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The Skycycle X-2 was a steam-powered rocket owned by Evel Knievel and flown during his Snake River Canyon jump. An earlier prototype, the Skycycle X-1 designed by Doug Malewicki and retired United States Navy engineer Robert Truax, superficially resembled a motorcycle. The Skycycle X-2 was designed by Truax, and ridden by Knievel in his attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon near Twin Falls, Idaho on September 8, 1974. The parachute deployed during the launch, causing the stunt to fail.〔(Evel Knievel's X-1 Skycycle, rocket powered CANYON JUMPING motorcycle! )〕 A later analysis showed that a design flaw in a mechanical parachute retention cover, which did not properly take base drag into account, caused the premature parachute deployment. Following the failed jump, Truax blamed Knievel for the failure and vice versa. Later Truax accepted full responsibility for the failure.〔https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=O_EjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uBEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2715,1578027&hl=en The Milwaukee Sentinel - Sep 9, 1974〕 Although the parachute deployed early, the aerial photographs show the X-2 cleared the canyon. However, the winds blew the rocket back to launch side, crashing at the bottom of the canyon, barely missing the river. Knievel stated that if the X-2 had landed in the water, he would have drowned, as he did not have the ability to release himself from the harness.〔Stuart Barker, Life of Evel Knievel, St. Martin's Press, 2008.〕 In order to obtain permission from the State of Idaho to perform the canyon jump, the X-2 was registered as an airplane rather than a motorcycle.〔Stuart Barker, Life of Evel Knievel, St. Martin's Press, 2008.〕 Three X-2 Skycycles were built for Knievel.〔https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-toCdPlXd6I〕〔Absolute Evel: The Evel Knievel Story, History Channel 2005〕 The first two were used for test flights. Unable to fund further tests, Knievel used the third for the canyon jump. In 2007, the X-2-1 Skycycle was offered for sale for $5,000,000.〔(Evel Knievel Skycycle Snake River Rocket For Sale )〕 The X-2-2 is owned by the Knievel estate and periodically exhibited along with a museum of Knievel artifacts. ==Recreating the jump== Since the 1974 launch, seven daredevils have expressed interest in recreating the jump, including Knievel's two sons Robbie and Kelly. Robbie announced he would recreate the jump in 2010.〔Associated Press, "Robbie Knievel hopes to jump Snake River Canyon", Billings Gazette, May 9, 2010〕 Stuntman Eddie Braun announced he is working with Kelly and Robert Truax's son to recreate the jump using a replica of the X-2 Skycycle.〔Martin, Joey, KMTV News, "40 Years Later and Gearing Up For Another Jump", September 8, 2014〕 To date, no official jump has been announced or attempted. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Skycycle X-2」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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