Jet pack crosses Royal Gorge

[steingar]

Pretty amazing stunt, detailed here. They still only get about 30 seconds out of the things, though.

 

[Flyfishingpilot]

"hydrogen peroxide as fuel"

i wonder how that works...

 

[steingar]

I would think that peroxide would be the oxidizer, with something else used for the propellant.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

no vid on youtube yet but here:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/ne...-daredevil-use-jet-pack-cross-royal-gorge-to/

heck he had what, 8 seconds of fuel to spare!

 

[mikea]

"hydrogen peroxide as fuel"

i wonder how that works...

'Bout time they made use of that energy source!

Blondes have been powered by hydrogen peroxide forever.

 

[docmirror]

I would think that peroxide would be the oxidizer, with something else used for the propellant.

Prolly not. Just the decomped peroxide. It gives off quite a bit of energy as it decomposes. Can be mixed with a lot of other things(like diesel) for more energy but it's not as easy to mix, throttle, or work with.

 

[Geico266]

This flight sure beats the weed-eater contraption presented at OSH this year. It took two guys to hold it up!

 

[Anthony]

Well I've walked across the foot bridge over the Royal Gorge. That's about the same.....right?

 

[Chairboy]

If you spray hydrogen peroxide into or through a platinum mesh, the platinum acts as a catalyst and it instantly decomposes and turns to superheated steam and expands to 600 times the volume. Not being used as an oxidizer, it's a monopropellent.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

If you spray hydrogen peroxide into or through a platinum mesh, the platinum acts as a catalyst and it instantly decomposes and turns to superheated steam and expands to 600 times the volume. Not being used as an oxidizer, it's a monopropellent.

hmmm I'm guessing that's not the same H2O2 in my med cabinet -2%??
if so, how far is it from the open end of a tailpipe to the catalytic converter?!

 

[fgcason]

Well I've walked across the foot bridge over the Royal Gorge. That's about the same.....right?

Only if there's about 75 people on the other side with big hydraulic powered bolt cutters cutting the suspension cables from the anchors as fast as they can while you're crossing.

 

[Chairboy]

hmmm I'm guessing that's not the same H2O2 in my med cabinet -2%??
if so, how far is it from the open end of a tailpipe to the catalytic converter?!

Yeah, they use 50% and better. The higher the concentration, the longer the jet can operate and the more thrust it can produce. I think those jetpack guys use >90% concentration. Expensive.

 

[ApacheBob]

I'd rather fly a Cherokee 140. I can keep it up for longer than 75 seconds!

 

[Chairboy]

I can keep it up for longer than 75 seconds!

And if not, well, they have pills for that now.

 

[Joe B]

'Bout time they made use of that energy source!

I know your suggestion was in jest but it prompts a little history lesson for those who've never heard of peroxide rockets before. The technology has been in use for a while: Hydrogen peroxide was the propellant for the attitude-control thrusters in the Mercury capsules. It's easy to turn on/off and "throttle" up/down since you just have to control the flow of one fluid. And it doesn't require complicated cooling or igniters so the mechanism is lightweight (as far as rockets go). The first "rocket belt" was developed for the Army in the early 60's as a technology spin-off from the Mercury program.

 

[Ted]

All this talk about hydrogen peroxide... anyone want to think about the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide for a bit?

- People have to land their planes, stop their cars, and take breaks from work due to overconsumption
- Inhalation can cause death
- If it gets in your fuel your engine may quit

We should hurry up and ban this dangerous substance.

 

[PittsDriver]

All this talk about hydrogen peroxide... anyone want to think about the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide for a bit?

- People have to land their planes, stop their cars, and take breaks from work due to overconsumption
- Inhalation can cause death
- If it gets in your fuel your engine may quit

We should hurry up and ban this dangerous substance.

Indeed. But when it's temperature is lowered to 0 C or lower and then crushed, it can serve as a suitable additive to keep my Jack Daniels at the appropriate temperature.

 

[steingar]

Thanks guys, you're right and I blew it. Shoulda remembered. Oh well, my inorganic chemistry is only 20 years old.

 

[vontresc]

Mike don't feel bad. H2O2 can be used as an oxidizer It's just that most "jetpacks" use it as a momo propellant. The brits did a lot of work after WWII on HTP rocket Engines. The Gamma engines used H2O2 and paraffin oil.

For some modern H2O2 engines check out Armadillo Aerospace.

 

[silver-eagle]

Jetpack International is looking for their next pilot. You too could fly a jetpack 1,500 feet on 43 seconds of fuel at 77 miles per hour. Go see their employment ad http://www.jetpackinternational.com/pressrelease.html
It would be a nice way to commute to work if they could get better milage out of it.

 

[Chairboy]

It's an ideal commuter vehicle for anyone who works at home.

 

[Ghery]

Mike don't feel bad. H2O2 can be used as an oxidizer It's just that most "jetpacks" use it as a momo propellant. The brits did a lot of work after WWII on HTP rocket Engines. The Gamma engines used H2O2 and paraffin oil.

For some modern H2O2 engines check out Armadillo Aerospace.

And the Germans were at it during WWII. The ME-163 rocket plane used it.

http://www.airpages.ru/cgi-bin/epg.pl?nav=lw70&page=me163
http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=107
http://www.aviationartprints.com/me_163_comet.htm

 

[Tristar]

A few bean burritos and I'm sure you guys could do the same thing.

 

[Henning]

I would think that peroxide would be the oxidizer, with something else used for the propellant.

No, the peroxide is the fuel, they run it across platinum screens and it decomposes at a rate high enough to provide thrust. Hydrogenperoxide rockets have been around for a long time.

 

[Henning]

hmmm I'm guessing that's not the same H2O2 in my med cabinet -2%??
if so, how far is it from the open end of a tailpipe to the catalytic converter?!

No, fuel grade is a MUCH higher percentage. If you pour it on your skin, your skin will dissolve.

 

[Henning]

And the Germans were at it during WWII. The ME-163 rocket plane used it.

http://www.airpages.ru/cgi-bin/epg.pl?nav=lw70&page=me163
http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=107
http://www.aviationartprints.com/me_163_comet.htm

The ME 163 used it as the T-Stoff oxidizer, but mixed it with C-Stoff Hydrazine Hydrate and Methanol.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

No, fuel grade is a MUCH higher percentage. If you pour it on your skin, your skin will dissolve.

EEK! You have to hope your tubing/tanks don't develop a leak while that's strapped to your back!

So where would one buy 90% Hydrogen Peroxide if one owned a jetpack, and how much does it cost? Does it require any permits to purchase it?

 

[Henning]

EEK! You have to hope your tubing/tanks don't develop a leak while that's strapped to your back!

So where would one buy 90% Hydrogen Peroxide if one owned a jetpack, and how much does it cost? Does it require any permits to purchase it?

I'd imagine at chemical suppliers, or you can refine your own.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

I'd imagine at chemical suppliers, or you can refine your own.

Expect to pay ~$100 per liter ($400/gallon) and stay away from the 30-50% stuff. 100 LL is still cheaper.

 

[Henning]

Expect to pay ~$100 per liter ($400/gallon) and stay away from the 30-50% stuff. 100 LL is still cheaper.

Use an NOS system enriching with nitromethane at the spray bar and you can get some pretty serious altitude and power... Be fun for a time to climb and altitude record for a recip, even more fun if it was with an R-2800 or R-3350...