The long awaited successor to the race-winning Nemesis is well into the beginnings of its flight test program. The first flight was accomplished on July 10 at the tender hour of 0700 at MHV.

Jon Sharp's first reports says that, "It flies wonderful... better than the original Nemesis! And I loved how that one flew!" The first flight went well and was described as a perfect takeoff, flight and landing. SpaceShipOne Pilot/Astronaut Mike Melvill flew chase in his Long-Ez with Patricia Sharp doing photo chores, while Cory Bird was taking video out of Chuck Coleman's Extra 300.

The NXT project has been in the making for four years. Four kits have already been delivered and the one prototype thus far completed. The NXT, which stands for Neoteric eXperimental Technology, is a single engine, two place, retractable gear, kit aircraft of all molded carbon fiber construction. It is powered by turbo'd Lycoming 540 engine. When the test program is completed, Sharp plans to race the NemesisNXT for the first time in the Sport Class division at the Reno Air Races this September.

In just a few days; NemesisNXT will help the EAA "Launch the Second Century of Flight" with an appearance at this year's EAA Fly-In in Oshkosh. The 52nd annual EAA fly-in will be held July 27-August 2. ANN will be featuring its usual, unparalleled daily coverage of the event.

The original Nemesis was retired to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in 2000. From 1991 – 1999, Team Nemesis enjoyed 47 victories out 50 (44 of the 50 were consecutive), 16 world speed records and numerous aviation awards. Shortly after the retirement of Nemesis in 2000, Team Nemesis began the design of the NemesisNXT.

FMI: www.nemesisnxt.com