In January, a unique motorcycle built by engineer Robert Maddox will be put up for sale at the Mecum auction. It is equipped with two impulse jet engines, and the design is based on the Harley-Davidson bikes of the first third of the 20th century.
To be more precise, the creator was inspired by a 1929 track motorcycle. But in fact, the design has nothing to do with the Harley-Davidson brand. With the possible exception of some borrowed elements.
Two jet engines are powered by gasoline with an octane rating of 87 (according to the American standard). Of the characteristics, only one is known: the bike accelerates to 60 mph (97 km/h) in about five seconds.
Robert Maddox was inspired by jet engines as a child. When he was young, he designed his own motor and began to jump out of the plane with it. Now he builds impulse jet engines. They can be ordered from him in the form of blueprints or retrofit kits. Maddox put similar motors on hot rods, go-karts and even skateboards with bicycles.
A pulse jet engine differs from a simple jet engine in that it produces thrust not constantly, but in separate impulses. The design is extremely simple and can operate on a variety of fuels. However, the economy and noise levels outweigh the benefits.
