Author photo

By Tina Fisher Cunningham
Fisher Forde Media 

Melvill's awesome flights

The Forde Files No 154

 

Tina Fisher Cunningham

Left, test pilot Mike Melvill answers the question "Why do things float in space?" from Ryan Rowe at the Tehachapi Society of Pilots Celebration of Flight, Sept. 9. Center, Ryan's mom Cathy Rowe. Pilots took 70 youths on more than 80 flights in various private airplanes.

It was "impromptu exuberance" that prompted Scaled Composites test pilot Mike Melvill to roll SpaceShipOne as it glided back to earth on Sept. 29, 2004 to claim the $10 million Xprize for the first privately funded suborbital spaceflight. On the way up, the vertical ship had rolled uncontrollably 29 times, beginning at 160,000 feet. "Engineer Jim Tigh predicted it [the rolls] would happen," Melville, 76, told Forde Files after he spoke at the Tehachapi Society of Pilots Celebration of Flight Sept. 9 at the Municipal Airport. "He told Burt (designer Rutan) if it went to negative G, it would depart from controlled flight." Melvill brought the craft under control and continued the ascent to win the prize. In his presentation, he recounted tales of his test flights during 27 of the 32 years he worked with Rutan.

 
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024

Rendered 03/29/2024 05:54