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Whizzing on Fizz, February 1947
February 1947 Popular Science

February 1947 Popular Science

February 1947 Popular Science Cover - Airplanes and Rockets[Table of Contents]

Wax nostalgic over early technology. See articles from Popular Science, published 1872 - 2021. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged.

I don't know what aircraft engineers do during their lunch hour these days, but back in 1947 when this article appeared in Popular Science magazine, some of them raced CO2-powered model cars. They're a sort of Cub Scout Pinewood Derby cars on steroids. Split into light and heavy classes (7/8 ounce to 4-1/4 ounces), these aerodynamically shaped crates were carved from balsa blocks and rolled on metal or rubber wheels along a 240-foot string. It was the dawn of the jet age, so building competitive jet-powered models was a natural extension of the work many of them did as avocation / profession. I'm guessing there is more than one Ph.D. in that crowd, but there's a good chance the guy with the fastest car was a technician. BTW, although the venue at first glance appears to be a row of cubicles with their occupants leaning over the walls, cubicles were not a "thing" back in the day. Engineers and draftsmen at large firms typically sat in huge, open rooms filled with drafting tables and test equipment.

Whizzing on Fizz

Douglas Aircraft engineers enliven noon hour by racing tiny cars jet-driven by CO2

The squirrel-size vehicles hit speeds around 50 m.p.h. over a 240-foot straightaway - Airplanes and Rockets

They're off! The squirrel-size vehicles hit speeds around 50 m.p.h. over a 240-foot straightaway in on aisle at the sprawling Santo Monica plant. They are timed to on accuracy of 1/40 second.

The cars are of hollow balsa, weigh from 7/8 ounce to 4 1/4 ounces - Airplanes and Rockets

The cars are of hollow balsa, weigh from 7/8 ounce to 4 1/4 ounces. Those under 2 1/2 ounces are in the light class - those above, in the heavy. They're guided by strings, stopped by a curtain.

Snap-on guides for the string that keeps the racers in line - Airplanes and Rockets

Screw eyes, bent wire, and cotter keys with an arm removed form snap-on guides for the string that keeps the racers in line. Tool experts make the cars.

Each machine is weighed in before a race - Airplanes and Rockets

Each machine is weighed in before a race. This one balances a one-ounce weight. The racer has thin aluminum wheels that turn on steel bushings.

A racer's power plant a cartridge for a soda water siphon - Airplanes and Rockets

A racer's power plant - a cartridge for a soda water siphon - is inserted into a hole drilled into its tail. This 2 1/2-ounce baby rolls on hard rubber tires.

An owner awaits the 'go' signal - Airplanes and Rockets

An owner awaits the "go" signal to shoot his car down the track by puncturing its carbon-dioxide "engine" with a needle-tipped plunger. Size of puncture in cartridge depends on car's weight.

Racers sometimes swerve off course and smash to pieces against the wall - Airplanes and Rockets

The finish! A black job is about to crash the rolled curtain that stops cars. Racers sometimes swerve off course and smash to pieces against the wall.

 

 

Posted February 17, 2024

About Airplanes & Rockets 

Kirt Blattenberger, Webmaster - Airplanes and RocketsKirt Blattenberger

Even during the busiest times of my life I have endeavored to maintain some form of model building activity. This website has been created to help me chronicle my journey through a lifelong involvement in model aviation, which all began in Mayo, Maryland...

 

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