“ROCKET” MOTOR-CAR.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17410, 24 May 1928, Page 14

“ROCKET” MOTOR-CAR.

GAS TURBINE ENGINES. L , TESTS ALONG RAIL TRACK. LONDON, April 20. The Frankfurter Zeitung publishes details of the “rocket automobile” which has excited so much interest by its appearance on a testing Irack of the Opel Works at Russelshcim. According to this report this automobile depends for its propulsive power upon the rapid expulsion cf gases from twelve tubes placed in the .vear of the vehicle, and at the tests it developed in eight seconds a speed of 95 kilometres (nearly CO miles) per hour, a hitherto unheard-of achievement. The rocket racer contains no motor in the accepted sense of the word, but under the bonnet reposes an accumulator and a seemingly simple ignition magneto. Tho invention is that of Max Valier, whose idea of propelling aeroplanes by the rocket principle some time ago were greeted with general ridicule. Owing to the tremendous speed developed by this new invention it is not thought that it will be of any use for vehicles propelled on the ground, but will he of great importance in aviation. Immediate tests arc to be made on a racing track near Berlin and on a speckH long, sLraight stretch of railway Jmc placed at the disposal of the inventor by the German State Railways.