From what I've seen of STC, it looks like they actually know what they're doing, but don't necessarily have the money to do it. I'm extremely impressed that they've been able to get as far as they've gotten, and I'm also pleased that they're doing incremental, unmanned tests. In this respect, they seem fairly level headed (particularly in contrast to Da Vinci, which is going to be manned and full-throttle on its first flight).

Still, until they can beg, borrow, or steal an X-Ray machine to thoroughly examine the grain of their motors, there's no way that I'd ride the thing. Hopefully they realize this as well.

Cheers,

Nathan