Real Holder of the Glider Altitude Record, NOT RUTAN ON 21 JUNE

What Rutan doing is great, however it's not a glider in my humble opinion.
Would we consider Bob Harris the altitude record holder if he towed to
49,009
and then glided back to Cal City?

Of course not.
The SS1 is a Rocket Plane, it qualifies under the "Aircraft launched by a
carrier Airplane" category, exactly like the X-15 decades before, which
never claimed a "Soaring Performance" Record.

FAI specifies a Motor-glider as being a "A fixed wing aerodyne equipped with
means of propulsion (MoP), capable of sustained soaring flight without
thrust from the means of propulsion."

The X-15's and SS1's performances are 100% dependent on their engines and
ballistic trajectories (coasting) after engine shutdown, they can't sustain
soaring flight by utilizing any atmosphere generated form of lift to improve
performance beyond their limited glide ratios, so their flights can't be
technically considered "Soaring Performances".

Wouldn't that make the STS (a self launch glider) the holder of the altitude record?

Bob

"Bob" wrote in message
om...
Wouldn't that make the STS (a self launch glider) the holder of the
altitude record?

Bob

No, but it might mean that a P-38 Lightning is a motorglider since it has
been wave soared with both engines caged
for a couple hours.

Scott.

Correct, that P-38 was capable, under strong wave conditions, of a "Soaring
Performance".
It could have tried for an altitude record if, after engine shutdown, it
gained at least 5000m in wave AND exceeded the previous altitude record.

"plasticguy" wrote in message
...

"Bob" wrote in message
om...
Wouldn't that make the STS (a self launch glider) the holder of the
altitude record?

Bob

No, but it might mean that a P-38 Lightning is a motorglider since it has
been wave soared with both engines caged
for a couple hours.

Scott.

The space shuttle flies (orbits) above 328,000ft, and thus, outside of the
earth's atmosphere.
The record within the atmosphere belongs to the X-15 since 1962 at
314,000ft.

"Bob" wrote in message
om...
Wouldn't that make the STS (a self launch glider) the holder of the
altitude record?

Bob