>> "VISITING, WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.
>> WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.
I'M HUELL HOWSER.
AND HERE WE ARE ON THIS WINDY DAY UP HERE IN THE NICE LITTLE HIGH DESERT COMMUNITY OF MOJAVE.
SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE STANDING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE ALMOST OF THE MOJAVE AIRPORT.
AND OUR GUIDE TODAY -- INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY, TERRY.
>> TERRY ROBINSON.
>> WELL, YOU DIDN'T USE YOUR WHOLE TITLE.
>> IT'S TERRY ROBINSON, ROTORHEAD.
THAT'S WHAT YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS CALL YOURSELVES, ROTORHEADS.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT FIRST ABOUT THE HISTORY OF MOJAVE AIRPORT, BECAUSE MOST OF US KNOW THIS AIRPORT.
WHEN WE'RE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 14 OR HIGHWAY 58, WE LOOK OVER HERE AND SEE THESE HUNDREDS OF OLD COMMERCIAL AIRPLANES THAT ARE HERE IN MOTHBALLS UNTIL THEY ARE NEEDED TO BE USED LATER ON.
THEY BRING THEM HERE BECAUSE THE CLIMATE IS SO GOOD, THIS IS A PLACE TO STORE THEM.
SO THAT'S WHAT MOST OF US SEE WHEN WE'RE DRIVING BY THE AIRPORT.
TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS MOJAVE AIRPORT IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT AIRPORT, ISN'T IT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
IT'S THE CENTER FOR EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT FOR A LOT OF PIONEERS THAT FLEW VERY UNIQUE AND EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
>> UNIQUE AND EXPERIMENTAL.
THOSE ARE TWO PERFECT WORDS TO LEAD IN TO WHAT WE ARE GETTING READY TO SEE, BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU, THIS IS THE WEIRDEST, THE STRANGEST, THE MOST UNUSUAL VEHICLE -- LET'S JUST CALL IT A "VEHICLE" FOR THE TIME BEING -- THAT I THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.
AND I GUARANTEE YOU THAT 99.9999 PERCENT OF OUR VIEWERS HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS THING, HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS THING, DON'T KNOW A THING ABOUT IT, DO THEY?
>> PROBABLY NOT.
[ LAUGHTER ] >> HE'S A MAN OF FEW WORDS, BUT THE WORDS HE CHOOSES ARE PERFECT.
RIGHT NOW, LET'S TURN AROUND AND TAKE A LOOK.
NOW, WHEN YOU FIRST GET HERE, YOU SEE THIS BIG HANGER STANDING HERE.
THE DOORS ARE CLOSED.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT'S IN IT.
NOW, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A SIGNAL TO OUR BUDDY OVER THERE, AND HE'S GOING INSIDE TO PUSH THE BUTTON, AND HERE COME THE DOORS.
THEY'RE GETTING READY TO OPEN FOR US.
AM I BUILDING ENOUGH SUSPENSE FOR EVERYBODY?
>> OH, I THINK SO.
>> BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU, WHAT YOU SEE WHEN THESE DOORS OPEN -- LET'S STAND OUT OF THE WAY HERE, TERRY -- IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
AND THERE IT IS STANDING IN THERE ON ITS OWN, WRITTEN UP ON THE SIDE IT'S CALLED "THE ROTARY ROCKET."
NOW, REMEMBER WE'RE NOT AS TECHNICAL AS YOU ARE, TERRY.
TELL US WHAT IN THE WORLD WE ARE LOOKING AT?
>> THIS WAS DESIGNED AS A SINGLE-STAGE-TO-ORBIT ROCKET SHIP.
>> ROCKET SHIP?
>> THIS ONE, THIS PARTICULAR ONE, WAS THE VERY FIRST.
IT WAS A PROOF OF CONCEPT VEHICLE KNOWN AS THE "ROTON ATV" OR "ATMOSPHERIC TEST VEHICLE."
>> THE ROTON.
THAT'S A GREAT SPACESHIP NAME.
>> YES, IT IS.
>> BUT WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT THIS IS THIS IS NOT JUST A SPACESHIP, THIS WAS DESIGNED TO BE A COMBINATION SPACESHIP/HELICOPTER.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
YOU CAN LOOK AT IT AS THE WORLD'S TALLEST HELICOPTER.
IT WAS REGISTERED WITH THE FAA AS A HELICOPTER.
>> NOW, WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT ALL THE DETAILS, BECAUSE WE ARE STANDING HERE WITH BRIAN BINNIE, WHO IS A FORMER NAVY TEST PILOT.
AND, BRIAN, YOU HAD THE DISTINCTION OF FLYING THIS THING.
AND I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE HOW YOU FLY SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE NOSE CONE TO A BIG ROCKET TO ME.
>> WELL, THAT WAS ITS INTENT.
AND LET ME FIRST GIVE CREDIT.
I WAS NOT UP THERE BY MYSELF.
THERE WAS TWO OF US THAT TOOK THIS ADVENTURE ON, AND BOTH OF US WERE FORMER NAVY TEST PILOTS.
NEITHER ONE OF US WERE HELICOPTER PILOTS, BY WAY OF INTEREST.
SO WHAT WE HAD ON OUR HANDS HERE WAS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY OFF THE SCALE IN TERMS OF WHAT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE.
>> OFF THE SCALE.
THAT'S A GREAT WORD FOR IT, BECAUSE YOU ALL WERE SITTING RIGHT HERE IN THIS LITTLE COMPARTMENT COMING OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE ROCKET.
HOW DID YOU FLY THIS THING?
>> WELL, THE EVOLUTION OF THAT COCKPIT IS RATHER INTERESTING, BUT WE ENDED UP CALLING THAT THE "BAT CAVE."
>> THE BAT CAVE?
>> THE BAT CAVE.
IT WAS ABOUT 15 FEET UP.
BUT, ONCE YOU GET INSIDE AND YOU SIT BACK FROM THAT LARGE, FISH BOWL WINDOW, YOUR POINT OF REFERENCE TO THE GROUND IS SOMEWHERE 50-, 70 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU.
YOU HAVE NO PERIPHERAL VISION.
YOU CAN'T SEE THE ROTOR SYSTEM.
YOU CAN'T SEE THE GROUND BELOW YOU.
IT FELT VERY MUCH LIKE BEING IN A CAVE AND WITH STRANGE THINGS GOING ON ABOUT.
>> NOW, THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF THIS THING RIGHT NOW.
BUT WHEN YOU FLEW IT, IT WAS FLYING RIGHT HERE AT MOJAVE AIRPORT AS A HELICOPTER.
IT WAS TAKING OFF USING HELICOPTER ROTOR BLADES.
>> YES, IT DID.
IT HAD THREE FLIGHTS, FIVE TAKEOFF AND LANDINGS IF YOU WANT TO GET TECHNICAL ABOUT IT.
WE WENT AS HIGH AS ABOUT 75 FEET.
WE FLEW AS FAST AS 50 KNOTS, 55 KNOTS, AND WE COVERED, OH, MAYBE A HALF MILE IN DISTANCE ON ONE FLIGHT.
TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OVER THREE FLIGHTS WAS SIX MINUTES, BUT THEY WERE SOME OF THE SIX LONGEST, HARDEST WORKING MINUTES WE'VE EVER SHARED TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER PERSON.
>> NOW, DID ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY OR DID ANYBODY IN THE AVIATION COMMUNITY KNOW ABOUT THIS?
WAS THERE A BIG CROWD OUT HERE WHILE YOU WERE DOING IT?
>> WELL, YES, SIR.
THIS WAS A COMMERCIAL VENTURE.
WE HAD A ROLLOUT THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO FIRST FLIGHT AT WHICH THERE WAS A 1,000, 1200 PEOPLE PARKED AROUND THIS RAMP WITNESSING THIS THING COMING OUT, MAKING ITS PRESENCE KNOWN TO THE WORLD, THAT THE INTENT OF THIS WAS TO BE THE EQUIVALENT OF THE ENTERPRISE VEHICLE TO THE SPACE SHUTTLE TRANSPORT SYSTEM.
THIS WAS THAT EQUIVALENT.
IT WAS GOING TO BE A LANDING DEMONSTRATOR FOR A NEW CLASS OF ROCKETS THAT WOULD GO UP LIKE A ROCKET AND COME BACK DOWN LIKE A HELICOPTER, WOULDN'T NEED A BIG RUNWAY TO LAND ON.
WOULDN'T LAND IN THE WATER AND THE PARACHUTES, BUT WOULD COME DOWN UNDER A ROTOR SYSTEM AND LAND VERY PRECISELY IN A SMALL SPOT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET ME TRY TO PUT THAT IN WORDS THAT EVERYBODY WILL UNDERSTAND.
YOU WERE GREAT AT IT, BUT THE IDEA WAS THIS WOULD BE THE WHOLE ROCKET RIGHT HERE.
IT WOULD TAKE OFF WITH ROCKETS UNDERNEATH IT PUSHING IT UP.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> IT WOULD GO INTO ORBIT, DO WHATEVER IT HAD TO DO IN ORBIT, AND THEN AS IT CAME BACK DOWN TO EARTH, WHEN IT GOT TO A CERTAIN POINT, THE HELICOPTER BLADES WOULD POP OUT OR START BEING USED SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER -- >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> -- AND YOU COULD LAND THIS THING AS A HELICOPTER.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> SO WHAT YOU ALL WERE PRACTICING IN THESE WONDERFUL FILMS WE HAVE IS THE WAY THE HELICOPTER -- HOW THIS THING WOULD LAND.
NOT THE WAY IT WOULD TAKE OFF, BUT THE WAY IT WOULD LAND AFTER IT HAD COME BACK IN FROM ORBIT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WE WERE THE LAST ONE-HALF PERCENT OF A VERY TORTUROUS MISSION OR FLIGHT PATH, BUT A VERY IMPORTANT ONE, BECAUSE YOU COULD GET THE OTHER 99 PERCENT RIGHT, YOU SCREW UP THE LANDING, WELL, YOU DON'T LOOK VERY GOOD.
>> BUT IF THIS THING HAD WORKED, WOULD YOU ALL HAVE GONE INTO SPACE?
EVENTUALLY THE PILOTS WOULD HAVE GONE INTO SPACE IN THIS THING WITH THEIR HEADS STICKING OUT ON THIS LITTLE THING RIGHT HERE?
>> THE VEHICLE IS FULL-SCALE SIZE.
THE COCKPIT WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME MODIFICATIONS, BUT THE BASIC GEOMETRY, THE COCKPIT ON THE SIDE OF A VEHICLE WITH SMALLER WINDOWS, NOT THIS LARGE, GLASS BOWL THING YOU SEE HERE, WAS THE BASIC CONCEPT.
IT WAS GOING TO BE BALANCED BY A PAYLOAD ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, ENGINES BELOW, LOCKS AND FUEL ABOVE, AND A ROTOR SYSTEM.
AND THAT WAS OUR DEAL.
>> AND THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A COMMERCIAL OPERATION.
THIS WAS TO BE A MONEYMAKING VENTURE BY A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA AS KIND OF A REVOLUTIONARY WAY OF PUTTING THINGS IN AND OUT OF SPACE.
>> AND WE WEREN'T THE ONLY PEOPLE OUT THERE PITCHING A VEHICLE TO FILL THAT NICHE IN THAT MARKET.
BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF MONEY OUT THERE, THERE WAS AN UNDER CAPACITY FOR WHAT WAS PROJECTED TO BE A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS AND LOW EARTH ORBIT, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF OTHER COMPANIES WITH VEHICLES MAYBE NOT AS OFF THE MARK AS THIS ONE APPEARS.
BUT THEY WERE OUT THERE, AND THEY WERE ALL TOUTING THE SAME KIND OF CAPABILITY IN THE KIND OF TIMEFRAME.
THEY WERE GOING TO BUILD, FLY, DEMONSTRATE, AND GET MONEYMAKING REVENUE FLIGHTS IN SHORT ORDER.
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN THEY CAME TO YOU WITH THIS IDEA AND SHOWED YOU THE MOCK-UP OF IT AND SAID, "YOU'RE GOING TO GET IN THAT THING, AND YOU'RE GOING TO FLY IT"?
BE HONEST, NOW.
YOU'RE A TEST PILOT.
>> WELL, THERE WERE REALLY THREE DIFFERENT STAGES TO THE COMPANY.
THERE WAS THE BUSINESS END THAT WAS TRYING TO PITCH A PLAN THAT SAYS IN X NUMBER OF YEARS WE CAN FILL A MARKET NICHE AND MAKE MONEY.
THERE WAS ANOTHER SIDE OF THE COMPANY THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR A PROPULSION SYSTEM THAT WOULD GET IT UP THERE SOMEHOW -- >> INTO SPACE.
>> -- INTO SPACE TO DO THAT.
AND THEN THERE WAS THIS VEHICLE THAT SAID, OKAY, HAVING ACCOMPLISHED ALL THAT AND GOTTEN THE MONEY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, LET'S JUST SHOW THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE SOMETHING AS AWKWARD AS THIS CONFIGURATION LOOKS AND DEMONSTRATE THAT WE CAN CONTROL IT IN THE VICINITY OF TOUCHDOWN SPOT AND MANEUVER IT AND MANIPULATE IT.
>> WOULD THIS EVER HAVE TECHNICALLY -- LET'S STAND OUT A LITTLE WAYS FROM THIS, FELLOWS -- WAS THIS EVER TECHNICALLY, COULD IT EVER BE CALLED A HELICOPTER?
>> I BELIEVE, BRIAN, YOU CAN CONFIRM THIS, IT WAS REGISTERED WITH THE FAA AS A HELICOPTER.
>> IT WAS REGISTERED AS AN EXPERIMENTAL R & D HELICOPTER WITH THE LOCAL VAN NUYS FAA OFFICE, AND THEY CAME UP HERE A COUPLE OF TIMES TO CHECK IT OUT.
>> I'D LOVE TO SEE THE OFFICIALS WHEN YOU APPLIED FOR THIS TO BE A HELICOPTER.
THIS IS THE STRANGEST HELICOPTER IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS.
IN YOUR WILDEST SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE, YOU COULD NOT COME UP WITH A VEHICLE AND CALL IT A HELICOPTER THAT COULD BE ANY STRANGER THAN THIS ONE.
>> WELL, WE DIDN'T WANT TO CALL IT A ROCKET, BECAUSE THERE WAS A NEW AGENCY IN WASHINGTON JUST GETTING ITS FEET ON THE GROUND THAT WANTED TO REGULATE COMMERCIAL ROCKETS.
SO, WE WERE GOING INTO UNKNOWN TERRITORY IF WE DID THAT.
SO WE REALLY WANTED TO CALL IT A HELICOPTER EVEN THOUGH THE MARKET EVENTUALLY WAS GOING TO BE OBVIOUSLY FOR ROCKETS.
>> IN SPACE.
>> IN SPACE.
AND ADMITTEDLY, THE LOCAL OFFICE, IT WAS NOT EASY FINDING SOMEBODY TO PUT THEIR NAME ON A BOTTOM LINE.
AND, IN FACT, THEY HAD TO TWIST A FEW ARMS, AND WE ACTUALLY GOT THE CERTIFICATE FOR FIRST FLIGHT ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE WE ACTUALLY -- >> REALLY.
>> -- TOOK IT TO THE RUNWAY TO FLY IT.
>> NOW, LET'S MAKE IT CLEAR NOW.
THESE BIG ROTARY BLADES, WHEN THE THING WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF AND GO INTO SPACE, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN TUCKED IN, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE SEEN THEM.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
THE ORBITAL CAPABLE VEHICLE HAD TO DEMONSTRATE SOPHISTICATION BEYOND WHAT THIS THING DID -- >> YEAH.
>> -- WITH FOLDING ROTOR BLADES AND WHATNOT.
THIS DID NOT DO THAT.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS DID THINGS THAT THE ACTUAL ORBITAL VEHICLE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO.
THIS HAD TO DEMONSTRATE ITS ABILITY TO LIFT ITSELF UP UNDER A ROTOR SYSTEM, MANEUVER, AND THEN SET ITSELF UP TO PERFORM LANDINGS WHICH THE OTHER VEHICLE WOULD ACHIEVE BY BASICALLY VIRTUE OF A ROCKET ENGINE.
>> WOW.
>> SO THERE WAS SORT OF A MIXED BAG, MIXED SET OF APPLES THERE, AND PEOPLE OFTEN GOT THEM CONFUSED.
>> WELL, NOT MIXED APPLES, APPLES AND ORANGES.
>> APPLES AND ORANGES, YES.
>> I MEAN, ANYBODY THAT HAS EVER HEARD OF A COMBINATION ROCKET SHIP HELICOPTER, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN BELIEVE THAT SUCH A THING WAS POSSIBLE.
>> WELL, LET ME GIVE YOU THE MOTIVATION FOR THE SHAPE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MONEY SPENT TO DEVELOP SINGLE-STAGE-TO-ORBIT-VEHICLES.
THAT MEANS YOU GO TO ORBIT WITHOUT THROWING STUFF AWAY, WHICH WE CURRENTLY DO.
>> ALL THOSE ROCKETS THAT FALL AWAY -- >> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> -- THE BOOSTER ROCKETS -- >> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> -- THEY ALL FALL AWAY AND GO INTO THE SEA.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
AND WE'VE RECOVERED SOME OF THEM, BUT SOME WE DON'T.
AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESS MAKING MONEY, YOU CAN'T THROW STUFF AWAY THAT'S EXPENSIVE A LOT OF THE TIME.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE SPENDING MONEY TO DEMONSTRATE SINGLE-STAGE-TO-ORBIT.
THE X-33 VENTURE STAR WAS ONE SUCH VEHICLE THAT AFTER $1.3 BILLION OF TAXPAYERS' MONEY, SAID, "TOO HARD.
WE CAN'T MAKE IT WORK."
AND I BELIEVE ONE OF THE REASONS YOU COULDN'T MAKE THAT VEHICLE WORK IS THAT IT WAS GOING TO COME BACK AND LAND AS AN AIRPLANE DOES.
SO IT HAD TO HAVE WINGS, IT HAD TO HAVE LANDING GEAR, IT HAD TO CARRY ALL THAT WEIGHT UP INTO ORBIT.
AND SINGLE-STAGE-TO-ORBIT MEANS, WITH THE CURRENT TECHNOLOGY OF ENGINES, THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE LESS THAN 10 PERCENT OF THE TAKEOFF WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE.
SO THAT STRUCTURALLY, IT HAD TO BE VERY LIGHT, VERY EFFICIENT.
AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET AN EFFICIENT STRUCTURAL SHAPE IS ONE THAT GOES UP VERTICALLY IN THIS FASHION AND RETURNS VERTICALLY IN THAT FASHION, FOR THE MAJOR LOAD PASS ONLY IN ONE DIRECTION.
>> SO INSTEAD OF BEING A PLANE, THE COMPANY THOUGHT OF MAKING IT A HELICOPTER, SO IT COULD LAND THIS WAY INSTEAD OF COMING DOWN LIKE A PLANE.
>> NOW, IN THE EARLY DAYS OF ROCKET FLIGHT, THEY CAME DOWN LIKE THIS, BUT THEY RECOVERED UNDER PARACHUTES, AND THEY LANDED OUT IN THE WATER BECAUSE IT WOULD GIVE YOU A BETTER CUSHION THAN THE LAND IF YOU -- PARACHUTES DIDN'T ALL WORK RIGHT.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S NOT VERY ATTRACTIVE COMMERCIALLY.
IT'S HARD TO INTEREST CUSTOMERS IN THAT, AND YOU ONLY BRING BACK PART OF WHAT YOU TOOK UP.
AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GO SINGLE-STAGE-TO-ORBIT, I SUBMIT THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN IN THE CURRENT TECHNOLOGY IS SOMETHING THAT GOES UP STRAIGHT COMES BACK STRAIGHT.
AND TO CAPTURE THAT, THIS RETURN STRAIGHT DOWN THERE'S ONLY ONE KNOWN SYSTEM TO ME OTHER THAN PARACHUTES WHICH DON'T WORK IF YOU'RE IN A PLACE LIKE THIS WHERE THE WIND BLOWS A LOT IS A ROTOR SYSTEM.
AND A ROTOR SYSTEM HAD A LOT OF ATTRACTIVE FEATURES FOR ALL THOSE REASONS.
>> SO THIS ALL MADE SENSE, REALLY.
>> YES, IT DID.
THEY OVERCAME A LOT OF POTENTIAL ISSUES THAT ARE OCCURRING TODAY WITH ROCKETS.
>> SO THIS HAPPENED -- THESE FLIGHTS WERE TAKING PLACE IN, WHEN, 1999?
>> THE FIRST FLIGHT WAS JULY 31, '99, I BELIEVE.
AND THEN WE HAD ANOTHER ONE IN OCTOBER, AND A THIRD ONE IN NOVEMBER.
>> AND IT'S JUST BEEN SITTING HERE LIKE THIS EVER SINCE.
>> YES, IT HAS.
>> I MEAN, WHY IS IT SITTING HERE?
I MEAN, IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'VE DONE YOUR THING, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET IN IT ANYMORE AND FLY IT ANYMORE.
>> NO, I'M NOT GOING TO FLY IT ANYMORE.
BUT I CHALLENGE ANYBODY TO TAKE IT VERY FAR.
YOU CAN GET A MULE TEAM, AND YOU MAY GET IT OUT THE DOOR, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT VERY FAR BEYOND THAT.
>> THAT'S BECAUSE THE ROTOR BLADES ARE OFF NOW.
THE ROTOR BLADES HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF.
DID THE COMPANY JUST DECIDE THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO DO THIS, IT JUST DIDN'T WORK?
>> WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS HAPPENED, AND ONE OF THE MAJOR INFLUENCES WAS THE CRASH OF WHAT WAS THEN THE ASIAN MARKET BOOM.
THE VENTURE CAPITAL THAT WAS OUT THERE FUNDING NOT ONLY US, BUT A LOT OF OTHER COMPANIES LOOKING TO DO THE SAME THING, ALL DRIED UP.
SO, GETTING MONEY FOR FUTURE TEST FLIGHTS AND MORE AMBITIOUS PROGRAMS WAS BECOMING VERY DIFFICULT AND PROHIBITIVE.
BUT ONCE YOU BUILD ALL THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT -- I MEAN, IT WAS BUILT FOR A ROCKET, THEN IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE ROCKET BUSINESS, THERE AREN'T TOO MANY USES FOR IT, AND SO HERE IT SITS.
>> SO THIS WAS JUST BUILT AS THE PROTOTYPE TO SHOW HOW IT WOULD WORK AS A HELICOPTER TO LAND.
THE OTHER PROTOTYPES THAT WERE GOING TO SHOW HOW IT WOULD WORK AS A ROCKET WITH THE BOOSTERS AND ALL DOWN THERE WERE NEVER BUILT.
SO WHAT YOU DID WAS LITERALLY TAKE PART IN HISTORY.
I MEAN, IS THIS NOTED, DULY NOTED IN THE ANNALS OF AVIATION HISTORY?
>> IF YOU LOOK HARD ENOUGH, IT MIGHT BE.
YOU KNOW, BACK THEN, LIKE I SAID, IT WAS TOUTED AS BEING THE EQUIVALENT OF WHAT THE ENTERPRISE VEHICLE WAS TO THE SPACE SHUTTLE WHERE JUST DOWN THE ROAD THEY WOULD LAUNCH IT OFF THE BACK OF A 747 AND MADE PRACTICE LANDINGS ON EDWARDS LAKE BED.
>> UH-HUH.
>> THAT'S WHAT THIS VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO DO.
>> THIS WAS A PRACTICE LANDING OF A NEW KIND OF SHIP ON ITS OWN.
>> THIS WAS THE NEW GREAT -- >> THE ONE THAT LANDED STRAIGHT DOWN INSTEAD OF LANDING LIKE THE SHUTTLE LANDED.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> SO YOU REALLY WERE ON THE CUTTING EDGE.
>> YES.
>> AND I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO BRAG ON YOURSELF, BUT YOU AND YOUR FELLOW PILOT WERE REALLY -- I GUARANTEE YOU THERE ARE NOT MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE EVER FLOWN A HELICOPTER THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS.
>> WELL, NO THERE AREN'T.
>> AND THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO WOULD BELIEVE THE STORY UNLESS YOU HAVE THE FOOTAGE TO BACK IT UP.
>> AND A LOT OF THEM WOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT THEY HADN'T FLOWN IT IF THEY KNEW THE DETAILS OF SOME OF THE FLIGHT TESTS THAT WE HAD.
>> WELL, WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE UP THERE?
WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE BEING IN THIS THING WITH THE BLADES GOING AND KIND OF, YOU KNOW, 50, 75 FEET OFF THE GROUND FLYING AROUND OUT HERE AT THE AIRPORT?
>> WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY, IT WAS VERY STRANGE FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
ONE, BECAUSE THE COCKPIT IS HIGH OFF THE GROUND, AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PERIPHERAL VISION, AND YOU CAN'T SEE THE ROTOR SYSTEM ABOVE YOU, WHICH IS A HUGE FEEDBACK CUE FOR A HELICOPTER PILOT IS SEEING THIS TIP PATH PLANE, SO WE DON'T SEE THAT.
ALSO, THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF THE VEHICLE IS ABOVE THE COCKPIT.
NOW, WHAT THAT MEANS IS WHEN THIS THING STARTS TO WOBBLE LIKE A PENDULUM, YOU ARE BELOW THE WOBBLE POINT.
SO WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES LEFT -- >> OH, MY GOSH.
>> -- YOU GET A SENSATION IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND -- >> HOW DO YOU TRAIN FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE BOTH LIVED HEALTHY AND HOLY LIVES I GUESS.
BUT WE HAD A BUILT-IN SIMULATOR, THIS COCKPIT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONLY VEHICLES, THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT I WAS AWARE OF THAT HAD A BUILT-IN SIMULATOR USING THE ACTUAL FLIGHT HARDWARE TO FLY THE SIMULATOR, AND WE SPENT HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS GOING OVER THESE FLIGHTS IN THIS VEHICLE.
>> CAN WE GO UP THERE?
CAN YOU TAKE ME BACK UP THERE?
CAN I BE YOUR COPILOT JUST TO SIT THERE?
>> IF WE CAN CLIMB THOSE STAIRS.
>> CAN WE GET UP THERE?
>> SURE, ABSOLUTELY.
>> WELL, LET'S GO UP.
WHERE DO YOU HOLD, RIGHT HERE?
>> YEAH, YOU CAN HOLD THERE, AND THEN YOU GET A LITTLE HIGHER, THERE'S A HANDHOLD HERE.
>> WOW.
>> AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER ONE RIGHT ON TOP.
>> OKAY, BRIAN, I'M BEGINNING TO GET THE IDEA.
WHAT A STRANGE PLACE TO HAVE A COCKPIT.
>> THERE'S REALLY NO GOOD PLACE FOR A COCKPIT IN A VEHICLE OF THIS SHAPE.
PERHAPS THE NEXT CHOICE WOULD BE RIGHT ON THE TOP.
BUT FROM HERE, YOU CAN SEE THE VIEW IS SOMEWHAT LIMITED EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A LARGE GLASS WINDOW.
>> WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING ABOVE YOU, YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING TO EITHER SIDE, AND YOU CAN'T ANYTHING BELOW YOU.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
AND ONE OF OUR ACTUAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FLIGHT TEST WAS THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SUN ANGLE SUCH THAT WE COULD SEE OUR SHADOW ON THE GROUND.
WHICH MEANT THAT YOU HAD TO BE POINTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU LEARN BY SCREWING THEM UP THE FIRST TIME AROUND.
AND THE COCKPIT PRESENTED LARGE CHALLENGES.
>> NOW, FOR A HELICOPTER PILOT COMING IN HERE, WOULD ALL OF THESE GADGETS HERE, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTS HERE, DOES THIS LOOK LIKE BASICALLY A HELICOPTER COCKPIT?
>> ACTUALLY IT DOES.
THESE ROUND DIAL STEAM GAUGES, AS WE TEND TO CALL THEM IN THE BUSINESS UP HERE, WERE MANDATED BY THE FAA.
WE DIDN'T REALLY USE THEM A WHOLE LOT, BUT THEY WERE USEFUL IN TERMS OF BACKUP IF THIS GLASS DISPLAY BELOW FAILED TO WORK.
>> WOW.
>> THE CONTROLS THEMSELVES CAME OUT OF A S58 HELICOPTER.
WE TRIED NOT TO INVENT ANYTHING THAT DIDN'T NEED TO BE INVENTED AT THIS POINT IN THE PROGRAM.
SO WE TOOK THESE OUT OF AN EXISTING HELICOPTER.
SOME MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE, BUT THEY WERE RELATIVELY MINOR IN NATURE.
>> I LOVE IT UP HERE.
AND I TELL YOU WHAT, WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED IT YET, BUT IT'S A LITTLE DUSTY UP HERE, TOO.
>> WELL, THIS WAS -- >> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S BEEN IN HERE SINCE 1999.
>> NO, IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND THIS IS THE DESERT, AND THE WIND BLOWS, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.
>> NOW, THE FILM WE'VE SEEN OF YOU IN HERE, THIS WAS ON A LITTLE CAMERA THAT WAS RIGHT UP HERE.
>> WE ACTUALLY HAD A COUPLE OF CAMERAS, ONE UP HERE, WHICH CAPTURED THE AIR CREW, AND A LOWER ONE WHICH CAPTURED THE GLASS COCKPIT DISPLAY THAT CURRENTLY IS INACTIVE.
AND IT GENERALLY ALLOWED US POST-FLIGHT TO REVIEW WHO DID WHAT, WHO SAID WHAT, HOW WERE THE -- WHAT WAS THE FEEDBACK ON THE INSTRUMENTS BASED ON FLIGHT CONDITIONS.
>> AND HOW MUCH ADRENALINE WAS FLOWING THAT FIRST DAY?
>> IT WAS PUMPING.
I REMEMBER SAYING GOODBYE TO THE WIFE, GIVING MY WALLET TO A PRESS REPORTER AT THE TIME, JUST IN CASE.
AND IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT FLIGHT.
IT WAS ONE THAT DID NOT GO WELL.
WE LOST THIS PRIMARY GLASS DISPLAY, WHICH WE HAD REHEARSED TO FOR SO MANY HOURS.
AND WE ENDED UP FLYING ON THESE BACKUP STEAM GAUGES THAT THE FAA MANDATED THAT WE PUT IN.
AND WE WERE AT A TIME IN A COMPANY WHEN IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO DEMONSTRATE SOME KIND OF CAPABILITY HERE.
SO WE WENT FOR IT, AND IT WAS A VERY -- THERE WAS A LOT OF EPIPHANY THAT DAY FOR US IN THE COCKPIT BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL ATTEMPTS JUST TO GET IT AIRBORNE.
AND ONCE WE WERE AIRBORNE, WE WERE DOING EVERYTHING WE COULD JUST TO GET IT BACK DOWN.
AND WE CLIMBED OUT OF THAT FLIGHT, THIS VEHICLE, SAYING, "THAT'S IT.
WE DON'T EVER NEED TO DO THIS AGAIN."
AND THE MARKETING PEOPLE WERE SO SUCCESSFUL AT PIECING TOGETHER HOW THAT FLIGHT WENT, THAT MONEY CAME POURING IN FOR US TO DO SOME MORE.
AND IT WAS A VERY HARD DECISION TO COME BACK AND PICK UP OUR ROLES AS FLIGHT TEST PILOTS AND -- >> AND DO IT AGAIN.
>> -- GET THIS VEHICLE BACK IN THE AIR.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I FEEL HONORED TO JUST BE SITTING HERE WITH YOU IN THIS THING.
I MEAN, THIS IS TRULY REVOLUTIONARY.
>> WELL, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE THOUGHT WAS WHAT MAKES AMERICA GREAT, THAT YOU COULD GET PEOPLE WITH ENTHUSIASM BANDED TOGETHER TO SUPPORT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS THAT WOULD GET ENOUGH FUNDING TO PROVE ITSELF, AND IF IT DID WELL, MOVE FORWARD.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE TRIED TO DO.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL TRY TO DO TODAY.
>> WELL, WHETHER IT WAS COMMERCIALLY VIABLE OR NOT, YOU FLEW IT THREE TIMES.
>> AND I THINK IN THAT SENSE, WE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL.
WE WENT OUT AND DID WHAT WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO, AND WE DIDN'T BREAK THE VEHICLE, AND WE UNDERSTOOD WHAT WE HAD DONE AND WE KNEW THE NEXT STEP, THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP TO MAKE, AND THE MONEY RAN OUT.
>> MARK, GIVE US A WAVE.
THERE HE IS UP THERE ON TOP.
WELL, I TOLD YOU ALL THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE AN ADVENTURE.
BRIAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH -- >> MY PLEASURE.
>> -- FOR SHARING YOUR WONDERFUL TEST PILOT STORIES WITH US.
PEOPLE WOULD REALLY HAVE TO SEE THIS TO BELIEVE IT, WOULDN'T THEY?
>> WELL, PERHAPS SO, IT WAS A LOT OF FUN, I THINK I GAVE YOU SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.
THERE'S HOPEFULLY MORE THAT WILL BE CAPTURED WHEN IT FINDS ITS FINAL RESTING HOME.
>> IT'S FINAL RESTING HOME, AND THAT EXPLAINS WHAT YOU ALL ARE ALL DOING HERE, BECAUSE YOU'RE UP HERE FOR A REASON.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, HUELL, WE'RE HOPING TO GET THIS AIRLIFTED BY HELICOPTER TO OUR MUSEUM IN SAN DIEGO VERY SHORTLY.
>> WHAT MUSEUM?
>> CLASSIC ROTORS, RARE AND VINTAGE ROTORCRAFT.
>> SO YOU'VE GOT A HELICOPTER MUSEUM.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> BUT NOW, WAIT A MINUTE, THIS COULD JUST AS WELL HAVE GONE TO A ROCKET MUSEUM.
>> THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE.
>> BUT IT'S ENDING UP IN A HELICOPTER MUSEUM IN SAN DIEGO -- >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> -- AND IT'S GOING TO BE AIRLIFTED OUT OF HERE ALL THE WAY FROM MOJAVE TO SAN DIEGO, HANGING UNDERNEATH A HELICOPTER, >> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> WHERE IT WILL BE REUNITED WITH ITS ROTORS.
>> YES.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO RESTORE IT AND HAVE IT ON DISPLAY FOR PEOPLE.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> SO IT WILL BE GONE FROM HERE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.
>> WE HOPE THAT THAT IS ALL TRUE.
>> SEE, AND YOUR GOOD WORK WILL BE IMMORTALIZED FOREVER IN THE HELICOPTER MUSEUM.
>> I'M VERY PLEASED TO HAVE YOU UP HERE, AND I HOPE YOU CAN PULL IT OFF.
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BRIAN.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO PULL IT OFF, I MEAN, THIS IS AN AMAZING STORY.
THANK YOU FOR SENDING ME THE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.
I GOT TO TELL YOU, WHEN I FIRST GOT IT IN THE MAIL, I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT EITHER WHEN YOU SENT ME THE PICTURE OF IT, AND NEITHER DID ANYBODY IN THE OFFICE, BUT IT'S HERE, IT'S THE REAL THING, AND IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING STORY.
THE NAME OF THIS AGAIN IS THE?
>> ROTON ATV.
>> THE ROTON ATV.
>> "VISITING, WITH HUELL HOWSER," IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.
