"Flying the space ship was the absolut highlight of my life. I had never seen a black sky in the middle of the day. Here I was, just a little old guy, born and raised in South Africa, didn't even go to university.

And I'm an astronaut now."

{http://soundcloud.com/soundslikerstin/the-most-amazing-thing}

Mike Melvill talking to soundslikerstin about his flight into space 2004.

Mike Melvill has taken the little plane, he built with his wife Sally on a flight around the world. They still use it to fly cross country to visit family and friends or just to go on a little adventure. Mike was a test pilot for many years, risking his life flying the newest designs of unconventional aircrafts created by the team of Burt Rutan's Scaled Composits.

When I visited Mike I found him to be one of the most humble, kind and friendly people I ever interviewed. There were still sparkles in his eyes when he remembered his historic flight with Space Ship One, June 21, 2004.

The highlight of my time with Mike for me was when the then 75 year old pilot took me into the little plane that he flew across the world up into the clouds over the Mojave desert. After pointing out a few landmarks he asked me how I felt. When I said I was feeling great, I heard his voice in my headphones becoming a little mischievous. "Then I will give you a little taste of what it feels like to fly towards space!" And with no further warning Mike steered the plane straight up into the sky! I tried to film it, but all you could see on my short video were views out of focus joined by a primal scream of fear and excitement. My scream! Mike took us down to earth with a roller coaster swoop through the cloudy California sky  

I was happy to feel the ground under my feet after that. But I will get into a plane with Mike Melvill again any time he will have me.

Here are a few more pictures of Mike and our heavenly trip.

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