SpaceShipOne wins the XPrize
Pictures by Stratofox team members

X-Prize Flight 2: Taxi and Takeoff

The chase planes and White Knight (carrying SpaceShipOne) taxi in front of the general public viewing area for takeoff on Runway 30. Today's flight is right at dawn, with the Sun peeking over the horizon in one of of the pictures when the Starship chase plane is taking off.

(all pictures on this page are by Ian Kluft)

(3072x2048 2587K) (500x333 10K)	The Extra 300 low-altitude chase plane taxies for takeoff before the second XPrize attempt of SpaceShipOne.
(3072x2048 2868K) (500x333 12K)	White Knight taxies in front of the VIP area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 2812K) (500x333 10K)	White Knight taxies toward the general public viewing area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 2806K) (500x333 14K)	White Knight taxies toward the general public viewing area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 2912K) (500x333 17K)	White Knight taxies toward the general public viewing area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 2760K) (500x333 13K)	White Knight taxies in front of the general public viewing area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 2808K) (500x333 14K)	White Knight taxies in front of the general public viewing area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 2666K) (500x333 11K)	White Knight taxies in front of the general public viewing area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 2719K) (500x333 12K)	White Knight taxies in front of the general public viewing area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 2279K) (500x333 12K)	White Knight taxies in front of the general public viewing area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 1861K) (500x333 10K)	White Knight taxies in front of the general public viewing area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 1913K) (500x333 10K)	White Knight taxies in front of the general public viewing area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 1910K) (500x333 9K)	White Knight taxies in front of the general public viewing area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 1931K) (500x333 8K)	White Knight taxies in front of the general public viewing area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 2283K) (500x333 9K)	White Knight taxies in front of the general public viewing area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 2452K) (500x333 9K)	White Knight taxies in front of the general public viewing area on its way to Runway 30.
(3072x2048 2820K) (500x333 13K)	The Beech Starship (serial number NC-51) high-altitude chase plane taxies in front of the general public viewing area.
(3072x2048 2829K) (500x333 14K)	The Beech Starship (serial number NC-51) high-altitude chase plane taxies in front of the general public viewing area.
(3072x2048 2787K) (500x333 14K)	The Beech Starship (serial number NC-51) high-altitude chase plane taxies in front of the general public viewing area.
(3072x2048 2711K) (500x333 11K)	The Beech Starship (serial number NC-51) high-altitude chase plane taxies in front of the general public viewing area.
(3072x2048 2603K) (500x333 12K)	The Beech Starship (serial number NC-51) high-altitude chase plane taxies in front of the general public viewing area.
(3072x2048 1872K) (500x333 9K)	The Beech Starship (serial number NC-51) high-altitude chase plane taxies in front of the general public viewing area.
(3072x2048 1800K) (500x333 8K)	The Beech Starship (serial number NC-51) high-altitude chase plane taxies in front of the general public viewing area.
(3072x2048 2493K) (500x333 11K)	The Beech Starship (serial number NC-51) high-altitude chase plane taxies in front of the general public viewing area.
(3072x2048 2620K) (500x333 8K)	The Extra 300 low-altitude chase plane takes off first so that it can get an airborne view of White Knight's takeoff.
(3072x2048 2761K) (500x333 10K)	White Knight and the Starship chase plane wait at the Runway 30 threshold at the Mojave Airport.
(3072x2048 2741K) (500x333 9K)	White Knight and the Starship chase plane wait at the Runway 30 threshold at the Mojave Airport.
(3072x2048 2696K) (500x333 9K)	White Knight taxies into position for takeoff on Runway 30 at the Mojave Airport.
(3072x2048 2701K) (500x333 9K)	White Knight taxies into position for takeoff on Runway 30 at the Mojave Airport.
(3072x2048 2700K) (500x333 10K)	Mike Melvill at the controls of White Knight begins his takeoff roll. White Knight is carrying SpaceShipOne for its second XPrize flight. On this flight, Brian Binnie is at the controls of SpaceShipOne making is first space flight.
(3072x2048 2662K) (500x333 9K)	White Knight accelerates on Runway 30 at the Mojave Airport.
(3072x2048 2668K) (500x333 11K)	White Knight accelerates on Runway 30 at the Mojave Airport.
(3072x2048 2499K) (500x333 9K)	White Knight accelerates on Runway 30 at the Mojave Airport.
(3072x2048 2806K) (500x333 10K)	White Knight accelerates on Runway 30 at the Mojave Airport. The first light of dawn is just about to emerge in the background.
(3072x2048 2515K) (500x333 9K)	White Knight accelerates on Runway 30 at the Mojave Airport.
(3072x2048 2580K) (500x333 10K)	White Knight accelerates on Runway 30 at the Mojave Airport.
(3072x2048 2710K) (500x333 11K)	White Knight accelerates on Runway 30 at the Mojave Airport.
(3072x2048 2727K) (500x333 11K)	White Knight accelerates on Runway 30 at the Mojave Airport.
(3072x2048 2673K) (500x333 11K)	White Knight accelerates on Runway 30 at the Mojave Airport.
(3072x2048 2788K) (500x333 13K)	Mike Melvill begins to rotate White Knight and the forward landing gear wheels come off the runway.
(3072x2048 2839K) (500x333 14K)	Mike Melvill rotates White Knight and the forward landing gear wheels come off the runway.
(3072x2048 2857K) (500x333 12K)	Mike Melvill rotates White Knight and the forward landing gear wheels come off the runway.
(3072x2048 2899K) (500x333 13K)	Wheels up! White Knight is airborne carrying SpaceShipOne for its second XPrize flight.
(3072x2048 2704K) (500x333 9K)	White Knight climbs out from the Mojave Airport carrying SpaceShipOne.
(3072x2048 2841K) (500x333 10K)	White Knight climbs out from the Mojave Airport carrying SpaceShipOne.
(3072x2048 2785K) (500x333 10K)	White Knight climbs out from the Mojave Airport carrying SpaceShipOne.
(3072x2048 2764K) (500x333 10K)	White Knight climbs out from the Mojave Airport carrying SpaceShipOne.
(3072x2048 2526K) (500x333 6K)	White Knight climbs out from the Mojave Airport carrying SpaceShipOne.
(3072x2048 2165K) (500x333 3K)	White Knight climbs out from the Mojave Airport carrying SpaceShipOne.
(3072x2048 2645K) (500x333 9K)	Bob Scherer begins his takeoff roll with his Beech Starship, which is the high-altitude chase plane for this mission.
(3072x2048 2060K) (500x333 3K)	White Knight banks left after takeoff.
(3072x2048 2616K) (500x333 10K)	The Starship chase plane on its takeoff roll.
(3072x2048 2353K) (500x333 9K)	The Starship chase plane on its takeoff roll.
(3072x2048 1939K) (500x333 8K)	The Starship chase plane on its takeoff roll. The first light of dawn appears behind the Starship as it goes by the general public viewing area.
(3072x2048 2090K) (500x333 8K)	The Starship chase plane on its takeoff roll.
(3072x2048 2661K) (500x333 10K)	The Starship chase plane on its takeoff roll.
(3072x2048 2826K) (500x333 13K)	The Starship chase plane on its takeoff roll.
(3072x2048 2781K) (500x333 13K)	The Starship chase plane on its takeoff roll.
(3072x2048 2762K) (500x333 12K)	The Starship chase plane takes off.

Back up to Stratofox's pictures of SpaceShipOne's XPrize space flights.

Web text copyright 2004 by Stratofox, a Special Interest Group of the South Bay Community Network, Silicon Valley, California
All pictures copyright 2004 by their photographers. Any publication or redistribution of these pictures requires permission. Permission is available upon request and will require crediting the photographers for their pictures.