https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55699262

 

Virgin Orbit launch their satalites from under the wing of a 747 of course and there are plans, well under way, to build a spaceport in Newquay Cornwall.

And of course, one advantage Virgin Orbit has is that they can launch satalites from anywhere in the world at low cost.

Edited January 18, 20215 yr by martin-w

11 hours ago, martin-w said:

And of course, one advantage Virgin Orbit has is that they can launch satalites from anywhere in the world at low cost.

Assuming that launcher one can be configured for a profile to get the satellite to orbit. The 747 can of course use any suitable runway

It would be great to see Newquay used as a base to get satellites into orbit. It's about time that the UK started showing some initiative again in the aerospace industry. Our once great aviation industry is now just a sad, pathetic shadow of its former glory

There was some talk of a spaceport up in the wilds of Scotland also:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutherland_spaceport

I can hear it now...

'Newquay Space Centre, this is Cosmic Girl, fully established on the localiser two seven left...'

'Alright my bird, you be cleared to land two seven left. Proper job.'

 

The video...

 

 

2 hours ago, martin-w said:

The video...

"Fox 5..."
The 747 is so versatile, that it's now a weapons platform. 😄

What a great month it has been for space flight, three different companies launching within a week of each other.

5 hours ago, F737NG said:

The 747 is so versatile, that it's now a weapons platform. 😄

Maybe they should bring something like this to life. Could do multiple launches in flight.

https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/why-boeings-design-for-a-747-full-of-cruise-missiles-ma-1605150371

6 hours ago, F737NG said:

The 747 is so versatile, that it's now a weapons platform. 😄

In the early 2000s, a 744 was fitted with a 1 MW laser to shoot hostile ballistic missiles. The project was scrapped about 10  years ago for operational reasons but how cool was that  ? I want one in my sim 😅

 

 

747 laser was scrapped, yes, but now they have high powered lasers on trucks, and of course ships and  6th gen jets will have lasers too. Then of course we have rail guns being developed for ships too. The future is here. No need for explosives with railguns, the kinetic energy does the job. 

 

https://www.ausa.org/news/army-accelerates-laser-weapon-system

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/34663/navy-to-add-laser-weapons-to-at-least-seven-more-ships-in-the-next-three-years

 

 

1 hour ago, Dominique_K said:

In the early 2000s, a 744 was fitted with a 1 MW laser to shoot hostile ballistic missiles. The project was scrapped about 10  years ago for operational reasons but how cool was that  ? I want one in my sim

No better way to get to the head of the queue at JFK or Heathrow!

9 minutes ago, goates said:

No better way to get to the head of the queue at JFK or Heathrow!

😃 

Would also need a large plow attached to the nose wheel

42 minutes ago, goates said:

No better way to get to the head of the queue at JFK or Heathrow!

And suddenly you're no.1 for landing on a 25-mile final 

 

29 minutes ago, Dominique_K said:

Would also need a large plow attached to the nose wheel

You mean you don't like replicating the 60-minute departure queue at JFK during the evening rush? 🙃
 

On 1/18/2021 at 9:30 PM, Christopher Low said:

 Our once great aviation industry is now just a sad, pathetic shadow of its former glory

Why do you think that is Chris? 

Let me give you a couple of examples.. 

 

A.  Why do you think it took them so long to put in the new 'travel corridor' restrictions. 

B. Southend Airport will this summer have just one Ryanair 73 based there.  

 

Edited January 20, 20215 yr by fluffyflops

10 hours ago, F737NG said:

 

You mean you don't like replicating the 60-minute departure queue at JFK during the evening rush? 🙃
 

I meant clearing your way to the head of the queue with a 1 MW laser may leave some debris on the taxiway hence the plow 😏