First propulsive aerospike flight?

AFAIK, this is the first time ever, anywhere, that an aerospike
of any sort has propelled a vehicle in flight. Or have I missed
something?


http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Newsroom/Ne...004/04-23.html

Aerospike Engine Flight Test Successful
April 19, 2004
Release: 04-23
[EXCERPT]

NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, the U.S. Air Force
Flight Test Center (AFFTC), and Blacksky Corporation joined
forces on the prairie lands of West Texas recently to fly
small aerospike rocket nozzles.

The effort, called the Dryden Aerospike Rocket Test, yielded
big returns, providing the first known data from a solid-
fueled aerospike rocket in flight.

Two 10-ft. long solid-fueled rockets with aerospike nozzles
were flown successfully on two consecutive flights March 30
and 31, 2004. Under perfect skies and calm winds, the
rockets ascended from the King Ranch launch site at the
Pecos County Aerospace Development Corporation Flight Test
Range in Fort Stockton, Texas.


See also the interesting thread starting at
http://tinyurl.com/3e5t6