Virgin Group’s Alex Tai to Set Up Shop in Mojave
The hangar where Alex Tai's company will house its jets was the site of a robotics competition last Saturday. (Credit: Douglas Messier)
By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor
A company led by the Virgin Group’s Director of Special Projects Alex Tai is the Mojave Air and Space Port’s newest tenant.
Last week, the East Kern Airport District Board of Directors authorized Mojave Air & Space Port CEO Stu Witt to finalize a lease for Tai’s company, Super Sonic Jet, Inc., of Nevada. Tai plans to house a small fleet of Eastern Bloc fighters in Building 70, a hangar adjacent to the airport’s Administration building.
Witt said that the company plans to store three MiG-21 and one Aero L-39 Albatros fighters in the hangar beginning on May 1. He said Tai and other pilots will be flying the aircraft out of Mojave for recreational purposes.
“They want to have some fun with their friends flying,” Witt told the Board.
The two-year lease requires a monthly payment of $6,893 for a total of $82,725.60 for the year. The agreement includes six, two-year renewal options.
Tai was formerly vice president of Virgin Galactic, which is Richard Branson’s space tourism company. Below is his official biography from the Virgin Oceanic website.
Trained as a pilot in the UK Royal Air Force, Tai went on to fly executive jets and holds a number of world records for flights with the U.S. adventurer Steve Fossett, including world records for fastest flights both east and west about in class C-1. Tai started his career within Virgin as an airline pilot for Virgin Atlantic. In 1997 he embarked on special projects for Sir Richard Branson. Tai worked on the Virgin Galactic project from conception. He also helped start Virgin Racing- Virgin’s Formula One team. He now is Virgin’s lead on the Virgin Oceanic project.
3 responses to “Virgin Group’s Alex Tai to Set Up Shop in Mojave”
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I wouldn’t be surprised if riding in a Mig is one of the activities Galactic customers can do before they go up, part of the ‘training’. Using such jets would also enable the SpaceShipTwo pilots to experience the g levels they will get on the SS2 ride, before they actually do the SS2 ride. Rob.
I can see it being useful for the pilot training. If it’s for Virgin clients, I’m wondering why he would locate the facility in Mojave when Virgin will be operating out of New Mexico. Mojave is convenient for Hollywood productions. There’s a fair amount of filming that already takes place at the airport. Having a small fleet of East Bloc fighters 90 minutes from Hollywood is convenient for both TV and movie productions and any celebrities with a need for speed. I don’t know that for a fact, but I could see both of those bringing in lucrative income.
I hear the FAA is hard over on not allowing joy rides and will be requiring the company to verify that they are bona fide space flight clients