Sonic Wind Desert Blast Test

Sonic Wind is a rocket powered vehicle designed and constructed to exceed the speed of sound on ice. Its initial goal is to set a new Land Speed Record on ice over the current 247 mph record. With a body that was originally designed for speeds in excess of Mach 2 and a rocket engine from a record setting supersonic test plane, the X-1, Sonic Wind has a speed potential far in excess of its first 247 mph goal.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Desert
• Test
• Firing
• Sonic
• Wind

[dynamicangel]

This is footage of the Sonic Wind ice racer being fired at Bob Lazar's desert blast in the mid 1990s. We had an Ethanol leak and had spilled it onto the lake bed so after the engine shut down and cleaned out. I couldn't put out the fire under the rocket because of the red hot sand and the ethanol.....Waldo Stakes

[beeroosterm]

@beeroosterm I was also wondering about his ultimate deceleration record of 46 g's or so. My brother and I used to be aficionados of the Guinness Book of World Records back in the 60's-70's (back when it was a real book - not the comic book it is now) and distinctly remember the record was 82 g's, not 46. I wonder if it was not Stapp but someone else, as I only remember the number, not the record holder. My old GBoWC is long shredded now...It MUST have been Stapp. Any ideas?

[beeroosterm]

@dynamicangel Wonderful! I've been reading up on Dr. Stapp - and what an amazing fellow! Many people no doubt owe their lives to him for his research and unflinching courage. I was looking at a YouTube video where he rides in the rocket-powered "Gee Whiz" over a 2000 foot track and then comes to what appears to be an instant stop from hundreds of miles an hour - rather like Wile E. Coyote - and then just hops out. Where are the John Stapps of today? We need them...

[dynamicangel]

Actually John P. Stapp was a friend of mine and I knew him well. Sonic Wind is named in honor of him and his achievements. So that he will be remembered by later generations. he was so impressed with my work he invited my son and I to his museum in Alamagordo New Mexico ten years before he passed away and I sat in the original Sonic Wind of which there was only one and it was built and named by Northrop. I also donated areospace artifacts to his museum for display. I hope that is OK with you....

[beeroosterm]

@beeroosterm Excuse me, balls "of" iron.

[beeroosterm]

I notice no one has commented on the fact that there were, I believe, at least two other (military) rocket sleds with the name "Sonic Wind", one of which was ridden by Dr. John Stapp to a then world record speed over 630 mph and then to a stop at over 46 g's. Stapp had balls or iron but was quiet and witty. Look for his Wikipedia entry for a start...

[dynamicangel]

Actually, it is footage of a static engine test but that concept may be just a little too advanced for you to grasp as it seems you don't even have a handle on first grade level spelling as of yet. The word that is making your head hurt as you rub your two remaining brain cells together trying to create a spark is MELTING. Obviously we won't be seeing any rocket engine tests conducted by you in the near future, now will we? This dressing down is really for your own good. Believe me...Waldo

[OMFGTHISSOSUX2]

Sorry, was that meant to be moving, or melding the ice?