Blue Flame
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Blue Flame is a rocket-powered land speed racing vehicle that was driven by Gary Gabelich and achieved a world land speed record on Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah on October 23, 1970. The vehicle set the FIA world record for the flying mile at Template:Convert and the flying kilometer at Template:Convert.<ref name="sirmalcolmcampbell.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Blue Flame's world records have since been broken.
Design and constructionEdit
Blue Flame was constructed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by Reaction Dynamics, a company formed by Pete Farnsworth, Ray Dausman and Dick Keller, who had developed the first hydrogen peroxide rocket dragster,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> called the X-1 and driven by Chuck Suba.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The car used a combination of high-test peroxide and liquified natural gas (LNG), pressurized by helium gas.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The effort was sponsored by the American Gas Association, with technical assistance from the Institute of Gas Technology of Des Plaines, IL.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The engine was designed by Reaction Dynamics and some of the components were manufactured by Galaxy Manufacturing of Tonawanda, New York.Template:Cn
Blue FlameTemplate:'s engine is a regeneratively cooled variable-thrust liquid-propellant engine. It can operate on either a single- or dual-propellant basis. In operation, it permits natural gas use as a liquid, gas, or both with a two-stage combustion start. The oxidizer flow is established first, then LNG enters a heat exchanger where it vaporizes and is brought to combustion temperature. The gas is then injected into the combustion chamber with the oxygen provided by the hydrogen peroxide. A stable flame front is established and the remaining liquified natural gas (LNG) is injected to bring the engine to full power.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Nominal engine running time was 20 seconds at full thrust of Template:Convert, the equivalent of Template:Convert.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Keller statedTemplate:Cn the Goodyear Tire Company restricted their top speed to Template:Convert.Template:Cn Reaction Dynamics subsequently modified the LNG flow in the two-stage injector system to almost halve the maximum thrust.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The actual thrust during the record runs was between Template:Convert [equivalent of Template:Convert]<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Template:Convert. Blue FlameTemplate:'s record runs involved accelerating continuously to the mile midpoint, then coasting through the mile. The peak speed, approximately Template:Convert, was reached at that point and then the vehicle decelerated the rest of the way. The kilometer speed trap was biased towards one end of the mile, resulting in the Template:Convert higher speed.
Blue Flame uses an aluminum semi-monocoque with welded tubular structure in the nose section and an aluminum "skin." The vehicle is Template:Convert long, Template:Convert high to the top of the tail fin, and Template:Convert wide, with a wheelbase of Template:Convert. It has an empty weight of Template:Convert and is approximately Template:Convert fully fueled and loaded.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Goodyear designed 8:00-25 tires for the vehicle, with an outside diameter of Template:Convert and smooth tread surface to help prevent heat buildup, filled with nitrogen gas at Template:Convert.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Land speed recordEdit
On 23 October 1970 at Bonneville, Gary Gabelich drove Blue Flame to a new record of Template:Convert for the flying mile, Template:Convert for the flying kilometre.<ref name="Holthusen, Records" >Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
LegacyEdit
Blue Flame is now on permanent exhibition at the Auto and Technik Museum Sinsheim in Germany.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Break the Record - Official Blue Flame LSR video
- Speedquest - The Blue Flame movie from Dick Keller's personal collection that he released into the public domain in 2011