The SS1 and White Knight were going to the EAA Airventure 2005 to commemorate the historic first flight of a civilian-built spaceship out of the earth's atmosphere (62 miles, 100 Kilometers) twice to capture the highly sought after Ansari X Prize. The prize awarded the feat with $10 Million dollars.
Mike Melvill is the world's first civilian astronaut and flew the first of two missions on SS1 to the outer edge of the Earth's atmosphere to compete for the Ansari X Prize.
The White Knight and attached SS1 departed our facility the next day for the EAA Convention site.
It was on display in Oshkosh until July 31, 2005 and then flew to Dulles Airport in Washington DC to deliver SS1 to the National Air and Space Museum. The White Knight then flew back to the Mojave for another project.
Looking back on this memorable event, I found it ironic that this historic aircraft and spaceship spent the night in the first building constructed at the Madison Airport back in 1938. This stone hangar was built by the WPA (Works Progress Administration) which was the largest and most ambitious American New Deal Agency.
I was honored that same week with the Carl E Guell Aviation Education Award at the EAA. After the presentation, we went down to the Flight Line to view the White Knight and SS1. As I approached the roped off area, protecting the aircraft I was told by the guard that I could not come near it.
I chuckled and said: "Hell, I babysat it last night!"
