In a message from Berlin last night The Times Correspondent says: - Herr Fritz Von Opel flew about a mile near Frankfurt today in a rocket-propelled aeroplane, to the great interest of the inhabitants of the countryside, who regarded the machine, roaring through the air, with a trail of flame and a long trail of smoke, with wonder and astonishment. Herr Von Opel, a member of the Opel motor firm, has been pursuing his experiments with rocket aeroplanes in great secrecy ever since the idea of rocket propulsion first came into the forefront of public attention, with his spectacular rocket car exhibition on the Avits track, near Berlin, some 18 months ago. The announcement that the first public experiment was to be made to-day came quite unexpectedly, and it success testifies to the thoroughness of the preparations.
The aeroplane in which Herr Von Opel took his seat for the enterprise is a small monoplane, with a tail unit, mounted on outriggers running from the wings. The rump is cut short behind the pilot's seat, and presents from the rear the appearance of a honeycomb, the circular openings being the mouths of the rocket chambers. The smoke and flames emitted by the rockets clear the tail unit, which is mounted high, and on a level with the wings.
The rocket aeroplane has already made successful flights after an assisted start in the manner used for motorless aircraft, but today it was "shot" into the air. This was done in the following manner: - A rail track, 30 feet long, was laid, with a buffer at one end. The aeroplane was placed on a starting trolley, also propelled by rockets, which ran along the rails at great speed and discharged the aeroplane into the air as it struck against the buffer. At this moment the flight rockets were ignited by the pilot, and the aeroplane continued in flight under its own motive power. The machine was also fitted with braking rockets, firing in the reverse direction, which were intended to reduce landing speed, and so enable a slow landing to be made. This device, it is stated, has been used with engined aircraft, and has given good results.
The first two attempts this morning were unsuccessful. The trolley dashed along the track until it encountered the buffer, when it duly launched the aeroplane into the air. At this moment, however, the ignition of the flight rockets failed, so that the craft came to land. The ignition was overhauled, and this afternoon a third attempt was made, which was successful. The trolley made its dash, the aeroplane rose, the flight rockets ignited, and Herr Von Opel disappeared in a deafening uproar and a cloud of smoke and flame.
The Irish Times, October 1st, 1929.