SpaceShipOne Pilot Mike Melvill Will Be Recognized At Fall Awards Banquet

Mike Melvill, the first civilian astronaut and pilot of SpaceShipOne, will be honored by the National Aeronautic Association at its Fall Awards Banquet November 8.

Melvill will be recognized for a world record he established when he became the first pilot to earn civilian astronaut wings on his flight to space on June 21st of this year. He was also part of the team that earned the $10 million Ansari X-Prize when he made a second flight to space September 29. Melvill's appearance will be one of the highlights of NAA's Fall Awards program, which recognizes aviation record setters from this year, in addition to honoring the winners of some of aviation's most prestigious awards.

Melvill will be honored for the record he established for "Altitude, Aeroplane Launched from a Ship," with a height of 281,310 feet reached. He has claimed several world records in conjunction with his September flight for the X-Prize, which was awarded to Scaled Composites LLC for completing two flights into space within 14 days without government involvement. Those records are still pending final certification.

Melvill is a vice president for Scaled Composites, an aerospace development company headquartered in Mojave (CA). He has 19 years of experience as a test pilot, including first flights on several experimental designs. He is the only person other than Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager to pilot Voyager, the first aircraft to fly around the world without stopping and a Collier Trophy winner.

Also, appearing at Fall Awards will be former NASA astronaut Robert "Hoot" Gibson, who established a new record for speed on a 100-kilometer closed course for planes in his aircraft's class in April, averaging a speed of 238 miles per hour. Gibson was a shuttle commander and participated in five missions into space. Seats for this event are still available. Call (800) 644-9777 to purchase tickets.

FMI: www.naa-usa.org