One REALLY Long Runway for Rent 211
DarkNemesis618 writes "NASA is looking into putting its 15,000 foot runway up for rent at the Kennedy Space Center. The runway, which is used for Space Shuttle landings, will soon be used less and less as the Shuttle fleet is set to be retired in 2010. The first private venture was seen last month when Steve Fossett took off at KSC in Virgin Atlantic's experimental plane. One promising deal in the works comes from Zero Gravity Corp. which offers customers a few seconds of weightlessness on a Boeing 727-200. The shuttle runway, built in the 1970s never got the use it was expected to, and with the next generation of space vehicles using parachutes to land, the runway is going to have even less use."
Runway Lengths (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Runway Lengths (Score:3, Informative)
For the metric crew: (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Runway Lengths (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Runway Lengths (Score:4, Informative)
Good point. I used to use that runway in X-Plane to take off custom spaceplanes. The extra runway was extremely helpful in getting the vehicle off the ground. Especially when I equipped the craft with ejectable JATO bottles in lieu of a proper Solid Rocket Booster.
(In case anyone is wondering: No, I never made it to orbit. As soon as I hit Mach 5, I overstress the frame and lose a wing or somesuch. If I don't hit Mach 5, I run out of fuel before I obtain orbit. Even in the simulated NASP craft that is supposed to be able to make it to orbit. Guess I better let a real pilot at the controls.)
Google Maps link (Score:4, Informative)
More info about the runway (Score:3, Informative)
Even sadder... (Score:5, Informative)
More Detail on KTTS (Titusville) (Score:3, Informative)
Runway Information
Runway 15/33
Dimensions: 15000 x 300 ft. / 4572 x 91 m
Surface: concrete/grooved, in good condition
Weight bearing capacity:
Single wheel: 120000 lbs
Double wheel: 220000 lbs
Double tandem: 500000 lbs
Dual double tandem: 800000 lbs
Runway edge lights: non-standard
NSTD HIRL; 85' FR RWY EDGE.
RUNWAY 15 RUNWAY 33
Gradient: 0.0 0.0
Traffic pattern: left left
Markings: precision, in good condition precision, in good condition
Approach lights: ALSF2: standard 2,400 foot high intensity approach lighting system with centerline sequenced flashers (category II or III) ALSF2: standard 2,400 foot high intensity approach lighting system with centerline sequenced flashers (category II or III)
Centerline lights: yes
CL RWY 15-33 NSTD, 10,000'. yes
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cribbed from airnav.com [sweet site]
Re:Runway Lengths (Score:4, Informative)
Well, to put THAT into perspective, 13R/31L is one of the longest runways in the United States. There are only a few longer:
# Denver Intl Airport (DEN) in Denver, CO has a 16,000' x 200' runway.
# Southern California Logistics Airport (VCV) in Victorville, CA has a 15,050' x 150' runway.
# Edwards AFB Airport (EDW) in Edwards, CA has a 15,013' x 300' runway.
# Nasa Shuttle Landing Facility Airport (X68) in Titusville, FL has a 15,000' x 300' runway.
# Vandenberg AFB Airport (VBG) in Lompoc, CA has a 15,000' x 200' runway.
That's from MyAFD.com. [myafd.com]
So, still a pretty long runway by any standard. I mean that's nearly three miles, or about 50% longer than the runways at most major airports. (LaGuardia's runways, for example, are only 7,500 feet long, and yes, widebodies can and do use this airport.)
Re:Can I rent it for a day? (Score:3, Informative)
My advice to the GP: look up some tracks in your area. In the US, there are places with lots of tracks, and places devoid of them (mostly in the middle), and some have open track days. Most will rent out a day, so if you can get enough people together to make it worthwhile that's an option... Maybe there's a Subaru club that rents a day at the track, which can cost upwards of $8000 depending on the track. So, the more people you've got, the cheaper it will be. Open track days can cost anywhere from $100 to $300 to attend, but it's worth it... But unless you've got an STI, I wouldn't push your car too hard, the plain WRX transmissions are pretty weak as far as sports car transmissions, they shafts and case can flex tear up a bunch of gears if you're not careful, or worse yet, you could break the case. Ouch. I've seen it happen!
Other than that, I think the best investment you can make as far as going fast and enjoying it is in performance driving school. There's lots of schools around the country and tracks can often get you headed in the right direction. If you've got money to blow, and some space to work on and store your cars, you could get a wrecked WRX, and turn that into a semi-dedicated, but still road legal car.