Tue, Jul 28, 2009
Crowd Fills Aeroshell Square To Great Rutan And Branson
By Robbie Culver
The energy level at EAA AirVenture 2009 ratcheted up another
notch on Monday afternoon with the arrival of WhiteKnightTwo (aka
"Eve"), the Scaled Composites creation for Sir Richard Branson's
Virgin Galactic space tourism corporation. About 2:40 pm the
graceful, slender lines of WK2 appeared overhead with the EAA photo
plane in tow. The crowd gathered on AeroShell square and along the
flightline began to stir and animate as WK2 performed several high
passes competing with an Air Force Thunderbirds F-16, and the
Erickson SkyCrane, then entered the left downwind for Wittman
field's runway 18.
All eyes turned to watch as the thin white wings banked just to
the north of Wittman field, lining up on runway 18 right. The
normally stoic crowd showed obvious excitement as WK2 began a slow
descent to the runway.
As WhiteKnightTwo touched down, a murmured hush fell over the
crowd - odd for Oshkosh, where the crowd is less prone to reaction.
When it taxied up to the edge of AeroShell square and shut down,
then energy level felt in the crowd went up significantly - there
was a literal buzz in the air. Rutan and Branson greeted the crowd
and introduced the aircraft.
Designed to take SpaceShipTwo up on revenue-carrying flights,
WK2 is the first of a series of aircraft being produced for the
fledgling space tourism industry. As in years past, Rutan brought
his latest project as much to show the crowd what he's made as to
recharge his own spiritual batteries and find renewed creative
energy for his projects. Rutan has often commented on the energy he
receives from attending Oshkosh, and this year has been no
exception.
The arrival also means EAA has another first for its storied
success at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, where aviation firsts and
historic events continue to impress even the hardened Oshkosh
veteran. With the Airbus 380 scheduled to arrive later in the week,
Aeroshell square is already packed with significant aircraft. To
put the arrival in context, it is historical "firsts" such as this
that make the world's eyes turn to Oshkosh every year for EAA
Airventure.
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