Opel-RAK

Germany

A series of rocket powered cars and planes commissioned and, in some cases, driven or piloted, by Fritz von Opel, of the Opel car company, in association with others, including Max Valier and Wilhelm Sander.

Opel RAK.1, the world's first rocket-propelled car was driven by Kurt C. Volkhart to a top speed of 75 km/h (47 mph) on March 15, 1928.

Opel-RAK 1 car

The Opel-RAK 2, driven by Fritz von Opel
Opel RAK.2 - rocket car: On May 23, 1928 he reached a speed of 230 km/h (143 mph) in an improved version, the RAK 2, driven by 24 solid-rockets.
Opel RAK.3 rocket train powered by 30 solid rockets, which reached a speed of 254 km/h (157 mph). On the second run the train jumps the track and is destroyed.

Rocket rail vehicle Opel-Sander Rak.3 in June 1928.

Rocket installation. On the left Fritz von Opel, the right Friedrich Wilhelm Sander.

Rak.3 rocket train during burn.
Opel Rak IV rocket train, destroyed when a solid rocket explodes on the track, exploding all the other rockets. Railway authorities prohibit further runs
Opel RAK.1 rocket glider September 30, 1929

The Opel-RAK 1 plane

In June 1928, von Opel purchased a sailplane named the Ente from Alexander Lippisch, and fitted it with rockets, creating the world's first rocket plane on June 11. Opel did not get the chance to fly it, however, as the aircraft was destroyed by an engine explosion on its second test flight.
He commissioned a new aircraft from Julius Hatry, and flew it at Frankfurt-am-Main on September 30, 1929 in front of a large crowd at Rebstock airport near Frankfurt-am-Main.
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 names, Opel, Sander, and Hatry were painted on the aircraft (with Opel’s most prominent), as was the RAK.1 designation.

Opel-RAK 1 plane in flight.

Fritz von Opel (right) and Friedrich Sander (left) in front of Opel RAK.1

Ref.: #95, #98 - update: 12.05.13

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