He’s NOT the pilot. He has a pilot & copilot who have both done test flights in Unity. Branson will be joined by a Virgin Galactic engineer, one of the VG vice presidents in charge of government affairs and research ops (a rather cute young woman of Indian descent) and their director of astronaut training (a very ‘not guilty’ blonde).
Branson DID do a couple of balloon voyages, (which didn’t end all that well). But the guy you are thinking of was Steve Fossett. He was a pilot and sailor extraordinaire who held several world records, many of which still stand today. Fossett did have a tie-in with Branson, in that he piloted the ‘Virgin Global Flyer’, a jet that circumnavigated the globe without refueling.
For all his success, Branson also seems to have bad luck with some of his adventures. I just hope that bad luck doesn’t follow him to this.
Thanks for the info.
Don’t suppose you have any of those not guilty pics that you could share?