Model Airplane Plans (FF): OPEL RAK-1 Rocket Plane 28" Jetex Glider (Musciano)

Description

PLANS ONLY - NOT A KIT
Opel RAK.1 Sander Rocket Plane
by Walt Musciano
A scale
28
" wingspan Jetex-powered FF glider
The Opel RAK.1 (also known as the Opel RAK.3 ) 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 at Rebstock airport near Frankfurt am Main. During the late 1920s, von Opel had undertaken a variety of publicity stunts involving rocket-powered vehicles, Opel-RAKs, 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. 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 (0.93 mi) 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. The aircraft is sometimes referred to as the Opel-Hatry RAK.1 or Opel-Sander RAK.1 in acknowledgment of its builder or the supplier of its engines
Featured in July 1949 Air Trails
You will receive a full-size plans and the magazine article
COMBINED SHIPPING DISCOUNTS
ALWAYS
OFFERED
Thanks for Looking!