The Rocket Belt Saga Part 1 - Twenty-One Seconds

Send us Fan MailWhat if I told you that the man who flew above Disneyland's Tomorrowland in the 1960s wasn't on wires, but strapped to actual jet engines? The remarkable true story of the rocket belt at Disney parks is more fascinating—and bizarre—than you might imagine.Kelly and Pete explore the surprising origins of personal flight technology, beginning with Wendell Moore of Bell Aeronautics, who adapted stabilization jets from Chuck Yeager's sound barrier-breaking X-1 aircraft into a wearable rocket pack. Though limited to just 21 seconds of flight time and powered by 90% pure hydrogen peroxide, these devices captured worldwide imagination, appearing not just at Disneyland and Disney World, but at presidential demonstrations, the 1984 Olympics opening ceremony, and in James Bond's "Thunderball."The rocket belt's journey through entertainment history connects fascinating dots between science fiction and reality. From Buck Rogers' "jumping belt" of 1920s comics to Commando Cody's rocket adventures in 1950s film serials, America had been primed to embrace personal flight long before it became technically possible. When Disney showcased these devices above Tomorrowland, they were fulfilling dreams decades in the making.But this is just the beginning of a story that grows increasingly strange. As competing rocket belt designs emerge, the narrative takes unexpected turns involving lawn-mowing teenagers who became rocket men, alleged drug smuggling operations, baseball bat confrontations, stolen equipment, and the birth of troubling rivalries that will ultimately lead to truly startling consequences.This first installment of a two-part rocket belt saga lifts off from the Flight Circle of yesterday's Tomorrowland and soars through a landscape where Disney history intersects with one of technology's most persistently appealing—yet perpetually impractical—dreams. Join us next time as the story grows even more unbelievable.==================================================================Show Notes: Bill Suitor is his name, not Robert as Kelly says early on.Dr. Theopolis on Buck Rogers was voiced by Howard F. Flynn.It's actually unclear if Tommy Walker booked the Bell Rocketbelt team for the 1964 World's Fair. He did, however, book Suitor to fly the RocketBelt for the 1984 Olympic Games opening as well as the team's 1965 and 1967 appearances at Disneyland.Walker, by the way, also composed the six-note "Charge!" fanfare heard at American sporting events.Astronaut Charles Duke: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_DukeKelly is playing fast and loose with the attraction naming. Rocket to the Moon (1955), Flight to the Moon (1967), Mission to Mars (1975).The Jetbelt guys actually could have launched from the location of the former Flying Saucers ride in 1967 because it had been converted to the Tomorrowland stage.Technical Debt at Disneyland article - https://boardwalktimes.net/the-cost-of-endless-magic-theme-parks-and-technical-debt-73a4bb29bb24Jaxxon!  https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Jaxxon_T._TumperakkiThanks for listening!We'd love it if you would give us a review on your podcast platform of choice: iTunes, Spotify, etc... They're really helpful.And get in touch and let us know about YOUR Plus-Ups for the attractions we've talked about!  We'd love to tell them on the air.Come visit us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, or whatever social media you like. Just look up Lowdown on the Plus-Up and you'll probably find us.  Or drop us a note to [email protected] and let us know any questions or comments about how YOU would like to plus-something-up! We are a Boardwalk Times production.Boardwalk Times, https://boardwalktimes.net/Boardwalk Times store, https://boardwalktimes.store .