1886: Experimentarea şi brevetarea sistemelor de propulsie reactivă concepute şi realizate de Alexandru Ciurcu
Experimenting and Patenting of Reactive Propulsion Systems Designed and Built by Alexandru Ciurcu
Author(s): Nicolae Florin Zăgănescu, Constantin Marcian GheorgheSubject(s): History, General Reference Works, Economic history, History of ideas, Local History / Microhistory, Military history, Modern Age, 19th Century, Source Material
Published by: Editura Academiei Române
Keywords: Alexandru Ciurcu; Just Buisson; reactive propulsion; first real test of a jet propelled manned vehicle; reactive boat tests on Seine River; railroad jet propulsion tests; special fuel mixture;
Summary/Abstract: Alexandru Ciurcu was born at 29thJanuary 1854 inTransylvania (then in Austria-Hungary) where his Romanian parents took refuge after the 1848 revolution. Between 1876 and 1885, working as journalist in Bucharest, he invented a „jet cylinder”: a prototype of the future propulsion system he will make later in Paris with his friend Just Buisson. Ciurcu and Buisson tested the system on a boat, navigating upstream Seine River on 13thAugust 1886; so, 131 years ago, they tested the first manned vehicle ever powered by jet propulsion!On 12th October 1886, they received a French Patent for “Reactive propulsion system”.Before contract signing with French Civil Navigation Ministry, they made a last test on 16th December 1886; unfortunately, a pressurised container exploded, killing Buisson and anassistant. Ciurcu, wounded, survived. He later resumed testing the system on a railroad trolley; successfully, but not enough to develop an airship propulsion system.
Journal: NOEMA
- Issue Year: XVII/2018
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 140-146
- Page Count: 7
- Language: Romanian
