Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/613275
ByMichelleRindelsand Ken Ritter The Associated Press LAS VEGAS A California company with visions of building a futuristic trans- portation system to one day zip people and pack- ages at nearly the speed of sound announced Tuesday it is building a test facility in southern Nevada. Hyperloop Technologies Inc. and the Nevada gover- nor's office said the 50-acre facility at a fledgling North Las Vegas business park will test a linear electric motor at speeds of about 335 mph — about half the speed envisioned in a full- scale system. "This decision repre- sents another major mile- stone in our journey to bring Hyperloop to com- mercial reality," Rob Lloyd, CEO of the Los Angeles- based company, said in a statement. The cost of the so-called Propulsion Open Air Test wasn't disclosed. The com- pany said it has raised $37 million from investors and expects to obtain $80 mil- lion more in bond financ- ing. The concept, which was described in 2013 by Tesla and SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk, rips a page from science fiction and aims to make it reality. Pressurized capsules would zoom on a thin cush- ion of air through pneu- matic-style tubes with little friction, powered by mag- netic attraction and solar power. Developers envi- sion transporting freight and passengers at speeds up to 750 mph — a pace that could cut the 400-mile trip between Los Angeles and San Francisco to less an hour. The speed of sound is 767 mph. Musk has suggested that a functional hyperloop sys- tem could cost $6 billion, although others suggest the figure will be much higher. Installation of a 1-kilo- meter track, a little more than a half-mile, is ex- pected to begin this month at the Mountain View In- dustrial Park in North Las Vegas. The site is part of a sprawling 28 square miles of undeveloped land known as the Apex Indus- trial Center designated for commercial and industrial development about 15 miles northeast of downtown Las Vegas. The company said test- ing will start early next year, with full operation projected for early 2017. Musk isn't directly in- volved in the Hyperloop Technologies program, project spokeswoman Mer- edith Kendall said Tuesday. He is backing an engi- neering competition aimed at developing a hyperloop prototype. Musk didn't immediately respond to messages left with Tesla Motors officials. Hyperloop Technologies said it was still looking for a site to build a 3-kilome- ter, or nearly 2-mile test track for more extensive testing. It said the goal is to deliver a commercially via- ble, fully operational trans- port system by 2020. The development rep- resents a boon for North Las Vegas, a city of about 220,000 residents that boomed as the nation's fastest-growing city in the early 2000s and nearly busted when the recession hit and pushed it close to the edge of insolvency. TRANSPORTATION SPACEX‑THEASSOCIATEDPRESS A conceptual design file rendering provided by SpaceX shows a Hyperloop passenger transport capsule within a tube, that would zoom passenger capsules through elevated tubes. CaliforniafirmHyperloopto test engine in southern Nevada The Associated Press GARDEN GROVE Tibor Rubin, a Hungarian-born concentration camp sur- vivor who joined the U.S. Army out of gratitude for his liberators, fought he- roically in Korea and re- ceived the Medal of Honor 55 years later, has died in California. Rubin died of natural causes Saturday in Gar- den Grove, his nephew, Robert Huntly, told the Los Angeles Times (http:// lat.ms/1YVKnqW ). He was 86. Huntly said his uncle never lost his sense of hu- mor despite a tragic per- sonal history. Rubin's par- ents and younger sister died in the Holocaust, and he was left disabled from his wounds and starva- tion. President George W. Bush gave the nation's highest military honor to Rubin during a White House ceremony in 2005. The medal recognized him for overcoming bru- tal dangers as an infan- tryman and trying to save fellow soldiers in battle and as a prisoner of war, even as he faced the prejudice of his com- manding officers because he was Jewish and a for- eigner. "By repeatedly risking his own life to save oth- ers, Cpl. Rubin exemplified the highest ideals of mili- tary service and fulfilled a pledge to give something back to the country that had given him his free- dom," Bush said. Rubin, then 76, stood by Bush's side with his head slightly bowed and his hands clasped behind his back as the president praised him, then fastened the gold medal around his neck. "It's a wonderful, beau- tiful country. We are all very lucky," Rubin told re- porters later. Rubin and his family, who lived northeast of Bu- dapest, were rounded up by the Nazis when he was 13 and taken to the Mau- thausen concentration camp in Austria. His par- ents and sister died at the camp, but Rubin survived 14 months there. American troops liberated him, and he vowed to join the Army if he ever made it to the United States. He enlisted a year after he came in 1948 and was sent to Korea in 1949, an Army biography says. The Korean War broke out in 1950, and Rubin's deeds in battle and later as a pris- oner of war went beyond bravery to heroism, as Bush described them. Assigned to defend a hill, Rubin singlehand- edly held off the enemy for 24 hours, inflicting casualties and facilitat- ing his unit's safe with- drawal. He later was cap- tured by the Chinese, and during his imprisonment, Rubin risked his life to steal food for fellow pris- oners, give them medical help and keep up their morale. He refused an of- fer from his captors to re- turn to communist Hun- gary. "Those who served with Ted speak of him as a sol- dier who gladly risked his own life for others," Bush said. The Army said Rubin's fellow soldiers and com- manding officers recom- mended him three times before for the Medal of Honor, but the paper- work was not submitted because a member of his chain of command was believed to have inter- ceded because of Rubin's religion. Rubin refused to say anything negative about the Army or his long wait for the Medal of Honor. In affidavits filed in support of Rubin's nomination, however, fellow soldiers said their sergeant was vi- ciously anti-Semitic and gave Rubin dangerous as- signments in hopes of get- ting him killed. In 1988, the Jewish War Veterans of the United States urged Congress to recognize Rubin's efforts. Rubin is survived by his wife, Yvonne, and chil- dren, Frank and Rosalyn Rubin. OBITUARY Ti bo r Ru bi n, Me da l of H on or recipient, dies in California LAWRENCE JACKSON— THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Medal of Honor winner, Cpl. Tibor Rubin, receives a standing ovation a er receiving the award from President Bush, in the East Room at the White House. Alloffersforalimitedtime.Notallbuyerswillqualifyforindividualprograms.SeeRedBluffChrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Ramforcompletedetailsandvehiclequalificationsforallcurrentlyrunningprograms.0%and1.9%APRfinancingarenot applicable on these new selected models. All rebates in lieu of special APRs offered by Chrysler. All prices plus government fees and taxes, any finance charge, any dealer document, preparation charge, and any emission charge. Subject to prior sales & credit approval. Some vehicle images in this ad are for illustration purposes only and may vary from actual vehicle. Ad expires 12/5/15. BENNYBROWN'S REDBLUFF ISN'TPLAYING! WE ARE GOING FOR #1 SPOT IN CALIFORNIA 1 Customer Satisfaction WWW.REDBLUFFDODGE.COM PHONE 530-366-3166 Se Habla Espanol 545AdobeRd.,RedBluff,CA YOUWIN!!! Every Vehicle on the lot will have a Red Tag Displayed with a was & a Now Price. We have the Best Selection in California of New Ram Trucks, Jeeps, Dodge & Chrysler Vehicles RED BLUFF DODGE 1 ST EVER Over 300 New Vehicles Here & Ready! Over 100 Pre-Owned Here & Ready! Drive thru and Be Prepared to see Some Amazing Deals We are Over Stocked & Regardless of Profit need to Sell 100 Vehicles in the Next 10 Days WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM | NEWS | 5 B