Here are my notes from the Rocket Racing League news conference:

[See press release: Rocket Racing LeagueŽ Announces First Exhibition Race, Upcoming Race Schedule, Key Partnership and Acquisition - RRL]

Brief Peter Diamandis statement:
- 3.5 years since first announced the concept
- Feels the progress has been tremendous
- Waited to reveal current progress until it was ready

Next speaker - Grainger Whitelaw:
- Will talk about the business of RR
- Three subsidiaries: RRL, Rocket Racing Composites Corp, Rocket Racing Land (real estate development)
- G-BAR - ground based augmented reality
- C-BAR - cockpit based augmented reality
-- could eventually be used for commercial aviation
- Discusses history of auto racing, particularly NASCAR
- Took a long period of step by step development from dirt track racing to today's giant sport.
- Plan a similar long term approach.
- If starting NASCAR today, might start out owning some of the technologies involved.
- Many technologies being developed for RR, e.g. fast rocket engine refueling.
- Will try to commercialize new technologies for broader aviation markets.
- About 15 months behind where they hoped to be but they are now on track.
- Number of patents filed.
- Showing a video of the XCOR rocket racer test flight in November
- Then shows a video of a more recent flight.
- Illustrates how engine is turned on and off during a flight.

- Introduces John Carmack
- John Carmack by video (very difficult to hear) him over the background noise:
- Sees RR as a place to develop rocket technologies and is excited to be involved

Grainger:
- Throttling capabilty of LOX/Alcohol engines

Neil Milburn of Armadillo is attending in person:
- Extremely proud to be involved in RRL
- Matches well with what they are doing
- Pushing for rocket engines that are very robust and easy to operate.
- Don't like pumps. Using helium overpressure to feed fuel.
- Close to the final design. Should be ready in a couple of weeks.
- Produces 3 times more power than needed for RR. Will "dial down"
- Can throttle and restartable.
- Film cooling and ceramic high temp material.
- Video of multiple starts/restarts
- 30 foot long plume
- Seeing in person is much more spectacular than in video
- Take lunar lander technology to develop the Vertical Drag Racer (VDR).
- Will work on this with RRL as well.
- Have FAA permits to start testing.

Grainger:
- VDR will also go through a synthetic track
- Two engine manufacturers - just as in Formula One have different engine options.

Next announcement: Acquisition of Velocity Aircraft
- Make the RR airframe
- Acquired by the RR Composite subsidiary. Airframes are composite.
- Use RRL as a testbed for new technology.

Scott Baker, president of Velocity:
- Been working with RRL for 2 years
- Focus on safety
- Strong airframe got even stronger
- Advances in RRL will move into general aviation.
- Looking forward to exciting times ahead.

Grainger:
- New 4 and 6 seat airplanes in development
- Velocity website.
- Luxury models.
- Describes advantages over Very Light Jet such as the lower noise, which allows use of smaller airports.

- Now he talks about safety
- Auto racing companies spend billions on new technologies that eventually go into standard autos
- RRL will focus on safety technologies.
- Survivability of current Indy and Formula cars is remarkable.
- Will offer ballistic recovery parachutes

RRL manager was next speaker (didn't get name, Tim Gormley? ):
- RRL is one of the most exciting development in aerospace in decades
- Will push the Velocity technology further.
- Will develop the safest, most luxurious general aviation airplane
- E.g. enhanced autoglide features

Grainger:
- 20 G seat in rocket racer to help survive impacts
- Use safety tech from racing cars which routinely allow drivers to survive high speed crashes
- Pass this to general aviation.

- First public exhibition will be at Oshkosh air show in August.
- Adam Smith of EAA via video:
- Been following RRL development and expects the RRL exhibition to be a great addition to the air show.
- Delighted to be involved and looking forward to seeing rocket planes flying at the show.

Grainger:
- 50 foot screens will be a part of events.
- NM (X PRIZE Cup, TBA) and Nevada exhibitions

Q&A: (Can't hear most questions so just show answers)
-----
- Using enviro friendly fuels. Will move towards biofuels.
- Vehicles will be owned by the teams.
--- Bridenstine will get first vehicle. (bridenstinerocketracing.com)
- Motor sports is the largest sport in the world. NASCAR is most highly attending.
--- Combining this with aviation.
--- 2 TV deals in the works.
- Tough to sell safety in general aviation, how will RRL be different?
--- Safety hasn't been emphasized enough. Cirus has done incredibly well with the ballistic recovery plane. Sold couple of thousand in short time.
--- Will push safety in the marketing.
- Dealing with FAA and exhibitions?
--- Working closely with FAA. many safety procedures will be in place.
--- E.g. never fly towards the crowds.
--- Course is arrange to always allow for making a safe landing if engine doesn't restart.
- Race format?
--- Flights split with pit stops.
--- Heats, points, double elimination, etc.
- Video game status?
--- First game developed a couple of years ago. Very popular at their booths at shows.
--- Still deciding when and how to release it.