Looks like Burt Rutan at Scaled Composites is going
to get the record for the highest, non-government glider
flight on June 21 when he sends his glider (via rocket
power) into space.

Details at http://www.xprize.org/

Calling for return glide of less than 30 minutes to
get back down from over 300,000 feet. Sounds like
the pilot can thermal as well as I can...that is, like
I am flying a brick.