Dick Rutan and XCOR EZ-Rocket Honored at National Aeronautic Association 'Most Memorable Aviation Records of 2005'

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Mike Massee
XCOR Aerospace
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Press Release

Dick Rutan and EZ-Rocket Honored at National Aeronautic Association's
'Most Memorable Aviation Records of 2005'

Dick Rutan pilots the EZ-Rocket from Mojave to California City while setting the record for longest flight
by any ground launched rocket powered airplane. - photo by Mike Massee

Longest Record Flight by any Ground-Launched Rocket-Powered Airplane

Troy Bradly accepts the NAA "Most Memorable Aviation Record" award for Dick Rutan, who was unable to attend the ceremony.

MOJAVE, Calif., May 01, 2006 -- XCOR Aerospace announced today the EZ-Rocket team was honored by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA). In December 2005, the NAA certified the EZ-Rocket as completing the long distance world record for any ground-launched Rocket-Powered Airplane. Test Pilot and world record holder, LTC. Dick Rutan, USAF Ret. received the award at the NAA's Spring Awards Ceremony at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport this past Friday, April 28 in Arlington, Va. For more information about the event, go to www.naa.aero.

This award is a wonderful ending to a five year flight test program," said XCOR Aerospace CEO, Jeff Greason. "We want to thank the NAA judges for their work in verifying this world record. With 25 flights, the EZ-Rocket demonstrated low-cost and low-maintenance rocket-powered flight. We're ready to move on to the next step."

"In December of last year, a new record was established for rocket engine aircraft by XCOR Aerospace's EZ-Rocket," said a National Aeronautic Association release. "It set a mark for Distance without Landing for its class by flying 9.94 miles from Mojave, CA, to California City, CA." The flight was piloted by Rutan. "That was the shortest long-distance record flight ever!" said Rutan after the short ten minute flight from Mojave Airport to California City Airport.

XCOR Aerospace is a California corporation located in Mojave, California. The company is in the business of developing and producing safe, reliable and reusable rocket-powered vehicles and propulsion systems that enable affordable access to space.

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