In article ,
Shiver Me Timbers writes:
Jim Weir wrote:

Add one more pilot to my "Balls Of Brass" book, right
in there with Yeager and Glenn.

Not only that Jim.... Since he will probably be the main pilot on a
continuing basis there might also be a day when he has been
upstairs to space more times than anyone else.

He hasn't been there yet, either for International recognition (100
Km/62 St. Miles) or U.S.A.F. Atronaurt wings qualification (50 St
Mi./ 88 Km). I don't doubt that Scaled Composites will get there,
but it's not Miller Time yet.

To put it into our X-15 persoective, by the end of teh X-15's program
with 199 flights, 41 of those flights had exceeded the altitude
reached so far by Spaceship One. I don't have teh counts by
individual pilot totted up yet, but I'd say that Joe Walker flew at
least 6 of those, and Joe Engle may have flown more.

Curious question to the group...... Who holds the record right now for
the most number of trips upstairs to spaceville.

Dr. Frank Chang-Diaz and Jerry Ross are currently tied with 7.
Note that Chang-Diaz has a total of 66.76 days in free-fall, and 3
EVAs for a total of 19.77 Hrs of spacewalking.
Ross yas a total time of 58.04 days in free-fall, and 9 EVAs for 58.45
Hrs of spacewalking.

The leader right now for total time is orbit goes to Sergei Avdeyev,
with 3 flights for a total of 747.59 days iin free-fall. He's got 10
EVAs for a total of 41.98 Hrs of spacewalking.

Lots more useful stuff at teh Encyclopedia Astronautica at:
hrrp://www.astronautix.com

--
Pete Stickney
A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many
bad measures. -- Daniel Webster