Mary Shafer wrote in message . ..
RI bid what was essentially a modernized Orbiter. Nothing
new in either of them.

How do you figure?

The Rockwell X-33 looked vaguely like the Orbiter (with emphasis on
vaguely), probably had somewhat similar aerodynamics, and used a
modified SSME. I can't think of anything else that it had in common.

It's certainly more of a departure from the Orbiter than any of the
modified fighters that Dryden has used as experimental aircraft, and
that's counting the F-16XLs, and maybe the X-29 as a modified F-20.

-jake