Enthusiasts build and launch X-Wing

[Adam Israel]

I wasn't quite sure if this was the right place to post this, but here goes.

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/boom/x+wing-rocket-launches-disintegrates-mid+air-307945.php).

First, how cool is it that a group of enthusiasts build a 21-foot long X-Wing with solid-fuel engines?

Second, a total bummer that the maiden flight ended the way it did. I kind of hope they make a second attempt with sturdier materials. It looks like the frame just wasn't strong enough to withstand the launch.

[Popeyesays]

I wasn't quite sure if this was the right place to post this, but here goes.

X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates Mid-Air (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/boom/x+wing-rocket-launches-disintegrates-mid+air-307945.php).

First, how cool is it that a group of enthusiasts build a 21-foot long X-Wing with solid-fuel engines?

Second, a total bummer that the maiden flight ended the way it did. I kind of hope they make a second attempt with sturdier materials. It looks like the frame just wasn't strong enough to withstand the launch.

It looks like paired boosters, one of which wasnot putting out the same foot pounds of propellant gases. The left wing drags because the engines are delivering different amounts of thrust and the resultant incipient spin tears the air frame apart.To bad, they need to get those engines custom built to provide exactly the same thrust.Regards,Scott

[benbradley]

Maybe before the next design someone will go to engineering school and take a strength-of-materials class, among a few others... geez... can I nominate these fools clowns adventurous enthusiasts for an honorary Darwin award?

[Popeyesays]

Maybe before the next design someone will go to engineering school and take a strength-of-materials class, among a few others... geez... can I nominate these fools clowns adventurous enthusiasts for an honorary Darwin award?

part of the Darwin Award criteria is that the recipient must have cleared his genes from the common pool for the good of the species.

Regards,
Scott

[Triangulos]

In a similar vein, did anyone see the episode of the UK series "Top Gear" where they convert a car into a "reusable" launcher? Follow these links to see the whole thing, it's long but well worth watching (skip to the second one to see the final preparations and launch)... :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AwVnfo_3Sk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOc1mjH9bKQ

T.

[benbradley]

part of the Darwin Award criteria is that the recipient must have cleared his genes from the common pool for the good of the species.

Regards,
Scott
Give 'em time, give 'em time...

Perhaps I should start a "Potential Darwin Award Recipient" award.

[dempsey]

I saw this awhile back. A friend showed it to me, saying, "I think you'll like this."

Even though it blew up, I still think it's awesome. If they had a TIE fighter, I would have been glad it blew up ;)

I loved that the artoo unit actually spun around and beeped.

[astonwest]

Let's face it together, Star Wars nerds—as much as it gives us a giant collective nerd-boner to imagine real, flying Star Wars vehicles, buzzing the air traffic controllers at JFK Intl' airport, these things were designed by Lucas's film masters, not aerospace engineers.

My favorite quote...but then I'm sort of biased on the side of Aerospace Engineers...

Hope everyone checked out the additional footage from the other launch... :-)

One could make these things truly fly (and possibly land intact), but it would take more than a bunch of rocket enthusiasts could muster. Flight guidance computers, directional thrusters, and yes, actual pieces of aircraft/spacecraft grade hardware and material...

That stuff is all expensive.

[astonwest]

And what, no Millennium Falcon?
:)

[LloydBrown]

Funny you should mention that, Dempsey. There's a "remix" going around of this video in which a TIE fighter does swoop in and blast the x-wing to pieces. Look for it.

[Storm Dream]

That is the most awesome thing ever. I want an X-Wing for my birthday. :)

On the serious side...who cares that it didn't quite work? These guys did something different. They actually managed to get it off the ground. I'd give them an award just for trying. I heart ingenuity.

[merper]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgF9hBL-CuA

[Bmwhtly]

Strangely enough, I did read a thing the other day about a kit-aircraft called the Rutan Q2 that is styled to resemble an X-Wing. kinda.

[Bmwhtly]

I'd be more impressed if someone made a Firefly that'd fly :)

[astonwest]

On the serious side...who cares that it didn't quite work? These guys did something different. They actually managed to get it off the ground. I'd give them an award just for trying. I heart ingenuity.But it doesn't take much to get something off the ground with a rocket engine...you just put a really big one on it. ;)

[Bmwhtly]

But it doesn't take much to get something off the ground with a rocket engine...you just put a really big one on it. ;)Fact!

In fact, if no-one's mentioned it yet, it wasn't so long ago that a Reliant Robin (that's a car) was launched on a rocket.
And all that did was blow a big hole in north northumberland.

(I'd post a link, but YouTube is blocked here at work. If you're really interested, search Youtube for "Top Gear. Shuttle")

[Triangulos]

Fact!

In fact, if no-one's mentioned it yet, it wasn't so long ago that a Reliant Robin (that's a car) was launched on a rocket.
And all that did was blow a big hole in north northumberland.

(I'd post a link, but YouTube is blocked here at work. If you're really interested, search Youtube for "Top Gear. Shuttle")

The links are here - pretty long all told but worth seeing, else skip to the second one to see the final preparations and launch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AwVnfo_3Sk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOc1mjH9bKQ

T.