Richter's rocket bike: how an engineer attached rockets to his bike (7 photos)

Rockets allowed the bike to reach speeds of up to 90 km / h.





In the first third of the 20th century in the Soviet Union, Germany and the USA not only scientists, but also ordinary people were fond of rocket science. In many cities there were circles of rocket science, which gave rise to many unusual devices. Some inventions of engineers met a wave of criticism: for example, a multi-stage rocket was invented back in 1914, but then this design was called a fantasy.

Another strange invention was the rocket bike. True, he did not have such a brilliant fate as a multi-stage missiles, and the project was rather a failure. Which is quite good, because it was the most ordinary bicycle, to which rockets were attached for speed. Surprisingly, no one even came from such a vehicle. Suffered.



In the 1930s, Germany was interested in transport with rocket engines. The Germans created rocket cars, boats, motorcycles and not only: rockets were even attached to roller and curly skates. Among such enthusiasts was the engineer Herr Richter (Herr Richter). He decided to equip an ordinary bicycle with 12 rockets.





Richter called his invention Raketenrad. In 1931 a German came up with an ignition system, and fixed solid-propellant rockets on the rear bike parts.



Of course, he tested his transport by driving to the race track. Berlin track. He was followed by a car with a photographer who captured the minutes of Richter's triumph.



True, the triumph was short-lived: Raketenrad accelerated to 90 kilometers per hour, after which the engineer lost control and fell off bike. Miraculously, he was not seriously injured.



Only one such Richter test drive is known, however there is a possibility that this was far from the only trip on rocket transport.

Richter was not the first to try to improve bike. So, in the photo below, the 1929 race of the year, here is also a trip to rocket bikes.