Burt Rutan and his team of designers, engineers and test pilots at Scaled Composites did something no private group had ever done. They proved that private space flight is feasible and safe. With the help of some Billionaire entrepreneurial investors they are poised to build an entire industry of Private Space Flight. This after other said it was impossible. And for their efforts and vision they won a 10-million dollar prize in doing so. This is a true testament to private enterprise and capitalism, it proves that; "Free Enterprise beats out bureaucracy and bullshit every time!"
Although those who study free markets, free enterprise and capitalism were hardly surprised, we all expected it and it makes sense someone like Rutan and Company would be the ones to do it too. There is only one problem with this picture. During the big ceremony and media event following the third successful launch into space and safe return, the FAA was there to make a few comments. Which is fine, it is nice to have the support of your government for a change. Unfortunately what followed was typical regulatory BS that follows every successful entrepreneurial and innovative endeavor in this nation. The FAA had already started to make rules on an industry, which had only gotten off the ground three times? An industry ready to rocket out of the atmosphere was sure to have some government scrutiny, but before it started? That is a good way to keep mankind in a box or on a little blue pale dot, prison planet? But, why; who might it serve to stop free enterprise and the forward progression of mankind? It clearly serves no free man.
The reasoning behind the FAA scrutiny was to protect people on the ground incase the tourist rocket fell out of the sky and hit someone on the ground? Well that is interesting indeed? Since when has the FAA been concerned with that? The FAA is just one more example of a bureaucracy of epic proportions and I ought to know, my grandfather was in charge of an International Airport for nearly 30 years. Boy could I tell you stories dating back to the early 60's of just what a screwed up agency it really is. They have their fingers so far up the public sectors rear end it is a wonder we even have an aviation industry left? Whoops, we barely do now with airlines going bankrupt, Boeing mechanics on strike and the general aviation industry slowly rebounding. Luckily the fractional jet market has taken off, but only after the FAA ditched some of their onerous regulations.
The fact is folks, everything the government touches gets ruined. Ronald Reagan said it best.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."
The FAA needs to get their heads out of their rears and their fingers out of ours and I am not the only one who knows this. Think about it.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs
AP - With no end in sight to economic bad news, President George W. Bush on Friday ensured that millions of laid-off workers will keep getting their unemployment checks as the year-end holidays approach.
AP - Thousands of followers of a radical Shiite cleric protested a proposed U.S.-Iraqi security deal Friday, burning an effigy of President George W. Bush in the same square where Iraqis beat a toppled Saddam Hussein statue five years ago.
AP - Attorney General Michael Mukasey was given "a clean bill of health" and hoped to check out of the hospital after extensive medical tests following his collapse, the Justice Department said Friday.
AP - Nebraska lawmakers have approved adding a 30-day age limit to a safe-haven law that resulted in 35 children including teenagers as old as 17 being abandoned at state hospitals.
AP - Wall Street sagged again Friday but took a break from the heavier selling of recent days as energy, utility and technology stocks showed some advances and bank stocks declined.
AP - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, unexpectedly announced Friday that its chief executive will retire in February and be replaced by the head of its international division.
AP - The show-business marriage that began in a Scottish castle came to an end in a drab London courtroom Friday as Madonna and Guy Ritchie were granted a preliminary decree of divorce.
AP - When you gotta go, you gotta go. But for decades, when you had to go in the Roxbury Free Library, you really had to go somewhere else, that is.
Reuters - Citigroup Inc shares tumbled for a fifth straight day, as Chief Executive Vikram Pandit tried to downplay speculation the banking giant might sell major businesses to restore its health and investor confidence.
Reuters - US stocks recovered some ground on opening on Friday, though Citigroup fell further, amid continued fear that central bank moves to stabilize financial markets might not be enough to prevent a prolonged global recession.
Reuters - U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey was doing well in hospital on Friday after an apparent "fainting spell" that caused his collapse during a speech the night before, a spokeswoman said.
Reuters - Retired Marine Gen. James Jones emerged as a leading contender for White House national security adviser as President-elect Barack Obama worked on Thursday to assemble his foreign policy team.
Reuters - President George W. Bush on Friday signed into law an extension of unemployment benefits, the White House said.
Reuters - Followers of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr marched on Friday against a pact letting U.S. forces stay in Iraq until 2011, toppling an effigy of President George W. Bush where U.S. troops once tore down a statue of Saddam Hussein.
Reuters - Verizon Wireless said on Thursday that some employees had gained unauthorized access and viewed a personal cell phone account held by President-elect Barack Obama that is now inactive.
AFP - The use of nuclear weapons will grow increasingly likely by 2025, according to a bleak US intelligence report that warns that US global dominance is likely to weaken over the next two decades.
AFP - Thousands of Shiite followers of firebrand anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gathered in Baghdad on Friday to protest a security accord that would allow US troops to remain in Iraq until 2011.
The A-380 has beat out the Boeing 747 as a target by... Read More
Business scholars and students throughout recent periods have studied the fascinating business... Read More
Here's a good tip to help cut the cost of flying to... Read More
As fighter aircraft get faster and faster there is a diminishing return... Read More
The Internet has provided a revolution in the way people shop for... Read More
Airbus has announced that it will build a $600 million aircraft manufacturing... Read More
The continuation of the history of a small service franchise business in... Read More
With airline travel increasing in record numbers, more people are experiencing the... Read More
Boy I have heard it all from my friends. I am afraid... Read More
A pet owner must research the many requirements before taking a dog... Read More
One of the big pushes in aviation and military is to have... Read More
To begin with, the best place to buy really cheap plane tickets... Read More
Probably one of the coolest experimental aircraft twin-engine aircraft is the Diamond... Read More
It appears NASA's studies of the future of air travel and air... Read More
Finding really cheap airline tickets onlineLooking for a really good deal on... Read More
Have you ever wondered what all entails first class airfare, but never... Read More
Do you live near an airport and cannot stand the noise? Many... Read More
When you're looking for airline tickets to your specific destination, whether it... Read More
Don't let jet lag spoil that much needed holiday trip to paradise... Read More
Have you ever been flying around in your private plane and the... Read More
Here are some thoughts on the study of the theory of price... Read More
Are you one of those people that has lots and lots of... Read More
The process of finding out about a job, getting interviewed, and eventually... Read More
AirfaresNeed a vacation but dont want to stay around town? Want to... Read More
Traveling is different now than it was before 9/11. Arriving at the... Read More
In large buildings to prevent sound pollution often double paned glass is... Read More
Jet lag is a common sleep disorder suffered by many millions of... Read More
You want a fighter jet as your personal aircraft; do not deny... Read More
If you have de-ice boots on your aircraft you realize that for... Read More
The world is becoming smaller by the day. Flying long haul to... Read More
Aircraft designers have always tried to figure out the best compromise for... Read More
As we study this grass roots history of a franchise company in... Read More
Why did the young man near Tampa, FL fly a little private... Read More
When we watch Oliver North's "War Stories" or the "Wings Discovery Channel"... Read More
The secret to combating jet lag, and arriving at your destination with... Read More
You know those airbags in your car? Did you know they are... Read More
Much work is being done and the USAF has implemented systems to... Read More
Do you know that some people travel around the country and abroad,... Read More
The military aircraft we have are all equipped with anti-SAM systems. These... Read More
Recently a new airborne laser system was announced to be put onto... Read More
I propose building a mechanical manta ray as a Underwater Unmanned Vehicle;... Read More
It appears Mexico with its 120 million population is considering getting into... Read More
What caused a teenager to crash an aircraft into the Bank of... Read More
Ask any regular long-haul flyer about their experience of flying and you... Read More
Pay. You know that aviation pays better than commercial, in most cases... Read More
Airlines offer tickets at a fraction of the cost you buy tickets.... Read More
Introduction:It might come as a chock to many people, including the Stewardesses,... Read More
Don't let jet lag spoil that much needed holiday trip to paradise... Read More
Have you ever wondered what all entails first class airfare, but never... Read More
So far we have learned the safety aspect of setting the aircraft... Read More
When fuel costs are so high, people favor flying to driving. If... Read More
Boeing it is said took a big gamble in predicting the future... Read More
How can we keep aircraft and UAVs aloft longer and conserve fuel?... Read More
If you or a family member has been the victim of an... Read More
The continuation of the history of a small service franchise business in... Read More
A pet owner must research the many requirements before taking a dog... Read More
When we watch Oliver North's "War Stories" or the "Wings Discovery Channel"... Read More
Trying to find really cheap airline tickets can become very frustrating and... Read More
One of the major perks of being a celebrity is the free... Read More
What caused a teenager to crash an aircraft into the Bank of... Read More
Orville and Wilbur Wright were mere bicycle mechanics, yet they changed the... Read More
The military aircraft we have are all equipped with anti-SAM systems. These... Read More
It appears NASA's studies of the future of air travel and air... Read More
Plan Ahead For A Smooth Check-in and FlightWhen traveling with a group... Read More
Some new materials, types of plastics seem to be stronger than steel... Read More
The A-380 has beat out the Boeing 747 as a target by... Read More
You want a fighter jet as your personal aircraft; do not deny... Read More
Most consumers feel the airline travel is very costly. We can end... Read More
China is entering the jet fighter trainer business and set to start... Read More
Do you live near an airport and cannot stand the noise? Many... Read More
Jet lag can be one of the worst, and certainly one of... Read More
Do you know that some people travel around the country and abroad,... Read More
Knowing where to find really cheap airline tickets is the first step... Read More
Business scholars and students throughout recent periods have studied the fascinating business... Read More
Airlines offer tickets at a fraction of the cost you buy tickets.... Read More
There are many ways to evacuate people from disasters like Hurricane Katrina... Read More
Recently a new airborne laser system was announced to be put onto... Read More
Today our modern military scientists have found many uses for directed energy... Read More
Do you want a little business jet with a lot of power?... Read More
Jet lag is a common sleep disorder suffered by many millions of... Read More
Airbus has announced that it will build a $600 million aircraft manufacturing... Read More
Probably one of the coolest experimental aircraft twin-engine aircraft is the Diamond... Read More
Finding really cheap airline tickets onlineLooking for a really good deal on... Read More
Flying with the airlines can be a time consuming as well as... Read More
Anti jet lag diets have been around for some time now, but... Read More
If you have de-ice boots on your aircraft you realize that for... Read More
Jetlag seems to be every traveler's worst nightmare ? especially if you're... Read More
The Aerial Fire Fighting Industry uses a system called AFF Automated Flight... Read More
Bathroom seat with a view; That's right! The all-new A-380 is trying... Read More
With easy access to the Internet, the convenience of finding cheap airline... Read More
As fighter aircraft get faster and faster there is a diminishing return... Read More
Traveling is different now than it was before 9/11. Arriving at the... Read More
If you have never had sex in a Cessna or other small... Read More
All of the major airlines are now associated with different web sites... Read More
Aviation & Flying Aviation & Flying |