Opel RAK.1 (plane)

This article is about the Opel RAK.1 rocket plane. Please go here for the Opel RAK.1 rocket car.

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Opel RAK.1

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Description

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RoleExperimental prototype

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Crewone, pilot

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Dimensions

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Length

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Wingspan

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Height

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Wing area

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Weights

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Empty

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Loaded

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Maximum take-off

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Powerplant

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Engine16x Sander black powder rockets

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Powertotal, but not all fired together7.8 kN1,760 lbf

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Performance

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Maximum speed150 km/h93 mph

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Rangeattained1,500 m4,900 ft

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Ceiling

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Rate of Climb

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The Opel RAK.1 was the world's first purpose-built rocket-powered aircraft. It was designed and built by Julius Hatry under commission from Fritz von Opel who flew it on September 30 1929 in front of a large crowd near Frankfurt-am-Main.

Related Topics:
Opel - Julius Hatry - Fritz von Opel - September 30 - 1929 - Frankfurt-am-Main

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During the late 1920s, von Opel had undertaken a variety of publicity stunts involving rocket-powered vehicles for the Opel company. He was assisted in these endeavours by pyrotechnics manufacturer Friedrich Sander and rocketry advocate Max Valier. In June 1928, he had purchased an Alexander Lippisch-designed sailplane, the Ente, and fitted it with rockets. Opel did not get the chance to fly it, however, as the aircraft was destroyed by an engine explosion on its second test flight.

Related Topics:
Publicity stunt - Pyrotechnics - Friedrich Sander - Max Valier - 1928 - Alexander Lippisch - Sailplane - Ente

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The RAK.1 had a typical sailplane wing, under which a pod was suspended to accommodate the pilot and sixteen solid rocket engines. The tailplane was mounted on booms behind the wing and high out of the way of the rocket exhaust. Opel successfully piloted it over 1.5 km (1 mile) in 75 seconds of flight, but landed hard, damaging the aircraft beyond repair. Opel planned to build a second rocket plane, but apparently lost interest before the project was completed.

Related Topics:
Sailplane - Wing - Tailplane

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The aircraft is sometimes referred to as the Opel-Hatry RAK.1 or Opel-Sander RAK.1 in acknowledgement of its builder or the supplier of its engines respectively. In still other references it is called the RAK.3 to distinguish it from Opel's previous RAK.1 and RAK.2 rocket cars. As it happened, all three names, Opel, Sander, and Hatry were painted on the aircraft (with Opel?s most prominent), as was the RAK.1 designation.

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