Coal powered jets.

Cool. I first heard of this idea in the science fiction story "A
Transatlantic Tunnel - Hurrah", by Harry Harrison. This story
is a future in which the American rebels LOST the war of
independence, and George Washington was shot for treachery. The
British Empire continued to run most of the world, and, of course,
they were based on coal as their primary energy source. Oil was
never discovered in this world, and Britain developed coal powered
jet aircraft, and built a huge tunnel across the Atlantic Ocean.

I attended a seminar in which Harrison discussed this novel. He
said that he reviewed the idea of coal powered jets with some
turbine engineers, and the feedback was, that the supersonic coal
particles might pit the blades, but basically, the idea should work !

I loved Harry's work, especially the "Stainless Steel Rat", his
books are full of humor.

Good on yer Harry !

The web site of his fan club

http://www.harryharrison.com/

--- In ssi_list@... "victoriatangoman"
> The search for oil substitutes continues and I'm sure
> environmentalists will feel that we're jumping from the pan into
the