Rocket racer remade

TallDave — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:57:58 GMT

Kewl. I want to put that on my Corvette!

Rocket racer remade

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:42:31 GMT

I hope that these rocket races lead to better engine designs for low orbit space planes and other craft that could be used to go between the surface and space without the need for large rockets.

Rocket racer remade

ARTIE B. GOOD , EAST L.A., CA . — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:23:31 GMT

I WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO HEAR THAT WONDERFUL SOUND OF THE ROCKETS AND WATCH THE KIDS COVERING THEIR EARS IN EXCITMENT OVER ROCKET RACERS .COME ON ! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR ? LET'S GO !

Rocket racer remade

guy s newell — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:55:30 GMT

Why would you want to slow down your corvette with that engine? Can't you already get to a 100mph in less than seven seconds? Kawasaki sells a stock motorcyle that can do better than than, for crying out loud.

Rocket racer remade

Stanley Terraplane, Jr., Seattle, Wash — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:01:57 GMT

Or...instead of getting excited over a six plane field of rocket-powered homebuilts that will be flying so high up you can't see them, you could instead go to the Reno National Championship Air Races and watch over 100 planes compete in 5 different classes (homebuilts, to modified WWII fighters, to jets) on low-level pylon courses that all play out right in front of the crowd.

There will be a couple hundred thousand people at Reno to watch. I can promise over my dead ex father in law that you'll NEVER see that kind of crowd at a Rocket Racing League event.

Just my .02

Rocket racer remade

Eric (Somewhere, WA) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:07:12 GMT

guy s newell,

The plane being pushed by the rocket is significantly heavier than TallDave's Corvette. My guess is that the rocket would push him so fast that he would quickly lose consciousness as his wheels left the ground, and he plastered himself to a tree somewhere.

This would help alleviate some traffic congestion

Rocket racer remade

Chi-Dem — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:17:42 GMT

So true guy, but a Corvette or rice grinder can't go straight up! [...]

Rocket racer remade

Phred, Oakland, CA — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:46:50 GMT

There are aircraft at Reno that fly faster than that with mostly stock four-cylinder Lycomings and Continentals.

Wow. Cutting edge stuff this Rocket Racing League.

Rocket racer remade

REAL Air Racing Fan — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:55:49 GMT

This may be moderately interesting as a step towards space. But has little to know attraction as RACING.

219 mph is slower than nearly class at the National Championship Air Races (airrace.org) and the IF1 class races on 100 hp, the Sport Biplane on 180-200hp both having speeds over 240 mph.

This entire league is a GIANT YAWN!

Wake me when they do something of interest.

Go Strega!

Rocket racer remade

Frank Glover Rochester, NY — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:02:08 GMT

"I hope that these rocket races lead to better engine designs for low orbit space planes and other craft that could be used to go between the surface and space without the need for large rockets."

It's also my hope that this will encourage more rocket and spaceplane development, but what the RRL wants to do is massively less demanding than what it takes to reach orbital velocity (if that's what you mean by 'space'). Doing that, with any kind of chemical propulsion, means a large rocket. No two ways about it.

But then, wide-bodied airliners are 'large' airplanes that operate commercially every day. Don't let size alone intimidate you...

Rocket racer remade

Daniel Brown, Davis Ca.95616 — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:48:51 GMT

Hey, gota question. If it is karosene or alcohol fuled how is the oxygen introduced for combustion ? Doesn't really sound like a true rocket.

[ALAN ADDS: OK, I left out references to the oxidizer. Liquid oxygen is the oxidizer for the XCOR as well as the Armadillo engine.]

Rocket racer remade

Steve — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:57:47 GMT

Neither your corvette or your kawasaki can leave the ground... it depends on the kind of rush you want to experience

Rocket racer remade

Bruce Hoult, Wellington, New Zealand — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:39:26 GMT

"Kawasaki sells a stock motorcyle that can do better than than, for crying out loud".

And even my BMW does 0 - 60 in 4 seconds and 0 - 100 in 10.

But a rocket will give you the same acceleration (in a vacuum) on the 2nd 100 mph -- or the 3rd, 4th etc. There's no changing up into a higher gear that gives less acceleration. It's the same all the way until you run out of fuel -- in fact they get stronger as the fuel load burns down.

Rocket racer remade

Robert Horning, Logan, Utah — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:28:30 GMT

Yeah, doing some "back of the envelope" calculations, the 0-100 mph acceleration in 6.2 seconds is only 0.7 G's. In other words, if it were to try and launch vertically it wouldn't even make it off the ground. Sort of ironic.

On the other hand, and in direct contrast to vehicles with an internal combustion engine, the rocket will actually accelerate even more in the next 6-10 seconds. The only reason for a "top speed" has to do with air resistance and drag... or running out of fuel.

This still is a kick that will throw you into the back of your seat and will have these vehicles have performance envelopes similar to fighter jets rather than conventional aircraft. It still should give one heck of a good show for those who might want to see this league race... especially if six to ten teams are all competing at the same time.

Putting one of these into a 'vette would IMHO give it a bit bigger of a kick than even this, although you would have to figure out where to put the fuel tanks to power this sort of rocket engine. It might also make you a candidate for a Darwin Award if you went airborne as well.

Rocket racer remade

Buzz — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:37:20 GMT

The image looks like some creature trying to get away...wings flared, legs tucked back, neck extended...arching forward in a great leap...escaping.
That pink thing is going to really hurt if it catches up.

Rocket racer remade

Racer X, Allentown, PA — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:10:32 GMT

Smiling....Gentlemen,the last flight today was 0-100 in about 4.5 seconds and it does not slow down from there. The engine could easily do 1,200 MPH, it just would not be doing it with wings any longer :)

The point of racing is NOT always top speed, it is entertainment and competetion between athletes and their machines they craft and run.

I ASSURE you..you will see these AT Reno, Mike Houghton ( CEO of Reno )is on the Board of Advisor at Rocket Racing and he loves it, as do most Air Race fans. And mark my words, the crowds will be secnd to none in size when they race live around the World.

It is the most dynamic, interactive sport the World has ever seen. The integration of technologies, live flight and synchronization will satnd alone.

Relax, there is room for MUCH more air racing and aviation needs it,so besupportive and welcoming, it will benefit everyone across the Board.

And yes, on the Corvette it would be a kick in the pants...Ifyou have the guts to hold on.

Rocket racer remade

Danny — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:53:42 GMT

From Len Fox, the navy test pilot for the program: On takeoff "Its faster than an F-18 on afterburner. But it is not as fast as a catapult launch.".

Rocket racer remade

Ted E. Huntington Beach, CA — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:41:05 GMT

Read the story again, folks....that's a TEST speed of 219. Nowhere does it say anything about racing speed or top speed. Back in the 70's at the California races at Mojave, they started racing old f-86s, Shooting Stars and f-89s around a 5 mile triangle pylon course. They were doing well into the 300's and some 400's, about 200 feet off the ground. It was impressive the one time I saw it.

Rocket racer remade

Curtis — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:47:20 GMT

I was at osh kosh ithis year and saw the xcor rocketplane several times and saw the other planes race there too. That plane was not so high you couldn't see it and the rockets will be turned on and off as they go. So definitely real skill involved in the race. If you had seen this plane you would not be talking like this. And it made a vertical climb that was just awesome and the noise was great too. See it, you will change your tune.

Rocket racer remade

Jeff, Virginia Beach, VA — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:13:51 GMT

To bad we couldn't put some of this technology into a car engine that gets better milage! We are losing site of our priorities.

Rocket racer remade

Arthur (UK) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:34:06 GMT

Speaking with a friend who was born in the 1930's he says "that when they first saw aircraft without propellers they were worried" ... now we're talking about rockets.

Maybe someone should buy a British Electric Lightening and try racing that for a laugh - 0 to mach 2+ in less than 90 seconds (wheels-up nose-up bang bang !!) - certainly beats an F-18 (Sorry guys & gals)

We've come a long way since John Stringfellow first flew his steam powered aircraft in 1848

Rocket racer remade

Carney Nabeo, Sacramento, CA — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:29:00 GMT

"The plane being pushed by the rocket is significantly heavier than TallDave's Corvette."

Actually, no, it's not. The suggested max gross weight of an unmodified Velocity XL is ~2900lbs (empty weight is ~1800lbs), while the curb weight of a typical Corvette is ~3000lbs. The rocket-propelled Velocity with full propellant load is actually in the ballpark weight-wise with a Corvette.

Rocket racer remade

James H — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:30:19 GMT

Come on people, think before you write.

1. This was the FIRST flight of this plane/rocket combination - its a prototype. You don't give it full heater on a TEST flight.

2. Armadillo aerospace made the engine - they are a rocket company planning sub-orbital then orbital launches - check out their website. RRL stuff is a sideline to get some cash in (and have fun!)

3. There are manu sorts of racing - just because its not the fastest, it shouldnt be discounted. LMP cars are faster than Nascar which are faster than Clubmans etc, but all have audiences, all are good to watch.

Rocket racer remade

Billy, Kirkland, WA — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:47:55 GMT

I, too, was impressed by the rocket racer at Oshkosh, and I was more impressed by the F-22, the F-18 and the V-22, which cost a whole lot more. I, too, am worried about hearing loss for the millions of spectators, and I think the F-22 is louder than any near term rocket plane in most of the audible range. The Rocket Racing League is putting on a show for very little money, and that could lead to something GREAT!!. As for vertical climb rates, try the cable launch Sling Shot, which takes ordinary people from 0 to 100 mph, 200 ft straight up in less than one sec for only $50. The initial acceleration may be close to 6 g's but that drops off rapidly after the first 100 milliseconds. Carrier aircraft get off horizontal below 3 g's, which is still a kick in the pants.

Rocket racer remade

Joe Strout, Fort Collins, CO — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:40:47 GMT

Wow -- I'm really surprised that Armadillo has surpassed XCOR in this instance. XCOR has been building liquid-fueled rocket engines for years; that's all they do, and they do it extremely well. They haven't had a hard start or other failure in years. Armadillo, much as I love 'em, are comparative amateurs.

But I guess that's what the market system is about -- if the amateurs have a better product, then that product wins. Still, it makes me a little nervous... it could be a big setback for the industry if somebody buys the farm.