bp-bib.htm
NASA NACA site 1917 to 1958 Papers.
Ramjet Code RJSC for Mac computers. By special request only.
"Light Rocket Features Solid-Fuel Ramjet," Aviation Week and Space Technology (AW&ST), July 31, 1961, pp 87-90.
This paper describes a Texas company that uses a 2.75 inch solid rocket to boost an SFRJ second stage to about Mach 2. The SFRJ then climbs and accelerates slightly through 70,000 ft. The ramjet stage then coasts to 200,000 ft (flight proven). The system carried a 1.5 lb payload for atmospheric testing.
The ramjet fuel was a magnesium and magnesium-aluminum alloy. The Isp for this propellant is about 700 seconds but the company had plans for one with 1,200 seconds. This compares to the 180-240 typical of current solid fuel rockets.
The company was Anderson, Greenwood & Co., of Houston Texas. The ramjet was designated as the AG-32 Met Jet.
The company is still around but now makes valves and is not working in aero research. The following answers were graciously provided by Alan West and one of the test engineers of Anderson, Greenwood & Co.
1. What happened to the program? "We were unable to obtain adequate funding to continue the program. AGCO invested considerably money in the development of the product. We experienced very limited success in the field tests. Approximately 20 field launch tests were conducted at the Pacific Missile Range and NASA, Wallops Island facility."
2. Did it ever go into Production? "No, the 20 test vehicles and several wind tunnel test models were produced."
3. Was there any other ramjet work at AGCO? "Yes, our first project was funded by the U.S. Army, Picatinny Arsenal, to develope a 90mm gun fired ramjet assisted projectile.This program was dropped when the Army decided to redirect their work for an armor piercing projectile."
4. Are there any pictures available? "No, I do not have any. There are no hardware available. Alan , there were numerous photos at AGCO when I retired. I don't have any suggestions on how to find them."
"Design and Flight Tests of a Mach-Number-5 Experimental Ramjet," by Roger Marguet, Pyrodynamics, 1967. Describes 1960 French tests.
"Die deutschen Raketenflugzeuge, 1935-1945,"
by Joachim Dressel and Manfred Griehl.
"The High-Flying Legacy of Eugen Sanger,"
by Helmut Muller, Air & Space Smithsonian, August/September
1987, pg 92-99.
Source temporarily displaced
Describes Messerschmitt Me 262 Lorin using Lorin ramjets mounted
above the two turbojets. Describes the French Leduc manned
ramjet powered aircraft:
Notes: Many of the citations below show the year, report number, and in parenthesis the sequence number at the time I found them. Since creating this format it has come to my attention that NASA is continuing to add papers as they are scanned in which will likely change the sequence number. I estimate that between 25 and 50 pct of the NACA documents have been scanned and loaded.
There are many more reports already on the NACA site that I haven't read. These are not listed here.
When searching the NACA list I recommend starting in 1947 (I found nothing earlier) and using your web browser to search for the term "ram".
I also recommend starting with the following reports
"for such applications as air-launched missiles it may be advantageous for the ramjet to be self-accelerating from either a high subsonic or a low supersonic speed." (pg 1, last paragraph, first sentence)
Five ramjet engines are tested in free-flight after being dropped from 28,000-35,000 ft. Four are operated from Mach 0.8 to 1.8 where the design point is Mach 1.8. The fifth is operated from Mach 1.5 to 2.4.
"1. The single-conical-shock-inlet, fixed-geometry ram-jet engine demonstrated substantial positive values of transonic thrust minus drag and is therefore capable of self-acceleration throughout the transonic Mach number range." (Summary of Results, pg 11, first paragraph/sentence)
This Page created November 9, 1999
Last Updated April 11, 2000