left to right in this view, are the Beech Starship, Extra 300 and Alpha Jet. Not shown in this view, the White Knight carrier plane was also nearby as chase for the landing. The Extra chase plane has air show smoke on in celebration. photo by Ian Kluft

The X-Prize-winning landing of SpaceShipOne on Mojave Air & Space Port's Runway 30 on October 4, 2004. photo by Ian Kluft

A year ago today: I stopped for some quick pictures at Mojave Air & Space Port #KMHV on the way home from Las Vegas. #NewSpace #aviation #avgeek

The brand-new Gimli Glider Boeing 767-200 was repaired and returned to flight for 25 years of service. It was retired in 2008 to the boneyard at Mojave #KMHV. I took this pic of it while it still had Air Canada livery. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boeing_767-200_(Air_Canada)_Kluft_Feb-2008_0374.jpg #aviation #travel #history #avgeek

Trivia: All of the US crewed space flights in 2004 were done by #SpaceShipOne from/to Mojave #KMHV Air & Space Port (briefly renamed Mojave Spaceport at the time). #NASA space shuttle was grounded following Feb 2003 Columbia accident and didn't fly again until Jul 2005. #NewSpace

White Knight begins takeoff roll with SpaceShipOne at sunrise, Oct 4, 2004 - photo by Ian Kluft

White Knight drop-launches SpaceShipOne for its 3rd space flight Oct 4, 2004 - photo by Ian Kluft

A parade of chase planes follow SpaceShipOne on its triumphant return to land after its 3rd space flight on Oct 4, 2004. This flight won the $10M X-Prize and broke the X-15 winged-flight altitude record. photo by Ian Kluft

SpaceShipOne landing on Mojave Runway 30 from its X-Prize-winning flight of Oct 4, 2004. photo by Ian Kluft

The chase-plane view doesn't have resolution to pick myself out of the crowd who watched SpaceShipOne's first spaceflight. But I can tell where I was standing on the then-newly-constructed Taxiway Bravo at #KMHV. https://twitter.com/ScaledC/status/1671583511059345408 #NewSpace #aviation #avgeek #history

Image by Scaled Composites: chase plane view of SpaceShipOne landing after its first spaceflight on June 21, 2004 at Mojave Air & Space Port KMHV. I was in the crowd taking pictures of the landing from that crowd at Taxiway Bravo.

19 years ago, June 21, 2004: I was there at Mojave Air & Space Port #KMHV to witness SpaceShipOne 1st crewed non-government space flight. It barely squeaked over 100km altitude to claim a space flight. Edwards AFB radar confirmed the altitude. #NewSpace #avgeek

#kmhv

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