Supersonic Naval Ordnance Research Track (SNORT) | military

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The Supersonic Naval Ordnance Research Track (SNORT). A facility in which rocket-powered sleds scream down a test track at up to Mach 4.

SNORT is a 21,550 foot (4.08 mile)long two rail heavy duty precision track. The track is made up of 50 foot lengths of 171 lb/yd crane rail laid at standard gauge. Beging at 11,475 feet the trough in the center of the track functions as a water brake extending 10,075 feet to the end of the track.

In over 50 years, SNORT has logged more than 9,000 track test runs.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_sled
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   35°42'14"N   117°44'27"W

Comments

  • SNORT is a 21,550 foot (4.08 mile)long two rail heavy duty precision track. The track is made up of 50 foot lengths of 171 lb/yd crane rail laid at standard gauge. Beging at 11,475 feet the trough in the center of the track functions as a water brake extending 10,075 feet to the end of the track.
  • SNORT (?) LOL The moment I saw this place & it's nickname, I just couldn't resist. Who ever first realized the acronym must have chuckled as well.
  • ya i think snort is good testing facility
  • I remember this place! My father was the guy who launched the sleds in the early to mid fifties...
This article was last modified 16 years ago