Fly Me to the Moon: Niagara Falls’ Rocketbelt Convention

Rocketbelt Convention, Niagara Falls
Rocketbelt Convention, Niagara Falls

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It’s called a ”˜rocketbelt.’ Not a ”˜jet pack.’

This is not a misnomer, really. Your average rocketbelt consists of two tanks of ”˜rocket-grade’ hydrogen peroxide, which you attach to your back. Add nitrogen, and the fuel suddenly expands in volume by a factor of 5,000. The whole mixture then gets converted to steam, which reaches about 1300 degrees Fahrenheit as it erupts forth as barely-contained propulsion. If you’re very, very good, you might fly for about thirty seconds.

To some people, this is incredibly appealing.

Hence, the Rocketbelt Convention, in Niagara Falls. Although only four fully-functional rocketbelts are known to exist, it seems that countless others are ”˜95% complete.’ The first ever rocketbelt pilot, Harold Graham, made a debut flight in 1961. Only ten men have free-flown a rocketbelt since.

Rocketbelt engineers are a somewhat unique bunch. They tend to have large garages, and perhaps a patient spouse. They also seem to have a well-developed sense of the absurd: during his speech at the convention, Harold Graham played a ukulele.

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