Here's the quote that I like:

>SpaceShipOne was travelling "faster than an M-16 rifle bullet",
>Rutan said, about around 2400 km/h (1500 mph) or mach 3.2.
>As it reentered the atmosphere, falling like a badminton
>shuttlecock almost straight down, the rushing air sounded
>like a hurricane, said Melvill.

That's almost an SR-71 peak Mach number for a graphite composite vehicle with an aerodynamic geometry that is essentially subsonic. Mike Melvill has balls-of-brass to be flying it (I envy him). Aerodynamics at Mach 3.2 are different from subsonic. Likewise aerodynamics for hypersonic flight (greater than Mach 6) are different from low supersonic (which is what Mach 3.2 is). For example a flat plate flying at normal incidence is statically stable at hypersonic Mach numbers. A big problem with flying at such high speeds is the enormous dynamic pressure . Anything sticking out into the free stream could experience tons of force. Should something go wrong, the pilot could get turned into protoplasmic jelly before the nerve impulses reach his brain (not a bad way to die). Atmospheric entry from Low Earth Orbit Mach numbers are greater than Mach 25. SpaceShipOne is not a real space craft but still a very interesting example of advanced aeronautical engineering. I hope Burt Rutan is successful in winning the X prize and no one gets killed.

Gary