snipped Three more exhibition races will be held at
Reno (September 10-14), at the X-Prize Cup (Las Cruces, NM, date
TBA),
and at Aviation Nation, Nellis Air Force Base (November 8-9).

They'd better use caution at Reno. Frankly, they should cancel. Much
too turbulence there with the Sierra Wave activity going on. Then
there's the Dust Devils (Whirlwind, Zephyr). Tore one of the smaller
IF1s apart when the aircraft inadvertantly flew through one; pilot
killed. That aircraft was composite, roughly 1/2 the size of a
Velocity.

Brent Hisey had an Emergency in his North American P-51D Miss America,
"Race 11," and the winds blew him away from the runway and into the
sage at the last moment. Aircraft should have been totalled but Hisey
rebuilt it anyway. He walked away reportedly covered in hyrdraulic
fluid.

Imagine what that Sierra Wave turbulence can do to a short-wing
"glider" like the RRL Velocity. Rocket power is reportedly only going
to be used in the ascent phase, so how is it "Rocket Racing" when
power is "off" during the competition phase. Speed in the climb only
300 mph...I'll take the 500 mph range Unlimiteds any day.

Three men killed at Reno in 2007, then a fourth after the races. That
event not too big on safety and the (mis-) management is the reason
why. A number of pilots retired after last year's event and either
sold their racers or put them on the selling block, particularly after
the accidents. If the weather at Reno isn't good, you could see the
entire cancellation of the event, which could irk those paying for the
tickets.

I saw one of the Velocity prototypes at Mojave about two weeks ago.
Appeared to feature a single seat with enough room even for a large
man. Even Baby Huey (Zoom) could fit in that thing. (Did not observe
a seat over on the "co-pilot's side. The way they're advertising the
test pilot versions, these look like single seat racers.)

As a side note to Mojave, the Rotary Rocket's move to San Diego was
cancelled and it will now be on display at Mojave Spaceport next to
BAE Systems, about a block away from Flight Ops. They set up a nice
park and walkway there, so hopefully more displays will be added. The
F-4 Phantom that was on display in front of Flight Ops is
gone...perhaps in a hangar being restored? The Convair 990 Galileo
II, from NASA, is now on gate guard at the front of the airport. Has
been for a few years now. The number of airliners parked there
starting to dwindle.