beamjockey ([info]beamjockey) wrote,
@ 2006-09-23 09:30:00
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Entry tags:aviation, bell, belt, jetpack, niagara aerospace museum, niagara falls, rocket, rocketbelt

On the Bus to Bell: A Ride into History
Am in Niagara Falls at the Rocketbelt Convention, a gathering of former Bell Rocket Belt pilots and engineers, new-generation RB builders, and enthusiasts. At one point I thought I was gonna be the only guy here who doesn't have an Agena engine in his garage.

I have posted some of my photos to Flickr. I'll work on captions when I get some time.

Met first pilot to fly a rocketbelt, Hal Graham. Quizzed John Spencer, test pilot for X-22 ducted-fan VTOL (which is here in the museum). Sat in rocket chair. Saw three Bell belts and a couple of others. Visited vast Bell plant, where they turned out about one P-39 fighter per hour during WWII. Stood in the pit where the X-1 and her sister rocketplanes were slung beneath B-29s. Met daughters and wife of Bell's chief photographer, Thomas Lennon. Met Hugh Neeson, former VP of Bell Aerospace, trustee of the Niagara Aerospace Museum, and walking encyclopedia on Bell history.

Saturday should be fun.


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[info]drzarron
2006-09-23 03:18 pm UTC (link)
Man Bill, sometimes I simply HATE YOU

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[info]beamjockey
2006-09-24 03:34 am UTC (link)
A few months ago, you sounded like you were going to attend.

You could have been in this picture.

WSH & Eric Scott 0283

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[info]dd_b
2006-09-23 04:26 pm UTC (link)
That rocket chair looks *really scary*; in particular, like you could stick your arms out into the exhaust streams *really easily*. And I imagine that would be a Bad Thing, perhaps in several different ways.

When I first heard about the convention and its location, I was afraid people were planning to fly over the falls in rocket belts. I'm rather pleased to find that it's located there for excellent historical reasons.

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(Anonymous)
2006-10-28 07:50 pm UTC (link)
You wouldn't be sticking your hands out into the jets because you are going to be busy holding the controls flying the thing.

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[info]purpleranger
2006-09-23 04:38 pm UTC (link)
If you're wanting us to say that we're jealous, Bill, all right: WE'RE JEALOUS!

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[info]jebra
2006-09-23 05:42 pm UTC (link)
When I go out east, I usually end up at a state park in West Virginia. It's a nice state park with a lake, a mountain, a large dam, and many lovely trees.

But there are no rocket-belts . . . [sigh]

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(Anonymous)
2006-09-29 09:28 pm UTC (link)
Yeah. Distinct lack of rocketbelts here on the beach too. The space center sends up a rocket every now and then...

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