Virgin Galactic trips on offer through Manly travel agent for $250k
A MANLY travel agent is selling truly out-of-this-world trips — into space. And one Sydney millionaire tells why he signed up for the eyewatering $250,000 trip — even though flights are not yet scheduled.
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A MANLY travel agent is selling truly out-of-this-world trips — into space.
Family firm McLachlan Travel Group was the first company in the world to offer tickets for Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic space flights, which will see passengers become astronauts.
Boss Gill McLachlan said he had had a handful of travellers — although none so far from the peninsula — sign up for the 90-minute, $250,000 journeys, even though the departure date kept being postponed.
Mr McLachlan, 67, of Manly, said: “They advertised people to apply as agents — we were the first people in the world that Branson appointed in 2008.
“We don’t promote it. It’s so pioneering and novel, we would never try to push someone into it.
“Many people, especially older people, have that dream. They saw the moon landings.”
Virgin Galactic has just been approved to continue testing its rocket plane after a pilot was killed in 2014. One passenger who has bought a ticket is Irishman Fergus Doyle, 69.
The former construction magnate, who now develops land and owns racehorses — including part-owning 2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist, lives in Longueville, on the north shore.
He said he had been fascinated by space since the days of the Russian Sputnik.
“I think the fact of just being able to see the Earth, it’s amazing,” he said.
“I’m sure Richard Branson wouldn’t go if he thought it wasn’t safe.
“My wife said it’s the closest I’ll get to heaven.
“My daughter is hoping I won’t go, so she can go instead.”
Mr McLachlan has visited Virgin Galactic’s New Mexico base, Spaceport America, as well as climbing into a space flight simulator in Philadelphia to experience the G-force passengers will have to bear.
“It’s not gruelling and you do not have to be that fit,” he said.
“It’s not as safe as a commercial aircraft but it will be as safe as realistically possible.”
Passengers will pass the Karman line, the official boundary between Earth and space, which will officially make them astronauts.
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