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21st Sep 20
peterThis live debut of ‘Rocket Man’ two months before its release in 1972 as the album’s first single is striking in its freshness and its ability to nearly replicate the studio arrangement on stage. The line-up of Davey (guitar), Dee Murray (bass) and Nigel Olsson (drums) immediately established itself as the “classic” Elton band, solidifying Elton’s studio and stage presence through his most prolific period.
1972 is now 48 years ago. Things change in 48 years. 31 years earlier the first flight of the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet took place on 1st September 1941 with the aircraft in squadron service in 1944.
The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet is a German rocket-powered interceptor aircraft. Designed by Alexander Lippisch, it is the only rocket-powered fighter aircraft ever to have been operational and the first piloted aircraft of any type to exceed 1000 km/h (621 mph) in level flight. Its performance and aspects of its design were unprecedented. German test pilot Heini Dittmar in early July 1944 reached 1,130 km/h (700 mph), an unofficial flight airspeed record unmatched by turbojet-powered aircraft for almost a decade. Over 300 Komets were built, but the aircraft proved lack-luster in its dedicated role as an interceptor and destroyed between 9 and 18 Allied aircraft against 10 losses. Aside from combat losses many pilots were killed during testing and training. These were all very brave men.
Today, we receive news that the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is planning to develop what they call “zero emission aircraft” fuelled by hydrogen.
GOTO: https://simpleflying.com/airbus-zero-emission-concept-aircraft/
This is not really practical, given hydrogen’s lamentable fuel power/density ratio when compared to kerosene.
Although still under development, the YouTube video below has far greater prospects of becoming real.NB: A bi-fuel fusion reactor using Deuterium/Tritium will of course be radio-active!
British Gazette comment: a Deuterium/Tritium fusion reactor appears to be an excellent and practical technology for aviation, shipping and transportation generally.
