The Blue Flame's 50th Anniversary

[MAYOMAN]

Yes, it was done on a fast track schedule.
In January, 1965 I wrote the first LSR proposal, "Development of a Land Speed Record Vehicle of Mach One Capability".
July, 1966 the X-1 rocket dragster was tested at the Great Lakes Dragway in Union Grove, Wisconsin.
February, 1968 I wrote the 2nd proposal, "LNG Goes Supersonic" to the American Gas Association for sponsorship.
July 30, 1968, IGT authorized sponsorship of The Blue Flame LSR project.
September, 1968 Dr. T. Paul Torda and Dr. Carl Uzgiris, professors of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at IIT in Chicago agreed to consult on The Blue Flame Design with engineering students working on Masters Degrees.
January, 1969 wind tunnel testing of scale models at Ohio State University commenced.
March, 1969 fabrication of The Blue Flame began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
July 27, 1970 final static testing of The Blue Flame at Great Lakes Dragway.
September 12, 1970 The Blue Flame and crew depart Milwaukee for Bonneville Salt Flats.
October 23, 1970 The Blue Flame set the absolute world land speed record 630.388mph in the flying start kilometer on the 25th run. Snowed the next day.

[MAYOMAN]

In the timeline I should have noted that in Spring, 1965 Ray Dausman, Pete Farnsworth, and I incorporated Reaction Dynamics to design, build, and race rocket powered cars. Pete was President, Ray was Vice-President, and I was Secretary-Treasurer.

[PorkPie]

a week ago we had two visitors in the Museum Sinsheim...very familiar with the Blue Flame

the attached photo from the FB page of the Technik Museum Sinsheim, all rights to the museum, shows our guests

left, Pete Farnsworth, right Ken McCarthy

they visit us from Friday to Monday and had lots of fun 

Dick, when you show up?

[MAYOMAN]

No travel plans right now. Sinsheim has my interview from 2020.

[tallguy]

I recently ordered (from Amazon) the book, and received it today.  I'm looking forward to reading it,
and am glad it was printed with fairly large fonts.

After reading it, I'll post my comments here.   

[MAYOMAN]

I hope that you will enjoy it. I tried to acknowledge everyone that helped us from the beginning through the record runs.

[GW]

I got the book, read it, and it's a great read of a grand endeavor. While nothing in the business is easy, they sure made it look easy. I wonder why nobody has used the same propulsion technology approach on another, newer LSR attempt.

Mayoman - what say you?

[MAYOMAN]

ROSCO McGlashan's Aussie Invader is using a homebuilt rocket.
Ray, Pete, and I were able to design and build the rocket, the vehicle, and all the support trailers and equipment.
Now, all it takes is MONEY!