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Rockets To Race Over Wisconsin Skies

Posted by timothy on from the nitro-burnin'-funny-ships dept.

Iron Condor writes with a reminder that that the first race of the Rocket Racing League (last mentioned here in April, after its 2005 founding) is set to take place later this month at Oshkosh AirVenture 08. This race, says Iron Condor, "is exactly what it sounds like: NASCAR 1000m above ground in rocket-propelled airplanes. Created by X-prize founder/CEO Peter Diamandis, this is 'the next evolution of racing' (at least according to the promo video, which is definitely worth watching)..."

4 of 210 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Finally. . . by smooth+wombat · · Score: 5, Informative

    To use the Answers.com definition of a rocket, which is pretty much what I think of when I hear the word rocket:

    A reaction engine that contains all the substances necessary for its operation and is not dependent on substances such as atmospheric oxygen, drawn from the surrounding medium, and thus is capable of operating in outer space. Also called rocket motor.

    If the engines of these vehicles are drawing in air from their surroundings, they're not using rockets, they're using jet engines.

    --
    We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
  2. Re:Finally. . . by MoonBuggy · · Score: 3, Informative

    I know what defines a rocket, and I didn't see any noticeable air intakes on the planes in the pictures, that's why I asked.

    Having looked a little closer it seems that they're burning kerosene and carrying liquid oxygen as an oxidiser, so they really are rockets, not jets.

  3. Re:Finally. . . by Falrick · · Score: 4, Informative

    Armadillo Aerospace is providing the RRL with rockets for their planes, so yes, they are rockets. http://armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home/News?news_id=358

    --
    something clever
  4. Re:Doh! by Aloisius · · Score: 3, Informative

    I like Humboldt Fog, Old Chatham Camembert, Vermont Shepherd, Pleasant Ridge Reserve and Roth's Private Reserve is also nice.

    Fiscalini Bandaged Wrapped Cheddar from Modesto beat out all the English cheddars in London last year (first time Wyke Farms Trophy has ever been awarded to a non-English cheddar).

    Flagship Reserve is a nice cheddar made up in Seattle.

    Have you been to a good cheese shop? This country makes a lot of bad cheese, but there are some fine cheeses if you know where to look.