Skycycle X-2

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 former U.S. 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. 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.

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, nearly missing the river. Knievel stated that if the X-2 landed in the water, he did not have the ability to release himself from the harness and he would have drowned.

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.

Two X-2 Skycycles were built for Knievel. The X-2-1 was used as a test flight. Unable to fund further tests, Knievel used the X-2-2 for the Canyon Jump. In 2007, the X-2-1 Skycycle was offered for sale for $5,000,000. The X-2-2 is owned by the Knievel estate and currently tours with TRUE EVEL, a touring museum of Knievel artifacts.