Rocket Racing

[Lynn Erickson]

Rocket racing velocity N 246RR made an off field landing in Chipley, Florida?

[TMann]

...... .. what? Ran out of fuel?

 

That just made up my mind. I'm going with one of tose infernal-combustion power plants!

[bferrell]

To be clear, I think this is the trainer aircraft, not one of the rocket-powered Velocitys.

 

http://n44vf.velocityxl.com/builder/n246rr.jpg

 

http://wiki.velocityxl.com/images/3/30/N246rrosh2.jpg

 

http://wiki.velocityxl.com/index.php?title=Rocket_Racer_N246RR

[Lynn Erickson]

To be clear, I think this is the trainer aircraft, not one of the rocket-powered Velocitys.

 

http://n44vf.velocityxl.com/builder/n246rr.jpg

 

http://wiki.velocityxl.com/images/3/30/N246rrosh2.jpg

 

http://wiki.velocityxl.com/index.php?title=Rocket_Racer_N246RR

not sure what it is powered by at this time

are they playing musical engines or N numbers?

[Marc Zeitlin]

not sure what it is powered by at this time

are they playing musical engines or N numbers?

I believe that the picture you show of 246RR is either photoshopped or just has the prop removed and a nozzle placed temporarily for the photoshoot.

 

N216MR is the Velocity that flew with the XCOR motor at OSH this year, and is the only RR racing aircraft flying with a rocket at this time. There's a picture of it flying on page 39 of this month's Sport Aviation.

 

N246RR is the prop driven aircraft they use for training.

[TMann]

N216MR is the Velocity that flew with the XCOR motor at OSH this year, and is the only RR racing aircraft flying with a rocket at this time.

Well I'll bet that fact skews the odds a little.

[bferrell]

I believe that the picture you show of 246RR is either photoshopped or just has the prop removed and a nozzle placed temporarily for the photoshoot.

 

N216MR is the Velocity that flew with the XCOR motor at OSH this year, and is the only RR racing aircraft flying with a rocket at this time. There's a picture of it flying on page 39 of this month's Sport Aviation.

 

N246RR is the prop driven aircraft they use for training.

That's not correct Mark, the Amaradillo powered racer, N205MB flew the last week of August and is now the preferred engine:

'"This will now be the primary engine for the next rocket racers," said Granger Whitelaw, CEO and co-founder of the RRL. The league is building five rockets so that it will have six by next spring.'

 

Armadillo Flys

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-10027365-76.html.

 

http://wiki.velocityxl.com/index.php?title=Rocket_Racer_N216MR XCor

http://wiki.velocityxl.com/index.php?title=Rocket_Racer_N205MB Armadillo

[Edge 513]

I hope they allow a different more fighter looking [ala Longeze] airframe for the airframes on down the road. [thats what the original promo posters looked like-cool]

A fourplace airplane just doesnt look very cool as a "racer". In fact it looks like a station wagon on fire 'flyin' around.

Remonds me of all the dumpy cars that the US manufacturers would put big stripes and decals and bolt on scoops and such, to try and make them look so cool so people would think they were fast and....and... and therefor buy them. Ever see a ford pinto decked out....so special.

And the armadillo's giant butt end...oh now that is somethimg racy...if yur the type that favors jaylo's...

...someone please stop me....

[Edge 513]

I hope they allow a different more fighter looking [ala Longeze] airframe for the airframes on down the road.

 

Maybe I should just leave it at that until my meds kick in....

[Marc Zeitlin]

That's not correct Mark, the Amaradillo powered racer, N205MB flew the last week of August and is now the preferred engine:...

Sorry - I meant to say with the XCOR engine. You are correct that the Armadillo engine is also flying, and is now the only source of engines for the RR league.

[Spodman]

A fourplace airplane just doesnt look very cool as a "racer".

Erm, like that NASCAR idea for car racing? There is a faint chance that could catch on somewhere...

[CBarber]

With all due respect, HORSEHOCKY.

 

You may like the EZ better, and I can understand dissapointment if the first posters you saw had a more EZ type bird, but the Velocity is not a stationwagon looking plane. I actually like the lines of the Velocity MUCH better. Of course as in most things of taste, opinions vary.

 

Just had to spend my 2cents. I now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

 

All the best,

 

Chris

[Edge 513]

C'mon Chris, Old Velocity's and the Cozy do NOT look as cool as a Longeze or Berkut....that is a FACT. THe newer Velocity looks way better than the old one. They showed cool looking Jet Fighter looking airplanes with jet flames shooting out the rears, and then are trying to sell it as station wagons flying around. They just hope noby will notice.

 

As far as Nascar. Nascar is all a bunch of mass marketing, to people with too many brews down their hatches to even see the track...

...I could quote the comedian Jeff Foxworthy here about,"you know you're a redneck when"....Que a joke about stockcars and beer and BillyBob's toothless wife...

...but I won't.

The RRL is DOA, watch and see...unless Red Bull takes over and produces interesting courses and low fly-by's etc etc. Everything taking place way up in the sky where there is a bunch of coasting finally to landing...due to engines shutdown [no flames to see during the whole race] will NOT hold peoples interest.IMHO

[Lynn Erickson]

With all due respect, HORSEHOCKY.

 

You may like the EZ better, and I can understand dissapointment if the first posters you saw had a more EZ type bird, but the Velocity is not a stationwagon looking plane. I actually like the lines of the Velocity MUCH better. Of course as in most things of taste, opinions vary.

 

Just had to spend my 2cents. I now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

 

All the best,

 

Chris

if it is as big as one, Flies like one and has enough room behind the seats for the kids to climb all over each other. Well it must be one.

[jprock]

>> Old Velocity's and the Cozy do NOT look as cool as a Longeze or Berkut .... that is a FACT

 

Calling an opinion a FACT... That's interesting.

 

I'm with Brett, (since we are building Velo's ) The looks and style are all a matter of opinion, which I won't get in to. Sufice it to say, my PERSONAL OPINION is that I don't want to be wedged in to a sardine can with no sun cover for hours on end... I'd rather fly in style!! (Oh flamers, Bite me!! )

 

The main reason for using the Velo as the racer is the Rocket fuel tank is a sphere that has a diameter of almost 4 feet! They rip out the rear guts of the Velo and cram the tank in the back, in front of the engine bulkhead. Try putting that in the back seat of a LongEZ.

Would kinda ruin the Cool lines you're hoping for.

 

Jack

[Edge 513]

>> Old Velocity's and the Cozy do NOT look as cool as a Longeze or Berkut .... that is a FACT

 

Calling an opinion a FACT... That's interesting.

 

I'm with Brett, (since we are building Velo's ) The looks and style are all a matter of opinion, which I won't get in to. Sufice it to say, my PERSONAL OPINION is that I don't want to be wedged in to a sardine can with no sun cover for hours on end... I'd rather fly in style!! (Oh flamers, Bite me!! )

 

The main reason for using the Velo as the racer is the Rocket fuel tank is a sphere that has a diameter of almost 4 feet! They rip out the rear guts of the Velo and cram the tank in the back, in front of the engine bulkhead. Try putting that in the back seat of a LongEZ.

Would kinda ruin the Cool lines you're hoping for.

 

Jack

"Hey, Lets have cool sleek fighter looking canards fly around and race like rockets...hey wait a minute the engnes wont fit because they are 4 foot spheres..oh well, they will look like flying Queen Latifa's. I guess that's no problem, every body likes Queen Latifa, right?...yea, no problem, throw some racy stripes on the planes, try to hide those big butts with stickers and sponsors, nobody really will notuce anyway...on with the show....hey wait a minute, people aren't very thrilled with these Queen Latifas flying up in the sky and just zinging around without flames shooting out of their arse's all the time, what do we do now?...I dunno, we're making this up as we go along, so figure something out...quick...Lets use bigger fuel spheres...NO, thats no good, the planes would look like Templeton the rat after he ate the whole circus lunch...more decals,slimming STRIPES..call DKNY...something!!!... get the World Wrestling Federation to bring in some wrestlers to fly them, with some sexy chica sidekicks, that's it, better yet only sexy women will be the pilots, John Force might let Ashley be a pilot...hey, the women could pilot them in bikini's, people would pay good money to see that with pov camera angles....o.k. call some agency with chick babe pilots, we got millions of dollars at stake here...whoever says we're making this up as we go along cant meet the babes when they show up"

...silence..

 

All of this is completly in jest.....right.

[jprock]

I don't want to defend the RRL. It may be a bust, or if they figure out how to "WOW" the crowd, it may turn in to something very entertaining. My point is that you are putting down the RRL by dissing the Velocities. I think most people and most canardians think the Velo's are very cool looking. Are they as sleek as the LongEZ... no. But, I personally think they are very cool.

 

Kinda the difference between a Porsche and a Mercedes. They are both very cool, and I've owned both. But for long haul traveling, I don't want to sit in a Porsche for hours. For driving the curves... there is nothing like a Porsche. They can both be very cool, just slightly different missions.

[CBarber]

Yep, the only fact was that I expressed my opinion, which I stick by. I do think the Velocity is much cooler/prettier than an EZ. The extra room is just a perk and from those that have flown both or either, again, opinions vary as to how they fly. I am pretty convinced the flight characteristics not only depend on the build quality but also on the mission objective. But even in the mission objectives, differences of taste flourish as to what are more useful, desirable or needed. Sometimes the discussion can be enlightening....sometimes tedious.

 

Not that I think anything is wrong with an EZ, it is a good looking plane. I also really like RV's but when I was allowed to choose, I made mine Velocity!!!

 

I think it is kinda like comparing women....I may prefer Christi Brinkly (wow is she still looking good for coming up on her mid 50's), you may prefer Jacklyn Smith. Jacklyn is a true classic beauty who still takes your breath away, but if I had MY choice on looks alone, Christi would be my pick. Hmmmm, who else can we/I objectify.....really pretty mature women...Valerie Bertonelli (hubba hubba), Marie Osmond, Heather Locklear (if'n you don't focus too much on her recent arrest:( ). Hey, this is kinda fun. if a bit sexist. No apologies there, I am happy God made me a guy;)

 

As to RRL, I kinda like the idea they are using Velocity's but I do not think the idea can really, uh, fly, if you will excuse the pun .

 

All the best,

 

Chris

[bferrell]

I don't think there's a market for the RRL, but at least they're pumping more money through Velocity...

 

"VELOCITY AIRCRAFT RECEIVES PURCHASE ORDER

FOR 20 VELOCITY XL-5’S

Milestone Continues Momentum Since Acquisition by Rocket Racing Composites Corp.

New York, NY—October 8, 2008— Velocity, Inc., a leading manufacturer of home-built canard design airframe kits, today announced receiving a purchase order of 20 Velocity XL-5 aircrafts. Today’s announcement is the first major sales contract secured by Sebastian, FL- based Velocity, Inc., since their April 2008 acquisition by Rocket Racing Composites Corp., a division within Rocket Racing Inc., the parent company for the Rocket Racing League, the new entertainment sports league that combines the exhilaration of racing with the power of rocket engines."

 

http://www.rocketracingleague.com/pdf/Velocity-FINAL.pdf

[Edge 513]

I really like the new shapes of the Velocity airframes. I particularly hope they build the Velocity turboprop 6 seater and offer it.

 

I hope they dont throw the money they could have used on these projects in bringing them to fruition, down the RRL Rathole.

[Fly2hi]

I don't think there's a market for the RRL, but at least they're pumping more money through Velocity...

 

"VELOCITY AIRCRAFT RECEIVES PURCHASE ORDER

FOR 20 VELOCITY XL-5’S

Milestone Continues Momentum Since Acquisition by Rocket Racing Composites Corp.

New York, NY—October 8, 2008— Velocity, Inc., a leading manufacturer of home-built canard design airframe kits, today announced receiving a purchase order of 20 Velocity XL-5 aircrafts. Today’s announcement is the first major sales contract secured by Sebastian, FL- based Velocity, Inc., since their April 2008 acquisition by Rocket Racing Composites Corp., a division within Rocket Racing Inc., the parent company for the Rocket Racing League, the new entertainment sports league that combines the exhilaration of racing with the power of rocket engines."

 

http://www.rocketracingleague.com/pdf/Velocity-FINAL.pdf

Notice the release does not say where the order is going. When sales are down, this is a cheap way to generate some excitement.

[Fly2hi]

Rocket racing velocity N 246RR made an off field landing in Chipley, Florida?

It did go down.

 

http://fosterfollynews.com/news/2008Oct10PlaneDownInWashingtonCounty.php

 

And by engine problems, do they mean out of fuel? From Dallas to the site, approx. 4.5 hours, based on 145kts. Sounds like fuel problems. Have to stop somewhere before the Kissimmee, why push any plane that far, and at 6:30 PM?