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Rocket Doctor
10-01-2010, 03:01 PM
On October 9th, at 1 pm there will be a plaque dedication for the reaction Motors Pequannock/Pompton Plains site.

This is the site where the XLR-11 Bell X-1 motors were tested back in the early 40's.

The ceremony will be held on Rt23 & West parkway in Pompton Plains/Pequannock NJ

All of the reaction Motors sites are in the general area in northern NJ

Any questions, PM me.

blackshire
10-02-2010, 08:41 PM
Thank you very much for posting this! There's no way I could make it there, but I'm just heartened that this pioneering company's work is being commemorated. Reaction Motors literally opened the door to the Space Age by demonstrating that liquid propellant rocket propulsion systems were sufficiently safe and reliable (the Ulmer leather seal issue notwithstanding) for piloted flight.

Their four-chambered LOX/WALC (Water/Alcohol) XLR-11 engines powered not only the X-1 series of rocket planes, but also the X-15 (using an "over-under" cluster of two XLR-11s) during its early test flights before its larger XLR-99 engine was ready. In addition, XLR-11 engines powered NASA's M2-F2 lifting body research aircraft (which was later rebuilt as the M2-F3 after its famous crash, whose footage appeared in the opening credits of "The Six Million Dollar Man"), the NASA HL-10 lifting body, and the USAF's X-24A lifting body, which was later extensively modified into the double-delta X-24B.

Through all of these projects, the Reaction Motors XLR-11 remained in service from the early post-World War II years through 1975. If memory serves, a derivative of the engine also furnished propulsion for Convair's MX-774, the superficially V-2-like test rocket that pioneered several technologies (integral pressure-rigidized "balloon" propellant tanks, a separable nose cone, gimballed thrust chambers, etc.) that were later utilized in Convair's Atlas ICBM.

Rocket Doctor
10-03-2010, 07:22 AM
Reaction Motors local history.

Reaction Motors started out in a "bicycle" shop in Pompton Lakes NJ. If you wanted to buy a bicycle, you couldn't, it was a cover for what was going on in the back room, rocket engine building. The motors were test fired at Lake Inez in Pompton Lakes. Currently, there is a hrdware store located in the building, which is located on Wanaque Ave.

Then they moved to Franklin Lakes NJ, the location was 936 Dogwood Trail. At this location, RMI tested JATO engines (Jet Assisted Take Off) for the Navy . They were there from 1942 - 1944. A concrete block house remained at that location until about five years ago and then it was domolished.

The last time I visited that location, it was just a wooded area, but, I was lucky enough to speak with a neighbor who salvaged a concrete block and gave it to me.

From Franklin Lakes, RMI moved into a fromer silver company building in Pequannock NJ. Also know as the sand pit. Here, the XLR-11, Bell X-1 motors were developed and tested. They made so much noise that the neighbors got together to force RMI out of town.

This is the location od the marker/plaque dedication ceremony to be held on Saturday October 9, 2010 AT 1PM. Rt 23 and West parkway.

I will be in attendance for this dedication and will be taking photos.

After leaving Pequannock, RMI moved it's operation to 100 Ford Road in Denville NJ, this was the headquarters and manufacturing facility. The building still stands today.

Back in 2005, the AIAA dedicated two plaques to honor RMI and their contributions to the military and space efforts.

A side note, back in 1988 I worked for a company in that building. In our lunch room there was a small room in the corner that we called the rocket room, The walls were about 12 inches thick with a heavy door, we were told this is were they tested propellants.

At the same time, RMI had several test stands located in Picatinny Arsenal in Dover NJ, these test stand were located at the Navy depot and remain today.

I have visited one of the test stands, the one used for testing the XLR-11 engines. I will be going back again on Oct 14, 2010 to photograph this site and hopefully getting up to the XLR-99 X-15 motors test site on the top of the hill.

RMI just had their 18th bi-annual reunion of former employees in Mountain Lakes NJ. Over 125 former employees attended.

RMI had many firsts and produced thousdands of motors both small and large over their years in business. Thiokol had pruchases RMI and by 1972 it was just a memory.

A XLR-99 (X-15) engine is on display at the Teterboro Aviation Museum at the Teterboro Airport off RT 46 in NJ

There are other locations of hardware from RMI in other location as well.

ghrocketman
10-15-2010, 02:02 PM
The "neighbors" should have had to SUCK IT UP AND DEEL WITH the rocket engine noise, PERIOD. Don't like it ? TOUGH FECES ! MOVE !

Leo
10-15-2010, 02:06 PM
http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/forums/Reaction_Motors_Plaque.jpg

tfischer
10-15-2010, 02:32 PM
The "neighbors" should have had to SUCK IT UP AND DEEL WITH the rocket engine noise, PERIOD. Don't like it ? TOUGH FECES ! MOVE !

Really? So if I set up shop next to your house and make so much racket that it impedes on your usage/enjoyment of your own property, you'll just pack up and move?

It would be another thing altogether if the neighbors moved there, with full realization of what they were moving next to, and THEN complained...

jdbectec
10-15-2010, 03:35 PM
Really? So if I set up shop next to your house and make so much racket that it impedes on your usage/enjoyment of your own property, you'll just pack up and move?

It would be another thing altogether if the neighbors moved there, with full realization of what they were moving next to, and THEN complained...


No offense to you guys, but can you take it outside? :chuckle:

Back on topic, I'm glad the plaque was put there, and thanks to the Rocket Docter, and LEO for sharing.

Rocket Doctor
10-15-2010, 05:14 PM
On Thursday Oct 14, 2010, the day that Charles "Cheuck" Yeager broke the sound barrier back in 1947, I made a trip over to Picatinny Arsenal in Dover NJ.

Here at the Navy Depot, Reaction Motors did testing on the XLR-11 (Bell X-1) motors and also the XLR-99 (X-15) motors.

I was escorted up to the "top of the hill" by Patrick Owens the Picatinny Historian and a member of public relations.

We went inside the test site building where the X-15 motors were tested, went inside the control room and the work shop/storage building.

I will send the pics to Leo and ask him to post them for me.

I also went ov to Marotta's and spoke with the owner Mr Tom Marotta and got additional information on Reaction Motors. (www.marotta.com)
I am working on an article for Sport Rocketry about the pictorial history of reaction Motors.

tfischer
10-15-2010, 05:17 PM
Back on topic, this is really cool, and thanks for the stories and the picture of the plaque.

Anyone know where I can get one of these that fits in my Mean Machine? :)

Leo
10-16-2010, 03:35 AM
Reaction Motors in Pequannock NJ storyboard of history
Tests and production of the XLR-11 Bell X-1 motors were done here:
http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/forums/Reaction_Motors_Pic1.jpg

Reaction Motors test sie located in Franklin Lakes NJ. Address is 936 Dogwood trail, a cement block , block house stood here until five years ago and then knocked down. RMI use to test JATO motors here until 1944:
http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/forums/Reaction_Motors_Pic2.jpg

Ramp leading up to the X-15 test stand building:
http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/forums/Reaction_Motors_Pic3.jpg

Reaction Motors test stand for X-15 motors:
http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/forums/Reaction_Motors_Pic4.jpg

Reaction Motors test stand for the XLR-99 X-15 rocket motor. They fired the engines out the top (metal roll up door) located at Picatinny Asenal, Dover NJ:
http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/forums/Reaction_Motors_Pic5.jpg

Reaction Motors X-15 test stand control panel:
http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/forums/Reaction_Motors_Pic6.jpg

Reaction Motors XLR-11 Bell X-1 motor:
http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/forums/Reaction_Motors_Pic7.jpg

This is an XLR-99 X-15 Reaction Motors engine on display at the teterboro Air Museum at the Teterbor Airport in NJ.
This type of motor powered the X-15:
http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/forums/Reaction_Motors_Pic8.jpg

Leo
10-16-2010, 03:36 AM
This is the nozzle of the XLR-99 X-15:
http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/forums/Reaction_Motors_Pic9.jpg

Rocket Doctor
10-16-2010, 06:31 AM
Leo

\Thank You for posting the Reaction Motors photos.

RD

Reaction Motors,Inc.

Pompton Lakes - Wanaque Ave, now a hardware store
Franklin Lakes - 936 Dogwood Trail - JATO motors test site
Pequannock - Headquarters - Production -Test site XLR-11 Bell X-1 motors
Denville - Headquarters - production- 100 Ford Road- Building still exist-two AIAA markers
Lake Denmark/Picatinny Arsenal - Numerous test sites 0 tow reamain

All these locatins are in northern NJ

Teterboro Museum - Teterboro NJ RT 46 - Reaction Motors Display

Rocket Doctor
10-16-2010, 06:32 AM
Check out the photos on page 1

Leo
10-16-2010, 06:34 AM
Leo

\Thank You for posting the Reaction Motors photos.

RD
...

Anytime :)

Rocket Doctor
10-16-2010, 07:27 PM
If you would like to see the test site at Pequannock in action, get your hands on a Life magazine from may 13, 1946.

There are some listed on ebay, but, somewhat pricey.

Gus
10-16-2010, 11:20 PM
Ken,

Thanks for posting the info and pictures. Definitely a place with achievements which deserve to be remembered and honored.

Steve

Rocket Doctor
10-17-2010, 05:41 AM
Steve

Visiting these sites is like going back in time and experiencing history all over again..
Unfortunately, the test sites at picatinny Arsenal are in such poor condition and one of the sites slated to be demolished in the near future.

I do have one of the cement blocks for the block house in Franklin Lakes.

My goal is to have markers placed at the franklin Lakes sites and the Picatinny site.

Ken

Rocket Doctor
10-21-2010, 08:43 PM
To see additional info on the XLR-11 Bell X-1 motor being tested, look athe the May 13,1946 Life magazine