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DIY Cruise Missile Grounded

Posted by michael on from the shot-down-in-a-blaze-of-glory dept.

PSaltyDS writes "The DIY Cruise Missile project from New Zealand has been previously covered on /., but the BBC now reports that Bruce Simpson has been forced to shutdown by his government. His project web site says 'The New Zealand government has moved aggressively to shut down this project -- and by using quite unscrupulous methods which appear to be in breach of the law.'"

4 of 690 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting Comparison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Here's an article that was in the NZ Herald (our main newspaper) a few days ago. Interesting to see the differences in wording between this article and the BBC one, even in his comments.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?these ct ion=news&thesubsection=&storyID=3537971

  2. Re:You could say.... by pancho123 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    His work has further implications....Uncle Sam is spending millions of dollars in building Cruise Missiles.. A 5K (+explosives+nav. system) cruise missile? ha! What happens if a U.S. company hires this guy, and builds a cruise missile for the army, thousands of times cheaper than the ones from the big defense firms? Management would p00p their pants...

  3. I just want to know by seraph93 · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Why is this guy acting all suprised about it? From the article:

    The New Zealand government has moved aggressively to shut down this project -- and by using quite unscrupulous methods which appear to be in breach of the law.

    Oh, wow, really? Even though it's not technically illegal, I wouldn't be too shocked to find out that the authorities wanted to have a word or two with me if I was building a V2 in my backyard:

    "Oh, no, officer, this rocket is for humanitarian purposes only! And as a gift to all mankind, I've posted the plans online so that other humanitarians can build rockets of their own! What could be wrong with that?"

    It was a really cool project, but come on. Who didn't see this coming?

    --
    Ph-nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn.
  4. Re:Not really a cruise missile by child_of_mercy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    no thats how fast/high *SOME* cruise missles can fly.

    a V1 (generally considered the first cruise missile) had nothing like what you're talking about.

    light aircraft have ranges heading into many hundreds of miles.

    and if launched in time of peace (as per terrorist attack) and kept in unregulated airspace could get within seconds of it's target without radar being an issue.

    New York and Washington in time of high alert might be able to respond in time, but off the top of my head i can't think of another city in the world (baghdad?) that would be protected.

    --
    'There is a Light that never goes out.'