Opel RAK.1
Opel · Germany · first flew 1928 · light aircraft
The Opel RAK.1 was a 1928 German glider experimentally fitted with solid-fuel rocket motors, representing one of the earliest manned rocket-powered aircraft flights. It was a collaboration between Opel, Friedrich Stamer, and Max Valier.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × rocket, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.41 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 1928 German rocket-powered glider experiment
- Ley/Opel rocket propulsion — no conventional engine
- Unpowered glider airframe fitted with solid rocket motors
A conventional wooden glider airframe distinguished only by the cluster of solid-fuel rocket tubes mounted behind the pilot — one of the most unusual propulsion systems of the interwar era.
Specifications
- The Opel RAK.1 has a length of 5.41 m (18 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 150 km/h (93 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Fritz von Opel, working with rocket pioneer Max Valier and pilot Friedrich Stamer, fitted a glider with Sander solid-fuel rockets for the RAK.1 experiments in 1928. On 30 September 1928, von Opel himself flew a rocket-propelled glider at Frankfurt, reaching approximately 150 km/h. The experiments were primarily publicity stunts but contributed to early rocketry interest.
Variants
The RAK series included several experimental vehicles; the RAK.1 was an aircraft variant of these rocket experiments.
Where you'll see it
Purely experimental; no operational service.
Related aircraft
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