Shuttle Training Aircraft... or... Pilot's Dream

Yeah, but with the cost of insurance, it would probably cost almost as much as a ride to the ISS from Baikanur! But agreed, those with deep pockets would probably snap it up.
 
"Every Shuttle Commander has practiced at least 900 landings in this manner, as has each mission's Shuttle Pilot"


boy, that's a lot of training. I don't even think I've done that many landings at this point.
 
letsee a day of time in the sim practicing the approach followed by a climb to 40k in the gulfstream, reverse thrust on and down we come. each person gets one ride down the real thing. 5 or 10 k should cover it.

this should be added to my aviation theme (dream?) park where you can fly A-N approaches, solo a Jenny, and soon to be added, long IFR flights with NDB as the only source of navigation!
 
"the main landing gear is lowered (the nose landing stays retracted due to wind load constraints) and engine thrust is reversed"

So, I have a few questions. Does that mean the nose gear is not as solid as the mains? Maybe I'm just used to an airplane with mains that fail more than nose gear.

As far as the engine reverse thrust goes, I don't know much about it but if my memory serves correctly, it can only be deployed below a certain airspeed. Is the airplane really configured below that airspeed? I really wonder how the aircraft reacts to reverse thrust in the air.
 
Tristar said:
"the main landing gear is lowered (the nose landing stays retracted due to wind load constraints) and engine thrust is reversed"

So, I have a few questions. Does that mean the nose gear is not as solid as the mains? Maybe I'm just used to an airplane with mains that fail more than nose gear.

As far as the engine reverse thrust goes, I don't know much about it but if my memory serves correctly, it can only be deployed below a certain airspeed. Is the airplane really configured below that airspeed? I really wonder how the aircraft reacts to reverse thrust in the air.
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There are lot of mods to the aircraft including making the flap 'go up' to decrease lift. I would not try to compare it's operation to a normal category aircraft
 
Tristar said:
So, I have a few questions. Does that mean the nose gear is not as solid as the mains? Maybe I'm just used to an airplane with mains that fail more than nose gear.
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Who says they fail? The mains carry much more weight than the nose wheel, and they are built more stoutly to carry the weight. In addition, a normal landing is on the mains first, so the impact force of the landing is on the mains only, and not on the nosewheel. For weight and aerodynamic reasons, they build the nosewheel as light as possible consistent with doing its job.
As far as the engine reverse thrust goes, I don't know much about it but if my memory serves correctly, it can only be deployed below a certain airspeed. Is the airplane really configured below that airspeed? I really wonder how the aircraft reacts to reverse thrust in the air.
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I have been on a DC-8 (re-engined with the turbofans, not the original version) when they go into reverse thrust in flight to lose altitude pronto. I remember it happened on the way into LA, we had to stay high for some reason, and then ATC wanted us down like NOW! It was noisey and the whole plane vibrated, about like reverse thrust on the runway. Other than that, it was a non-event.

-Skip
 
HAHA My landings are actually not too bad thank you. I have yet to break the gear due to any of my flying skills. The 172RG just sucks, haha.
 
smigaldi said:
What! No GLIDING!
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oh yea letsee...fly an open cockpit baby albatross on the ridge at torrey pines.

soar the wave at the wasserkuppe

and the 1902 glider on the sand dunes of kitty hawk, that should about cover it :)
 
FWIW, I know of two GA pilots who've managed to fly the real shuttle simulator. AFaIK they didn't pay anything but I bet it cost the rest of us a bundle.
 
Business idea: Use the STA to offer US Shuttle type-certification to pilots who want to add something neat to their FAA records. :D

Just because you have the type rating doesn't mean they _have_ to let you fly it, right?
 
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