Virgin Galactic VMS Eve at EAS Airventure 2009 in Oshkosh

Video Courtesy: Virgin Galactic

http://www.virgingalactic.com

Sir Richard Branson Takes first Flight in VMS Eve at Airventure 2009

Today, at the worlds largest private air show (EAA Airventure 2009, Oshkosh, Wisconsin), Sir Richard Branson took his first flight in the mothership which will launch Virgin Galactics space tourism and science customers into space.

The space launch vehicle known as VMS Eve is a unique twin hull all carbon composite aviation vehicle designed to launch SpaceShipTwo above heights of 50,000ft and today Sir Richard was on board to witness first hand the incredible flying qualities of the aircraft piloted by Pete Siebold and Clint Nichols.

VMS Eve has already undertaken 16 test flights and todays demonstration flight at Oshkosh represents flight 17. The vehicle has already logged 50 hours of flying time and achieved an altitude of 52,400ft. It has the capacity to carry six trainee astronauts in its starboard hull and give each of them a full range of G force experiences including a zero G flying capability. Its port hull is pressurised and has the capability of carrying science instruments and other experimental payload.

It is expected that VMS Eve will make its first captive carry flight with SpaceShipTwo attached by the end of 2009.

After the flight Sir Richard Branson commented: This has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Its a beautiful aircraft to fly and its incredibly light carbon construction and efficient design points the way to a much brighter future for commercial aviation as well as the industrial revolution in space which I believe our entire space launch system heralds.

ENDS

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[evanatorx]

Can somebody remind me why there are two fuselages?

[airboyd]

The space ship goes in the middle

[evanatorx]

Yes, but why not on the bottom of a standard fuselage? Does the double fuselage airframe provide better aeronautic stability? Are both cockpits utilized?

[airboyd]

It's a "twin boom" design. Essentially it's a symmetrical design to accommodate the payload. There may also be structural and aerodynamic reasons too. Rutan thinks outside the box. Although not the same, take a look at the P-38.

[cattleman6420012000]

This is fantastic. I look forward to hearing much more about this.

[guy014]

Can't wait to see it in action.. Carrying people to space on demand. WOW!

Great footage.

[AaronISB]

it looks like an airplane with a Siamese twin

[TheGlaive123]

@evanatorx

One side will hold the flight crew, and the other side will hold passengers on their 0-G training mission before their scheduled flight. After the aircraft launches the spacecraft, it will do a series of parabolic dives so that the trainees can experience 0-G before they go into space on the next mission.

[ilion12345]

@pgjr00 Haha Of course not, the wings wouldn't be even, but I'm assuming your joking.

[ilion12345]

@evanatorx It's basically for balance. If there was just one it would be obvious that there were be stability issues. But using the NASA 747 Design for carrying shuttles would be too expensive, and not as efficient. I believe both "cockpits" are used. Also since the spaceship will de-attach during flight, this design better accommodates that need.

[BritishPrashant]

0:56 Runaway grandpa!

[JavyMetal66]

/watch?v=C3WqXp6QvW0

[pgjr00]

if it breaks in two, do you end up with 2 independent and airworthy aircraft?

[leklek69]

@evanatorx because thre aint three

[KarriKoivusalo]

Twin fuselage construction doesn't create a "weak spot" in the wing joint.. It's terribly important here not to think like the plane was lifted from one spot, as if it hangs from a lifting hook. When in flight, the lift distributes to the entire wing surface. The correct visualization is to rest the plane on sand bags by it's wings, instead of hanging the plane from it's wingtips or the center joint.

[KarriKoivusalo]

As for those asking why two fuselages, please consider this; the VSS Enterprise is quite a bit larger than SpaceShipOne was. If it was mounted under the fuselage, the entire plane would sit so high it would need a jumbo jet hangar. It would also still need the twin booms for the landing gear. It makes great sense to omit the central nacelle and instead use twin fuselage layout.