Mike Melvill Passes

[Velocity173]

First commercial astronaut…back when you actually had to be a pilot to be an astronaut. Must have been an incredible ride working for Burt from the late 70s all the way into the 2000s with scaled.

Mike Melvill - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[MauleSkinner]

First commercial astronaut…

A test pilot with a Private Pilot certificate. (Looks like he did eventually get his Commercial, though.)

 

[N659HB]

RIP Mr. Melville.

 

[Velocity173]

A test pilot with a Private Pilot certificate. (Looks like he did eventually get his Commercial, though.)

The definition they use is the first person to go into space in a private aircraft.

 

[Piperonca]

 

[Albany Tom]

I think I watched a documentary about those space flights called "Black Sky" about 3 times. I remember they were all excited, in particular, when they beat the X-15s records. Looking at Melvill's wiki page it seems like he did meet Crossfield after. The teamwork of those guys all putting that together was just amazing.

 

[Velocity173]

I think I watched a documentary about those space flights called "Black Sky" about 3 times. I remember they were all excited, in particular, when they beat the X-15s records. Looking at Melvill's wiki page it seems like he did meet Crossfield after. The teamwork of those guys all putting that together was just amazing.

Yeah I’ve got both DVDs. Excellent documentaries.

 

[TFulwider]

Incredible pilot, incredible man. Never got the recognition he deserved!

 

[psween]

Mike was one of the best people I've ever met. I worked at SCALED from 2004-2010, and had my first flight in an experimental in his LongEZ, N26MS. Every time I flew with him, his comment on rollout was "Well, we cheated death again." Amazing pilot, craftsman, and mentor. He will be missed by a lot of people.