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Rocket-Powered 21-Foot Long X-Wing Actually Flies

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the fly-me-to-the-moon dept.

An anonymous reader writes to tell us that some crazy California enthusiasts have built a 21-foot long model of an X-Wing. While this might be impressive in its own right, this model actually flies. Powered by four solid-fuel rocket engines the group has high hopes for their launch next week. Let's hope the built-in R2 unit makes it out ok.

12 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. I am going to take a guess by darkmayo · · Score: 5, Funny

    and that this x-wing will end up as a recreation of Porkins last flight.

    --
    "I am a kernel in the linux army"
    1. Re:I am going to take a guess by Daniel+Dvorkin · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This is what happens when people with too much money and creativity decide to do something completely useless. How about they strip off the rockets and find a way to make a house for homeless people?

      So why are you anonymously trolling on Slashdot instead of out there feeding the poor, curing cancer, or rescuing lost puppies?

      --
      The correlation between ignorance of statistics and using "correlation is not causation" as an argument is close to 1.
    2. Re:I am going to take a guess by disasm · · Score: 5, Insightful

      We are called to serve with humility, not arrogance. By coming on a public board and making a rant about not helping the homeless, you only hurt yourself. Be humble, and serve those that need your service. It isn't your position to attack others for not being as much of a humanitarian as you. If you brag about your own works they will burn as straw, but if you humbly serve wanting nothing in return they will be eternal.

    3. Re:I am going to take a guess by Chris+Burke · · Score: 5, Funny

      How about they strip off the rockets and find a way to make a house for homeless people?

      I say why strip off the rockets?

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
  2. Does it fly? by tulmad · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I keep seeing this story in various places. They all say "this model actually flies." The thing is, afaict, it's only ever "flown" in simulation. I don't mean to be mean, but you can't really say an aircraft flies until it actually gets up off the ground.

    --
    "In case of emergency, break glass. Scream. Bleed to death."
    1. Re:Does it fly? by ch-chuck · · Score: 5, Funny

      I used to hang out with model airplane enthusiasts and after watching flying snoopy doghouses, flying witches on brooms, flying lawn mowers, flying pizza pans, carpets, flags, picnic baskets, etc, people would just say, "You can make a brick fly if you put a big enough engine on it".

      --
      try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
  3. Re:Except that by meringuoid · · Score: 5, Funny
    they wouldn't need wings

    That's why they don't have wings. They have S-foils.

    And anyway, X-wings are quite capable of atmospheric flight. Just as long as you aren't damn fool enough to land one in a swamp; you'd never get it out.

    --
    Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
  4. Won't this attract unwanted imperial attention? by EvilSpudBoy · · Score: 5, Funny

    All we need is for the empire to think there is a rebel base here, and they will send the death star to blow up Earth. In which case that thing better fly and it better have one hell of a pilot.

  5. Re:Except that by Billosaur · · Score: 5, Funny

    Always with you it cannot be done...

    --
    GetOuttaMySpace - The Anti-Social Network
  6. this will end badly. by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From my extensive model rocketry background getting multiple rockets to fire all at once is incredibly hard. getting 4 of them to fire at once spread out that far apart will be a nightmare. clustered together one misfire or late fire will not affect the trajectory too much, that far apart it will affect the trajectory dramatically, one not firing on one side will spin it out of control as soon as it leaves the launch rod. one late firing will turn it really hard at the end of the burn.

    I hope they are completely ok with it pinwheeling out of control along the ground as the chances of that happening are higher than most suspect.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  7. Re:Strap enough propellant on! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's just a little airborne, it's still good, it's still good!

  8. Re:Except that by meringuoid · · Score: 5, Funny
    My impression from the movies was that they have some form of anti-gravity for taxiing, which could also make up for lack of lift during atmospheric flight.

    Ah. That explains a lot.

    'Hmm. Disconnected in the rough landing the main cable to the antigravity device was. No wonder it is, that get this ship out of the swamp he cannot. Reconnect it I will, before to lift it through Force powers I attempt. Impressed will young Skywalker be, and respectful!'

    --
    Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.