"S.J. Van Sickle" wrote:
>
> On Tue, 25 Jul 2000, Michael S. Lorrey wrote:
>
> > Actually, the fastest *powered* passenger aircraft in the sky. The space
> > shuttle, gliding, flies much faster in the atmosphere on re-entry. Because it
> > has wings, it is technically an "aircraft", even though it is unpowered, and it
> > can carry at least half a dozen passengers... ;). Now if you say 'commercial
> > passenger aircraft', you would be right.
>
> Well, if we are going to pick nits...
>
> Technically, so as to make the FAA happy, the Space Shuttle has only crew,
> no passengers. That's why "Barfin" Jake Garn and John Glenn were called
> "Payload Specialists".
Ah, point. I was not aware that spew was considered officially as
payload though...;) However, since the shuttle is an Air Force Reserve
vehicle (why it has had that striped star emblem on it at times), it is
exempt from FAA regs.
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