Ian Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Attention avgeeks in Midland/Odessa, Texas: Boeing 777-9 prototype N779XW is on its way from Seattle Boeing Field #KBFI to Midland Int'l Air & Space Port #KMAF. The reason isn't obvious yet, like crosswinds were for a recent flight to Amarillo. The test pilots could just be picking anywhere three hours away to let the plane be seen while performing FAA-required certification testing. On the radio they'll be "Boeing Zero Zero One Heavy". https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE1/history/20260412/1810Z/KBFI/KMAF #aviation #travel #avgeek
#Avgeek #trivia: Some may wonder why the airport in Midland TX is Midland Int'l Air & Space Port. In 2012, Midland was looking to diversify their economy from just oil. They approached XCOR Aerospace in Mojave, not knowing they were already on XCOR's short list for a new site. Things came together. XCOR moved to Midland. Midland Airport got an FAA spaceport license to support XCOR launches. Then XCOR's funding dried up. Midland decided to keep trying and renewed the spaceport license. #aviation
XCOR deleted their YouTube videos upon going out of business. I think mgmt was shortsighted, and should have preserved their history. A few copies remain via a tourism company who worked with them. Mike Massee updated XCOR's animation of what a suborbital space flight on Lynx could have been like, previously with Mojave CA scenery, updated for Midland TX with airliners at #KMAF. (disclosure: I worked at XCOR on Lynx flight hardware.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4S51_Q_rfU #aviation #avgeek #spacegeek #NewSpace
XCOR Lynx Spaceflight - A Life-Changing Experience
Midland Int'l Airport #KMAF (between Midland and Odessa in Texas) was the first airline-served airport to apply for an FAA spaceport license. The industry watched closely, anticipating difficulties with proximity of airline & spaceflight operations. Interestingly, it was not more difficult. Actually, for FAA requirements on fire departments at spaceport facilities, MAF mostly already complied due to their airline emergency response capability. #aviation #avgeek #travel #spacegeek #NewSpace