Friday, October 4, 2019

Virgin Orbit Selects RAF Pilot For Satellite Launch Effort

Virgin Orbit, the space launch startup led by Sir Richard Branson, which has been running its development program in Mojave, has selected a pilot from the UK's Royal Air Force (RAF) to be a part of its small satellite launch program. The Royal Air Force and Virgin Orbit had announced an earlier partnership in July of this year. According to the RAF and Virgin Orbit, Flight Lieutenant Mathew 'Stanny' Stannard--currently, a Typhoon pilot with one of the RAF's test and evaluation squadrons--had been selected and will join Virgin Orbit's team next year. In an appearance related to the selection, the RAF's Red Arrows--the RAF's precision flying squad, which is touring North America--did a flyby over Mojave this week with Cosmic Girl, the customized Boeing 747 which Virgin Orbit is using as the first stage of sending its vehicles into space. The RAF's Red Arrows are the Pacific Air Show in Huntington Beach this weekend; the Red Arrows did a highly visible flyby through Hollywood on Wednesday.

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