Warbird Information Exchange

Seems NASCAR will be promoting Rocket Plane Racing and is laying down the frame work for it. Why have they side-stepped Air Racing. I always thought if the masses were exposed to The Unlimiteds doing over 400MPH in the coolest looking and sounding Aircraft ever created it would sell.
Thoughts Wixers? Thanks, Rob

From ANN;




Rocket Racing League Will Locate World HQ in NM
Sat, 21 Jan '06

NM Governor Bill Richardson has announced that the Rocket Racing League, an aerospace entertainment organization that is developing the nascent market for low-altitude rocket-powered aircraft racing, will bring its world headquarters here to New Mexico, creating as many as 200 new, good paying jobs to Southern New Mexico.

"As the future home of Rocket Racing League we look forward to welcoming the hundreds of thousands of people who will come to New Mexico to enjoy NASCAR in the sky," stated Governor Bill Richardson (pictured below, right).

"The Spaceport - perhaps more than any other project- represents the future of economic development. It serves as a symbol of our aggressive efforts, a calling for future leaders in science and technology, and as an inspiration for the American entrepreneurial spirit."

RRL will base its headquarters and technology development operations in Las Cruces and will also look to have facilities at the Southwest Regional Spaceport.

"The Rocket Racing League is proud to call New Mexico its home," said Granger Whitelaw, Chief Executive Officer of the Rocket Racing League.

"This partnership will not only serve as a launch pad for economic growth, but for a future where children are drawn to science by the roar of rocket planes. Thank you Governor Richardson, Mayor Mattiace and the good people of New Mexico for your warm welcome."

Races will be held throughout the year all across the country, including the semi-finals at the Reno Air Show in Nevada and the finals, which will be held in New Mexico, starting next year, in conjunction with the X PRIZE CUP competition in October.

"This announcement means new good jobs for Southern New Mexico," stated Las Cruces Mayor Bill Mattiace. "We are very proud that the City of Las Cruces played a crucial role in attracting Rocket Racing League. It proves that our local incentives combined with the state incentives are creating the right business atmosphere for companies."

The City of Las Cruces will be donating 10 acres of land for the 50,000 square foot headquarters building, plus they will be reserving 10 hanger sites at the airport for the Rocket Racing Teams.

The rockets will race within a three-dimensional track that is one-mile high, two miles long, and a half-mile across. The rocket planes, called X-Racers, will reach speeds of up to 300 mph and will have 30-foot, bright orange flames coming from the back end.

The League will generate revenues through sponsorships, merchandising, broadcast rights, video games, ticket sales, and tours.

Based on a recent report done by Futron Corporation, an independent aerospace and technology consulting group, it is estimated that the cumulative Rocket Racing League spending in the State of New Mexico could range from $15 to $30 million during the 2006-2010 timeframe.

Total in-state expenditures by Rocket Racing League could range from $9 to $18 million over this same timeframe which will cover personnel, facilities leases, services, and local purchases of hardware and software.

"RRL truly embraces the sprit of this new spaceflight industry," stated NMEDD Secretary Rick Homans. "They are a company that understands where the future could take us and where it is headed. This partnership confirms that our strategy to make New Mexico competitive by marketing our workforce, incentives, and quality of life, is working."

"The cooperation between the state and local governments was essential to this deal," stated Jim Colson, President & CEO of the New Mexico Economic Development Partnership.

"Rocket Racing League is (a) great addition to the new industry we are building here in New Mexico."



The Rocket Racing League is an aerospace entertainment organization which combines the competition of racing with the excitement of rocketry. The RRL is dedicated to providing safe and thrilling experiences for families through live events, television broadcasts and interactive technologies. Co-founded by Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, founder of the X PRIZE, and Mr. Granger Whitelaw, two-time Indianapolis 500 champion team partner, the league's mission is to serve as a technology accelerator in the areas of airframe, propulsion and spacecraft design, and reach for the future to inspire the next generation of spaceflight enthusiasts

See www.rocketracingleauge.com.


I missed something, I don't see where NASCAR is involved. I think there intent is to compare the two.
Robbie

_________________
Fly Fast Make Noise!

I think the big reason is that most people take aircraft for granted, most people hearing about a P-51 doing 400mph+ will probably wonder why it isn't as fast as a jet liner. NASCAR is different because it is something the majority of us can relate too and undertake everyday, namely, driving a car.

Rocket planes however have a geewhiz/wow factor that most people find fascinating. Look at the responce to Space Ship One. That combined with the sound and noise makes me believe that this will be successful at least for a ffew years until the novelty wears off.

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Rocket racing won't last...I'd bet the farm on it...but if it brings fans to Reno to see the REAL air racing, then I'm all for it.

Awfully nice of the RRL to charge people $500 to *apply* to start a team, but can only actually start a team if they're approved.

There was a guy who tried this act 10 years ago...Patrick Dial with his "Superstition Racing" league, and the Phoenix 500 air races. That didn't work out too well, and I'm guessing that rocket-powered Long EZs aren't going to work out, either.

It will be like that extreme football league someone tried a couple of years ago, everyones all hyper about it then after the first couple of races it chrashes and burns.

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The conquest of space is worth the risk of life. - Gus Grissom

Ah yes, the dear departed XFL...I must admit it was pleasurable seeing Mr McM's venture into football go "poof" lickety split like that...

As to the rocket-plane league...maybe WIX could field its own team, centred on a fullscale modern-construction Me163B Komet replica...

Cheers

S.

My Mistake, the article I read quickly this morning was called "NASCAR in the Clouds". No realation to NASCAR. But anyway the point I was trying to make is Air Racing is a great sport that if promoted right could certainly interest the masses and therefore bring more money and competitors, meaning more high powered Warbirds!

Does anyone know why the "SPEED" channel has, to my knowledge, never covered the Reno Air Races. They cover such other riveting events like "Lawn Tractor Races" from Racine, Wisconsin or from some place.

Speed has covered air racing before...back when they were called "Speedvision". A few years ago when they changed their name to "Speed Channel" they also decreed that they were going to remove aviation programming.

John Penney was interviewed on "Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain" after winning in '04.

Well I guess I had better keep my Dickies overalls handy for the Lawn Tractor races....Tom

I'm curious as to how long these races are going to be. From what I've seen on the rocket powered EZ the races would be limited to about 2 laps. Maybe they've made some improvements on the design to get more range. I tried to pull up their website but it wouldn't work this morning.
O. K. Finally got into their website and here's what it had to say about the range
"Each vehicle will be capable of approximately 4 minutes of intermittent engine boost and 10 minutes of un-powered (glide) flight, allowing for 3-4 laps around the course between pit stops. Vehicles will launch in a staggered fashion to ensure that vehicles are always airborne."

Well this is interesting. I have seen a DVD of the plane, sponsors and the whole program concept.

Is the technology real and working? - absolutely - it looks pretty incredible; they are alcohol powered rockets with a helium pressure feed system. The plane is a heavily modified Long EZ. the whole set up is simple but effective - and dang if they are not fast and loud! The current test pilot for the plane builder is a ex shuttle commander and the one "team" has a AF reserve F-16 pilot at the stick.

The promotional stuff/info is a little over the top - a little too "video gamish" with the planes racing through a CGI course in the sky and all. To be honest I wonder a little if the first race won't be crowd of folks waiting to see one buy the farm in a big way. But that said, I'd love to see a good "rocket" race - if it comes together like they hope. Reno and RARA must be supporting at least one race - the "semifinal" before the season finale in New Mexico.

Keep your ear to the ground!

Tom P.

the fuel economy of a rocket engine is like sucking down a blast of booze from a shot glass!!! if the forum becomes popular, it will be like auto drag racing, except it will be in 5 minute duration rather than seconds, as with current ground bound drag cars. i think it's cool!! an entirely new sport venue!! & most definetely cutting edge!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

The crazy thing about the promo stuff is that they claim the quick refuel system will allow each racer to get about 3-4 laps in before having to land and refuel. The rocket will be used in several small "bursts" of power then the plane will glide through a few turns or whatever.

Tom P.

friend of mine that works for the Atlanta Business Journal called me last week and told be he had photographed the guy that is promoting this effort. Basically it is going to be promoted just like Nascar and will be available in many cities. The aircraft will cost about 1.3 million per copy and will be similar to a Rutan Varieze (?) and it will be pylon racing with an average duration per race of about two minutes.
The engine which has been successfully tested by Rutan is revolutionary because it is the first ROCKET engine that will have an on/off switch and can be used intermittently. IT will not be hydrogen powered but will run on JET A, which of course is readily available and has a more stable flashpoint. It will not be an all out Reno type of race, but a race where considerable strategy will be employed particularly concerning use of fuel and bursts of rocket power. The engine shoots out a flame about 15- 20 feet behind the aircraft and will be a real crowd pleaser. SOme airplanes will inevitably mismanage and exhaust their fuel and have to make "deadstick landings". This too will be a crowd pleaser. Of course they are going after the corporate sponsor money so available in Nascar.
That's pretty much