Garage startup aims high... really high

Check out this project. Yup - this guy has built a flight test vehicle spaceplane in his garage with help from Intel and others.

Too cool!

His initial flight test program looks a lot like the lifting body flight tests from back in the 60's and 70's - though his planned balloon drop flight test isn't something that NASA tried. (they had dropships to carry their test vehicles up high).

Over design is similar to the Dyna Soar project - and as it should fly like it too. Though landing a lifting body really demands good depth perception for the pilot and I'm not convinced that his "virtual cockpit" that he'll pilot the craft from the ground with will give him that visual aid.

Aside from that - I can't wait for him to start flight testing it!