Private Rocketplane Test A Success

HobbySpacer writes: "XCOR announced the success of the first phase of flight tests for the EZ-Rocket. In the most recent flight, Dick Rutan fired both of its rocket engines to take off and reach a speed of 160knots and an altitude of 6200 feet. The vehicle is a Long-EZ kit plane modified to hold twin 400 lb thrust rocket engines fueled by isopropyl alcohol and liquid oxygen. The project is not aimed at a homebuilt EZ-Rocket but will demonstrate safe and reliable rocket propulsion. The primary goal is development of reusable launch technology that leads next to a high altitude sub-orbital rocket vehicle for space tourism, rocket racing (e.g. vertical drag racing at air shows) and the X-Prize competition."

Comments

Wait a sec

[British]

"isopropyl alcohol and liquid oxygen. "

Wait a minute, what did the Nazis use for rocket fuel for the Me. 163 Komet? Wasn't one of the components pure hydrogen peroxide, making it VERY dangerous to work with?

I dunno ,EZ-Rocket doesn't sound too safe to me. Nor does "Nuclear Reactor In a Box"

JATO

[sh4de]

How long until someone straps one of these to a 1967 Chevy Impala and attemps a Jet Assisted Take Off? From snopes.com:

The Chevy remained on the straight highway for approximately 2.6 miles (15-20 seconds) before the driver applied the brakes, completely melting them, blowing the tires, and leaving thick rubber marks on the road surface. The vehicle then became airborne for an additional 1.3 miles, impacted the cliff face at a height of 125 feet, and left a blackened crater 3 feet deep in the rock.

How safe could it really be???

[codec]

I know it's too late to get any karma but hopefully somebody reads this....
The fact that it's a modified long EZ scares me. I mean, John Denver didn't exactly have great luck in his.