Scaled Composites main home page Tier One / SpaceShipOne home Tier One / SpaceShipOne press releases Tier One Program Test Logs Click here to access SpaceShipOne videos

LOGS: White Knight and SS1 · White Knight · SS1 Ground Tests · Engine Tests

White Knight Flight Test Summaries

The following list includes summaries of the flight test activity of the White Knight research aircraft. The White Knight is equipped with the same system components as SpaceShipOne (cabin, ECS, pneumatic, avionics, trim servos, electrical, backup air data, test data, video & TM). Thus, the flight test program of the White Knight includes many tests that focus on SpaceShipOne systems qualification and maturity. Flight crews include program pilots Doug Shane, Mike Melvill, Brian Binnie and Pete Siebold, Cory Bird (White Knight project engineer) and Rick Aldrich (crew chief). This list will be updated monthly.

Flight 59
Date: 14 June 04
 Flight Time: 1.0
White Knight Pilot: Siebold
 White Knight Copilot: Melvill
Objectives:
Avionics checkout flight, pilot proficiency and landing practice.
Flight 58
Date: 14 June 04
 Flight Time: 0.7
White Knight Pilot: Melvill
 White Knight Copilot: Siebold
Objectives:
Avionics checkout flight, pilot proficiency and landing practice.
Flight 57
Date: 14 June 04
 Flight Time: 1.7
White Knight Pilot: Binnie
 White Knight Copilot: Stinemetz
Objectives:
Flight 15P rehearsal, avionics checkout, pilot proficiency and landing practice.
Flight 55
Date: 6 May 04
 Flight Time: 0.4
White Knight Pilot: Melvill
 White Knight Copilot: Aldrich
Objectives:
Flight 14P rehearsal, avionics checkout, pilot proficiency and landing practice.
Flight 54
Date: 6 May 04
 Flight Time: 1.6
White Knight Pilot: Binnie
 White Knight Copilot: Stinemetz
Objectives:
Flight 14P rehearsal, avionics checkout, pilot proficiency and landing practice.

Flight 52
Date: 5 Apr 04
 Flight Time: 2.0
White Knight Pilot: Siebold
 White Knight Copilot: Karkow
Objectives:
Avionics checkout flight, pilot proficiency and landing practice.


Flight 51
Date: 31 Mar 04 Flight Time: 2.0
White Knight Pilot: Binnie White Knight Copilot: Melvill
Objectives:
SpaceShipOne Flight 13P launch rehearsal, avionics checkout and landing practice


Flight 50
Date: 30 Mar 04 Flight Time: 2.0
White Knight Pilot: Melvill White Knight Copilot: Binnie
Objectives:
Avionics software evaluation, launch release rehearsal and landing pattern practice.


Flight 48
Date: 8 Mar 04 Flight Time: 1.4 Hours
White Knight Pilot: Binnie White Knight Copilot: Stinemetz
Objectives:
SpaceShipOne flight 12G launch release rehearsal and avionics software evaluation


Flight 47
Date: 4 Mar 04 Flight Time: 1.3 Hours
White Knight Pilot: Binnie White Knight Copilot: Bird
Objectives:
SpaceShipOne flight 12G launch release rehearsal and avionics software evaluation


Flight 46
Date: 18 Feb 04 Flight Time: 0.7 Hours
White Knight Pilot: Binnie White Knight Copilot: Melvill
Objectives:
Pilot proficiency, new software build checkout and landing practice


Flight 45
Date: 18 Feb 04 Flight Time: 1.6 Hours
White Knight Pilot: Siebold White Knight Copilot: Binnie
Objectives:
Pilot proficiency, new software build checkout and landing practice


Flight 44
Date: 18 Feb 04 Flight Time: 1.7 Hours
White Knight Pilot: Melvill White Knight Copilot: Binnie
Objectives:
Pilot proficiency, new software build checkout and landing practice


Flight 39
Date: 5-Nov-03 Flight Time: 1.5 hours
White Knight Pilot: Siebold White Knight Copilot: Binnie
Objectives:
Avionics upgrade evaluation and landing pattern practice.
Results:
Satisfactory GPS-aided INS stability and position keeping through a normal launch and glide flight profile.

Flight 36
Date: 22-Sep-03 Flight Time: 1.7 hours
White Knight Pilot: Binnie White Knight Copilot: Stinemetz
Objectives:
Avionics upgrade evaluation
Results:
Satisfactory GPS-aided INS stability and position keeping through a normal launch and glide flight profile.

Flight 35
Date: 19-Sep-03 Flight Time: 2.1 hours
White Knight Pilot: Siebold White Knight Copilot: Binnie
White Knight Flt Engineer: Nichols
Objectives:
SpaceShipOne approach and landing profile review
Results:
Evaluated a variety of different profiles to assess ease of set-up, forgiveness to off normal starts and pilot situation awareness during the approach.

Flight 34
Date: 18-Sep-03 Flight Time: 2.7 hours
White Knight Pilot: Binnie White Knight Copilot: Melvill
White Knight Flt Engineer: Alsbury
Objectives:
SpaceShipOne approach and landing profile review
Results:
Evaluated a variety of different profiles to assess ease of set-up, forgiveness to off normal starts and pilot SA during the approach.

Flight 33
Date: 11-Sep-03 Flight Time: 2.7 hours
White Knight Pilot: Melvill White Knight Copilot: Binnie
White Knight Flt Engineer: Tighe
Objectives:
SpaceShipOne approach and landing profile review
Results:
Evaluated a variety of different profiles to assess ease of set-up, forgiveness to off normal starts and pilot SA during the approach.

Flight 28
Date: 11-Jul-03 Flight Time: 0.5 hours
Pilot: Siebold Copilot: Binnie Flight Engineer: Losey
Objectives:
Pilot proficiency. First flight for SpaceShipOne crew chief.
Results:
Made several practice SpaceshipOne approaches using various configurations and runways. Good exposure for SS1 crewchief Steve Losey on cockpit workload / crew coordination / cabin environment and human factors for Tier-1 mission.

 

Flight 27
Date: 11-Jul-03 Flight Time: 0.7 hours
Pilot: Binnie Copilot: Siebold Flight Engineer: Stinemetze
Objectives:
Pilot proficiency. First flight for SpaceShipOne lead engineer.
Results:
Made several simulated captive carry low sink rate landings as well as practice SpaceshipOne approaches to various runways. Good exposure for Matt Stinemetze on cockpit workload / crew coordination / cabin environment and human factors for Tier-1 mission

 

Flight 26
Date: 11-Jul-03 Flight Time: 2.0 hours
Pilot: Melvill Copilot: Binnie Flight Engineer: Rutan
Objectives:
First glide flight profile rehearsal / two ship checklist flow / airspace coordination / Command and Control responsibilities and handoffs. First flight for Burt in the White Knight.
Results:
Exercised all current checklists and SpaceShipOne first flight test cards. Simulated emergencies handled successfully. Good exposure for Burt on cockpit workload / crew coordination / cabin environment and human factors for Tier-1 mission. Flew eleven practice SpaceShipOne approaches from above high key, three with simulated failed avionics and some with other emergencies and runway changes. All were successful.

 

Flight 25
Date: 3-Jul-03 Flight Time: 2.2 hours
Pilot: Binnie Copilot: Siebold
Objectives:
First glide flight profile rehearsal / two ship checklist flow / airspace coordination / Command and Control responsibilities and handoffs.
Results:
Good exercise of all involved parties and agencies including the Edwards air Force Base, Joshua Control and Scaled Composites, Utility Mobile ground station.

 

Flight 23
Date: 2-May-03 Flight Time: 2.3 hours
Pilot: Melvill Copilot: Rick Aldrich
Objectives:
Engine performance at altitude. New pilot masks and ECS airflow routing. Regulated bleed air control of the aft cabin temperature (to test the capability to heat SpaceShipOne's nitrous oxidizer. Appraisal of new traffic alert system.
Results:
Engines showed much improved performance up to 50,000 feet. ECS changes confirmed to assure clear windows for landing. Successful bleed air heating test: good control and sufficient energy for SS1 propellant heating.

Flight 22
Date: 26-Apr-03 Flight Time: 0.3 hours
Pilot: Melvill Copilot: Binnie
Objectives:
Airshow for the 'friends and family' unveiling
Results:
Good show for 1000+ guests. Broadcast media included CNN, ABC, PBS, Tech TV, Discovery & National Geographic TV.

 

Flight 21
Date: 18-Apr-03 Flight Time: 0.2 hours
Pilot: Melvill Copilot: Binnie
Objectives:
Formal media rollout
Results:
Good show for the VIP/media audience

Flight 20
Date: 15-Apr-03 Flight Time: 0.7 hours
Pilot: Melvill Copilot: Binnie
Objectives:
Repeat airshow maneuver practice
Results:
Minor tweaks to refine the airshow demonstration maneuvers.

Flight 19
Date: 15-Apr-03 Flight Time: 1.2 hours
Pilot: Melvill Copilot: Binnie
Objectives:
Airshow maneuver practice. First flight with Spaceship launch system installed.
Results:
Satisfactory airshow results for various wind conditions. Launch system satisfactory.

Flight 18
Date: 7-Mar-03 Flight Time: 3.3 hours
Pilot: Melvill Copilot: Cory Bird
Objectives:
Revised ECS configuration evaluation. Multiple SFO (simulated flame out) approaches to assess updated flight director steering cues.
Results:
New ECS configuration results encouraging. Engines returned to depot facility for second overhaul repair.

Flight 17
Date: 24-Feb-03 Flight Time: 2.8 hours
Pilot: Binnie Copilot: Melvill
Objectives:
Evaluate performance of updated engines. Measure effect of new canted wingtips. Test new landing gear doors and upgraded INS hardware.
Results:
New and different engine irregularities at highest altitudes. Further mods are needed for adequate ECS humidity control. Canted wingtips solved the dihedral effect problem. No flying qualities issues remain.

Flight 16
Date: 12-Nov-02 Flight Time: 2.0 hours
Pilot: Binnie Copilot: Siebold
Objectives:
Continued engine, ECS and avionics evaluation. Simulated wheel brake failure landing rollout.
Results:
Conclusion: aircraft can be landed at MHV if a wheel brake fails. More engine irregularities at high altitude. Engines removed and sent to test cell for fuel control calibration and adjustments.

Flight 15
Date: 6-Nov-03 Flight Time: 2.4 hours
Pilot: Siebold Copilot: Binnie
Objectives:
Continued engine, ECS and avionics evaluation. High-rate nose wheel steering assessment.
Results:
Difficulty maintaining afterburner on left engine near 50,000 feet. Improved ECS configuration showed improved resistance to fogging. Nose wheel steering gearing change about the same.

Flight 14
Date: 24-Oct-02 Flight Time: 0.3 hours
Pilot: Siebold Copilot: Shane
Objectives:
FAA-monitored flight for pilot "Type Rating".
Results:
Rating issued

Flight 13
Date: 24-Oct-02 Flight Time: 0.3 hours
Pilot: Binnie Copilot: Siebold
Objectives:
FAA-monitored flight for pilot "Type Rating".
Results:
Rating issued

Flight 12
Date: 24-Oct-02 Flight Time: 0.3 hours
Pilot: Melvill Copilot: Shane
Objectives:
FAA-monitored flight for pilot "Type Rating".
Results:
Rating issued

Flight 11
Date: 24-Oct-02 Flight Time: 0.3 hours
Pilot: Shane Copilot: Melvill
Objectives:
FAA-monitored flight for pilot "Type Rating".
Results:
Rating issued

Flight 10
Date: 17-Oct-02 Flight Time: 1.1 hours
Pilot: Siebold Copilot: Binnie
Objectives:
SpaceshipOne boost profile and steering capture practice. Simulated SS1 glide approaches.
Results:
SS1 simulation good up to at least ~ 70 degree flight path angle.

Flight 9
Date: 17-Oct-02