Rocket Racing League(R) Takes Flight!

OSHKOSH, Wis., July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- History was made today in Oshkosh, WI, as the Rocket Racing League's Rocket Racer(R) took to the skies above EAA AirVenture in the first public display of the future of sports and entertainment. The Rocket Racing League is a new entertainment sports league combining the thrill of flight with the power of rockets.

"Today was truly a milestone not only in the history of the Rocket Racing League and aviation in general, but in the future of sports and entertainment," said Rocket Racing League founder and CEO Granger Whitelaw. "This first flight proves that by bringing together the technological and business development power of the aerospace industry, we have changed the future of sports and entertainment."

At approximately 2:30pm CT today, two-time NASA Shuttle commander and Rocket Racing League test pilot Rick Searfoss ignited the Rocket Racer's rocket engine and took to the skies above Oshkosh for a 10-minute demonstration flight. The Bridenstine DKNY Rocket Racer is based on Velocity Aircraft's canard airframe that is outfitted with an XCOR Aerospace LOX engine capable of 1,500-2,000 lbs. of thrust.

During a press conference prior to the first flight, Granger Whitelaw officially introduced DKNY MEN as the first official sponsor and clothing provider of the Rocket Racing League and official team sponsor of Bridenstine Rocket Racing, one of six teams set to compete in future Rocket Racing League races.

The Rocket Racing League will conduct additional flight demonstrations on Friday August 1st and Saturday, August 2nd, for the hundreds of thousands of people in attendance at EAA AirVenture.

The Rocket Racing League will be posting videos and photos of the first flight of the Rocket Racer at the following FTP site:

    Domain:     rocketracingleague.ipower.com
    Username:   press_ftp
    Password:   pressmaterials

    NOTE:       Need FTP Client Program to access site

For more information or to find a schedule of future Rocket Racing League events, visit www.RocketRacingLeague.com.

About The Rocket Racing League(R)

Founded in 2005 by two-time Indianapolis 500 winning team partner Granger Whitelaw and X PRIZE Chairman and CEO Peter H. Diamandis, MD, the Rocket Racing League(R) (RRL(TM)) is a new entertainment sports league that combines the exhilaration of racing with the power of rocket engines. To be held at venues across the country, the Rocket Racing League(R) will feature multiple races pitting up to 10 Rocket Racers(R) going head to head in a 4-lap, multiple elimination heat format on a 5-mile "Formula One"-like closed circuit raceway in the sky. For more information on the Rocket Racing League(R), please visit www.RocketRacingLeague.com.

    Contact:
    John McCartney
    646-280-8573
    john_mccartney@attentionpr.com