Heylandt rocket car

From The Space Library

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Heylandt/Riedel/Pietsch rocket car test firing engine 160kg thrust (c. April 1931).

The image above is taken at Heylandt factory in Berlin-Britz after Max Valier's death. His work on rocket propulsion continued with Walter Riedel, Paul Heylandt, Alfons Pietsch and Arthur Rudolph. The car was designed by Riedel with a new injection system devised by Rudolph. Cylindrical fuel tank at front, large spherical oxygen tank in rear. The car was driven at the Heylandt works by Pietsch before being demonstrated at the Tempelhof airfield in May 1931. Spectators paid extra money to be able to stand closer to the car (as seen in the image). However, not enough money was raised to justify the continued expense of working on the rocket car and the project ended shortly after the first demonstration. Riedel found employment a few months later with the German Army at Kummersdorf and began work with Wernher von Braun on his A-1 missile. Rudolph joined them several months later, bringing his "lampshade" injector system with him.

The Heylandt,Riedel,Pietsch,Rudolph rocket car on the test stand (Apr 11 1931)

Alfons Pietsch drives the Heylandt/Riedel rocket car at the Heylandt works in Berlin (April 1931)

Alfons Pietsch sits in the passenger seat of the Heylandt/Riedel rocket car for a demonstration in Berlin in May 1931