Alexandru Ciurcu

Engraving showing the second experimental vessel of Ciurcu

Alexandru Ciurcu (29 January 1854, Şercaia –22 January 1922, Bucharest) was a Romanian inventor and publisher, known for his invention with the French journalist Just Buisson of a reaction engine. It used rocket propulsion and was briefly used to power a boat, demonstrated on 13 August 1886.^[1] The two men envisioned that such motors would later be used for air travel.

The explosion of 16 December^[2]

On 16 December 1886, during a test with a new second engine for the boat at Asnières, the engine exploded.^[2] Just Buisson and an assistant at the helm were killed. Ciurcu survived by swimming ashore, but at first was accused of murder.

References

↑ "Alexandru N. Ciurcu". Archived from the original on 12 February 2005.
1 2 "La catastrophe du 16 décembre 1886, à Asnières" [The catastrophe of 16 December 1886, at Asnières]. La Nature (in French). 16 December 1886. p. 75.

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[1] "Alexandru N. Ciurcu". Archived from the original on 12 February 2005.

[Nature-2] 1 2 "La catastrophe du 16 décembre 1886, à Asnières" [The catastrophe of 16 December 1886, at Asnières]. La Nature (in French). 16 December 1886. p. 75.