Rocket Racing League(R) Conducts Successful Inaugural Test Flights of Armadillo Aerospace Powered Rocket Racer

NEW YORK, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rocket Racing League(R) today announced the successful results of the first three test flights of the Bridenstine DKNY Rocket Racer(R) now equipped with liquid oxygen (LOX)-alcohol engines manufactured by Armadillo Aerospace, a leading developer of reusable rocket powered vehicles based in Mesquite, TX. These test flights mark an important milestone for the League, occurring just weeks after the first public demonstration flights of the Rocket Racer at the 2008 EAA Oshkosh AirVenture.

The Rocket Racer test flights with the Armadillo rocket engine were conducted at the Clinton Sherman Industrial Airpark in Burns Flat, Oklahoma on August 25th and 26th, and were piloted by Rocket Racing League test pilot Len Fox. Each of the three test flights averaged about 10 minutes with a top speed of 190 knots. Additional test flights of the Rocket Racer equipped with the Armadillo rocket engine will be conducted in the coming weeks. A first demonstration race is tentatively scheduled for the 2008 Reno Air Races this September, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

"Armadillo is an important partner to the Rocket Racing League and we're thrilled with our initial test flights," said Rocket Racing League founder and CEO Granger Whitelaw. "We've made great strides this year, from announcing the acquisition of Velocity Aircraft, to our DKNY sponsorship, and our first public demonstration flights at AirVenture. Now that we've successfully conducted a test flight with the Armadillo engine, we are looking forward to getting to racing and exhibiting a 21st century sport for the 21st century sports fan."

John Carmack, President of Armadillo Aerospace said, "We're happy to share in the success of the Rocket Racer test flights now equipped with our engines. In addition to these test flights, we have done about 75 test burns, all to secure the safety of the aircraft. Now we're aiming to build at least five more engines for the Rocket Racing League and continue our mission of providing a system that will not only be cost effective and robust for the teams involved, but safe for the pilots and the thousands of fans in attendance at Rocket Racing League events."

Videos and photographs of the Armadillo Aerospace test flights are available for download and viewing at the following FTP site:

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

    NOTE: You will need an 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 will feature multiple races pitting up to 10 Rocket Racers 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, please visit www.rocketracingleague.com.

About Armadillo Aerospace

Armadillo Aerospace is a leading developer of reusable rocket powered vehicles. The company is focused on VTVL (vertical takeoff, vertical landing) suborbital research and passenger flights, with an eye towards eventual paths to orbit.

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