SpaceShipTwo: All the images

Rather than blow £300-400 million on a UK contribution to the ISS, why doesn't the British Government buy two to three White KnightII/Spaceshiptwo systems from Rutan? If such a deal were made, the UK would possess its own sub-orbital launch system which could be adapted, reconfigured for a wide variety of uses. Granted, an orbital/ air launch capability is still in its infancy, but satellite and small, one man payloads may be a possibility? Perhaps this plan will fall foul of weapon export protocols, but surely such protocols could be amended?
It really is time for the UK government to wake up to the fact that an opt old for all manned spaceflight is no longer acceptable in the current era. RAF Lossiemouth is a good launch venue, and Rutan's vehicles' are the ideal solution to brake the UK's manned spaceflight doldrums...Come on Britain...wake up!

Has anybody made a SpaceShipTwo simulator for download on one of the FS platforms?

Chris,

As impressive as the Rutan SpaceShip series is, (and it is very impressive for a private venture,) neither the SpaceShipOne or the SpaceShipTwo are even remotely capable of orbital flight. They are not even capable of reaching a fraction of the speed necessary, nor are they capable of surviving re-entry from orbital speeds. No amount of refit would ever make SpaceShipTwo capable of reaching orbit, or surviving re-entry.

The genius of the SpaceShip series is that they go straight up until they reach zero airspeed, then fall back down again. This keeps the re-entry speed very low, and therefore the resulting heating is also relatively low. The Space Shuttle must reach 17,500 mph to achieve orbit, and must hit the atmosphere at that same blistering speed.

I'm afraid that Mr. Rutan has quite some way to go before he bests NASA or the ESA.