Watch: Rocket Blasts Richard Branson, Crew Into New Era Of Space Flight

[Gomig-21]

Yeah, I don't know what is up with that.
DreamChaser does the same thing.
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Hard to find any information on it, but it seems like that's the most sensible reason for that 'skid pad' as a form of landing gear & break combination of sorts.

Getting a better look at it in this pic you can also see to the bottom right of the fuselage is the small, round access entry to the aircraft since it really doesn't have any doors for obvious reasons. Funny watching that video you can see him crawl out of that access way at the end of the runway.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

this is another one of those ideas that seem good at first glance, like helicopter taxis.

helicopter taxis went bankrupt by the 1970's.

You can still hire them..

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

You can still hire them..

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Well yeah..this is exactly why I said the EHang will never be allowed to fly above the public in volume. The blades are a menace.

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

@Bilal Khan (Quwa) @Raider 21
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Canadian Forces/RCAF, but a relatively distinguished one at that (one of a handful of U.S.-qualified Canadian test pilots). I guess he's a contractor now? Imagine by some fluke he test flies the TFX in a few years.

 

[Raider 21]

@Bilal Khan (Quwa) @Raider 21
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A thorough professional and he's had an awesome career. Topped TPS at Edwards and has written very good technical content. I think he's also flying the Viper part time at Edwards as a civilian test pilot.

Canadian Forces/RCAF, but a relatively distinguished one at that (one of a handful of U.S.-qualified Canadian test pilots). I guess he's a contractor now? Imagine by some fluke he test flies the TFX in a few years.

Yes he is and he flies as an experimental test pilot for various US government projects.

 

[Arulmozhi Varman]

I don't think this venture is going to be successful. Some reports have mentioned even Branson think he is never going to recoup the investments made on this aircrafts. After some initial hoopla this will die down unless some military applications are found.
When Space shuttles were introduced, NASA scientists promised a launch every month with multiple shuttles. We all knew how it went.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]