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11-Pound Model Plane Vs. The Atlantic, Again
Luap Nanreffeh writes "Last year, (/. Story 1, /. story 2) Maynard Hill and some retired NASA buddies tried to set a record for flying a model aeroplane across the atlantic ocean (from Newfoundland to Ireland). Their plan, using GPS, onboard controllers, and a gallon of gas, would have been the first to cross the Atlantic under FAI rules. They didn't have much luck last year, but now they're at it again. The first launch should be tonight."
all of us from slashdot send Charles "Lucky Hammy" Hamster our support.
good luck and godspeed, brave hamster.
Mike
So, how long until drug runners send little planes from Columbia to Florida?
This gives me too many ideas...
"The market alone cannot provide sufficient constraints on corporation's penchant to cause harm." -- Joel Bakan
...my neighbor tried to make his toy remote control car across the street, only to be crushed by the UPS guy.
So this is what a job market over-saturated with people with degrees and experience produces?
Or maybe they were just tired of people laughing when they told people that they worked for NASA.
-Valiss
The first launch? What are they planning on doing, supergluing back together the shattered pieces they find floating in the ocean after it crashes?
Get in touch with the English Channel skydiver and set up a cross promotion: Skydiver Flies (and Flies Model Plane) Across Atlantic.
Q. Which reminds me of an old joke: what do you get when you cross the Titanic and the Atlantic Ocean?
A. About halfway.
I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
They forgot to add in the additional weight of the coconuts.
Bowie J. Poag
Yeah, what onboard sensors would be those, intuition and luck?
The engineering experience gained from this endeavor will only help humans create better autonomous craft for Earthbound and space-based uses. Glad they're doing this, and I wish them luck, although if they see any German guys with ladders in their backyard, get the ol' shotgun ready.
I set get in.... CLICK
You know you're reading Slashdot when "GPS" and "FAI" are assumed to require less background info than "Newfoundland".
In the news today a nearly blind and deaf man was arrested for terrorist acts after his home built guided missile traveled the atlantic and started a fire at a shoreside housing complex, a terrorized elderly couple lost 16 cats in the fierce blaze.
"The airplane(s) we launch this month will be called 'The Spirit of Butts Farm' - Check back later to learn why."
Sounds to me like a blatant ploy for sponsorship dollars from RIM. . .
The only acceptable defense of scientific results is to say that they were the product of the Scientific Method.
After they make the flight and decide to sell the plane:
"So, you boyus used to work for NASA, huh?"
"Yep."
"Well I dont really know if this is the kind of plane I'm looking for. You say it get's 3,000 miles per gallon?
"About that."
"I'm really in the market for something that gets more like 4,000 miles to the gallon. Plus it looks real used, what with all the bird crap and scratches on it. I'll give ya 50 bucks."
"But we made a world record with this!!"
"Yeah but the paint is chipped. 60 bucks is my final offer."
"Fine, we'll take it. There's oour retirement!"
-Valiss
"Oh, wait, 11 *pounds*? Damn, we did all our calculations for an 11 *kilo* plane!" (sound of a spash)
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
Anyone else think this article was talking about seriously underweight fashion model consuming the Atlantic ocean?
Eating/testing is the safest way of dealing with these menaces to society.
Where did they give an exact date?
The first launch should be tonight.
mmhmm?
I have over 70 freaks, do you?
Some poor Irish guy is gonna be standing on the beach all alone, get nailed in the head with a model plane, and get REALLY confused.
Defender of Microsoft and Communism!!!
They forgot to add in the additional weight of the coconuts.
The problem wasn't that they forgot. The problem was that one engineer used Metric Coconuts and another engineer used British Standard Coconuts.
newfoundland also has the fame of being the birthplace of wireless communication, as the worlds first wireless transmission across the atlantic was recieved on signal hill back in 1901, so maybe that was another reason as well.
And I'm sure that the fact that it's also about closest point between North America and Europe without getting your feet wet has absolutely nothing to do with it.
But thanks for the trivia. Now quit your lollygaging ;-)
I'm a writer, a poet, a genius, I know it. I don't buy software, I grow it.
if he's standing on the beach instead of sitting in a bar.
Thanks, I'll be here all week. Be sure to tip your waitress.
"Would it kill you to put down the toilet seat?" -- Maya Angelou
Did they fire frozen chickens at it to make sure it would survive a bird hit?
I demand that this "petrol" you speak of be referred to as "benzin" as it is in the proper German you insensitive clod.
Please mod parent down to troll... sigh
Atlantic: You dare challenge me again, little 11-Pound Model Plane? Your whirly propeller is no match for my spinning hurricanes of doom.
11-Pound Model Plane: My light weight allows me to cross great distances! You shall not stop me!
Atlantic: WTF? I'm the freaking Atlantic Ocean. Come here you little punk ass 11-Pound Model - wha?
Gecko: Excuse me. Did you know you can save 15% or more on your car insurance by switching to Geiko?
Atlantic: Impressive, green one!
Upstairs Dog, Downstairs People.