XCOR EZ-Rocket

The XCOR EZ-Rocket is a test platform for the XCOR rocket propulsion system. The plane is a modified Rutan Long-EZ, with the propeller replaced by first one, then a pair of pressure-fed regeneratively cooled liquid-fuelled rocket engines and an underslung rocket-fuel tank. The engines are restartable in flight, and are contained within Kevlar armour shielding for safety reasons. The EZ-Rocket is registered as an Experimental Aircraft.

Development and history

First flight took place on July 21, 2001, flown by test pilot Dick Rutan.

On a typical flight, the EZ-Rocket takes off on rockets, gains altitude for a minute or so, then switches off the rockets and glides to a 'dead stick' landing.

The vehicle actually flies better during 'dead stick'/glide landings than a Long-EZ due to lack of drag from a stationary pusher prop — the vehicle's aerodynamics are 'cleaner', in spite of its belly tank. It is also lighter due to the lack of a piston engine (the rocket propulsion system is significantly lighter), so enjoys significantly lower wing loading than a stock Long-EZ.

XCOR registered it as a conventional aircraft, rather than a suborbital. The vehicle has a thrust/weight ratio below 1, so doesn't meet the current definition of suborbital (but the vehicle predated the definition anyway.)

Milestones and records

*October 8, 2000 - First firing of an XCOR Aerospace LOX-powered rocket engine.cite web |url=http://www.mojave.ca.us/museum/photos-cftc-1stflights-xcor.htm |title=First Flights - XCOR Aerospace |accessdate=2006-11-13 |format= |work=Mojave Virtual Museum ]
*July 21, 2001 - First flight, flown by Dick Rutan (single-engine configuration).
*October 6, 2001 - First flight in twin-engine configuration.
*July 24, 2002 - First touch-and-go of a rocket powered aircraft (world record).
*December 3, 2005 - Set the point-to-point distance record for a ground-launched, rocket-powered aircraft, flying 16km from Mojave to California City in just under 10 minutes, flown by Dick Rutan).cite news |first=Bill |last=Deaver |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=XCOR EZ-Rocket makes more history at CalCity |url= |work=Mojave Desert News |publisher= |date=2005-12-22 |accessdate=] [ [http://records.fai.org/general_aviation/aircraft.asp?id=3674 FAI Records] ] Also first official delivery of U.S. Mail by a rocket-powered aircraft.
*December 15, 2005 - First arrival of a rocket-powered aircraft at the Mojave Spaceport on a flight originating at another airport, return flight from California City, piloted by Rick Searfoss).

Derivatives

The Rocket Racing League aircraft in development is a design descendant of the EZ-Rocket aircraft. The RRL aircraft will use a Velocity SE as the basic airframe, with new rocket engines burning kerosene instead of isopropyl alcohol fuel. XCOR has used both design and operational experience from the EZ-Rocket in the RRL rocket aircraft design.

pecification

* Two 400 lbf (1.8 kN) thrust rocket engines (non throttleable, restartable in flight)
* 20 sec 500m takeoff roll
* Vne = 195kt
* climb rate = 52m/s (10,000 ft/min)
* maximum altitude = 10,000 ft
* Fuel : isopropyl alcohol and liquid oxygen
* Chamber pressure : ~ 350 psi
* specific impulse : 250 to 270 seconds

References

External links

* [http://www.xcor.com/products/vehicles/ez-rocket.html The EZ-Rocket] (XCOR)
* [http://science.howstuffworks.com/ez-rocket.htm howstuffworks: How the EZ-Rocket Works]
* [http://www.rocketracingleague.com/ Rocket Racing League]
* [http://www.mojave.ca.us/museum/photos-cftc-1stflights-xcor.htm XCOR First Flights from Mojave Virtual Museum]

ee also

* ME-163 Komet
* The Space Shuttle