https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_RAK.1
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
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
prominent), as was the RAK.1 designation.
Specifications (RAK-1)
General characteristics
Crew: one, pilot
Length: m (ft in)
Wingspan: m (ft in)
Height: m (ft in)
Wing area: m (ft)
Empty weight: kg (lb)
Useful load: kg (kg)
Loaded weight: kg (lb)
Max. takeoff weight: kg (lb)
Performance
Never exceed speed: km/h (knots, mph)
Maximum speed: 150 km/h (knots, 93 mph)
Cruise speed: km/h (knots, mph)
Stall speed: km/h (knots, mph)
Range: 1.5 km (nm, 4,900 ft)
Service ceiling: m (ft)
Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
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