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X-Wing Rocket Launches, Disintegrates

An anonymous reader writes "Remember the 21-foot X-Wing with four rocket engines? It launched yesterday from Plaster City and here's the video showing what many thought inevitable: total destruction in mid-air. From the post: "I can only say two things. The first is: absolutely amazing. And the second: poor Porkins." "

22 of 240 comments (clear)

  1. a few moments before the launch by ClippySay · · Score: 5, Funny

    / You look like you're trying to pilot an \
    \ X-Wing. May I help you?                 /
           \     ____
            \   / __ \
             \  O|  |O|
                ||  | |
                ||  | |
                ||    |
                 |___/

    --
    cpu0: Microsoft Clippium ("GenuineClippy" ChromedMetal-Class). Paperbinding, lockpicking, fish-hook-hack support.
  2. Yoda says.... by jawtheshark · · Score: 5, Funny

    ....Surprised, I am not.

    --
    Ahhh...the great dumpster continuum. Many a free computer will be found there. -- sowth (748135)
    1. Re:Yoda says.... by Rei · · Score: 2, Funny

      I don't think any of them actually expected it to get very far before it died. They were launching it straight up, unguided..

      They should have left the targeting computer on. Dumb Star Wars nuts.

      Obi-Wan's disembodied voice: "Luke! Use the targeting computer! That's what it's there for!"

      --
      As it says in the Constitution, Lenin is in my shower.
  3. Yeeeeeeeeaaaahhhhhh! by onosson · · Score: 1, Funny

    I, for one, welcome our X-wing-rocket-flying... oh, never mind.

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    ? syntax error
  4. She'll hold together by kalpol · · Score: 4, Funny

    Come on baby....aw hell.

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    12:50 - press return.
    1. Re:She'll hold together by Rei · · Score: 2, Funny

      Stay on target!

      --
      As it says in the Constitution, Lenin is in my shower.
  5. I'm not surprised by VegeBrain · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've often been amazed how bad the aerodynamics of Science Fiction are. The X wing is a pretty good example, with those huge laser weapons on the ends of the wings that guarantee flutter problems in the wings. I also find it hilarious that the leading edges of the wings are flat. Then there's the silliness of having 4 engines instead of two. The whole problem is instead of being practical, science fiction spacecraft are just there to look cool. If the rebels can't figure out a few obvious improvements like these then they deserve to be crushed like a bug by the Emperor.

  6. Darth Vader Quote... by no_pets · · Score: 4, Funny

    ..."The Farce is strong with this one."

    --
    "A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." - Shepard Book Quoting Malcolm Reynolds
  7. two items from video by drDugan · · Score: 3, Funny

    the kids wearing blue in the forground is clearly rooting for it to crash, you see his left arm raise victorious before the crowd goes ohhhhhh, and he continues to cheer as pieces fall.

    and, if you listen carefully at the very end of the video, the announcer proclaims, "shit" over the loudspeaker

    hilarious.

    1. Re:two items from video by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Christ, you need to get laid. Shit.

    2. Re:two items from video by hey! · · Score: 2, Funny

      Bravo. Profane and vulgar. I bet you thought I wouldn't notice.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
  8. Re:Too bad they weren't engineers by hey! · · Score: 2, Funny

    Dude. I'm sure their were some engineers in there. Some pretty well healed ones at that that earned their money with their skills.


    Only the ones that actually tried sitting in the cockpits. Real nerds know that you test things you are not absolutely certain will work with something/someone you don't mind breaking, e.g., jocks.
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    Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
  9. Well... by Shadow+Wrought · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wedge wasn't doing any good down there anyway.

    --
    If brevity is the soul of wit, then how does one explain Twitter?
  10. Please... by mecenday · · Score: 2, Funny

    I implore you... please don't put these people in charge of Gundam.

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    Tautologies, they are what they are.
  11. Re:Maybe I missed it... by stranger_to_himself · · Score: 2, Funny

    Look harder. Fireballs can be pretty hard to spot sometimes.

  12. Wanted: New R2 unit by Volante3192 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Preferably one that can lock down stabilizer units when asked to.

    Send inquiries to L. Skywalker, Endor National Hospital.

  13. The chute worked... by advocate_one · · Score: 2, Funny

    come on guys, focus on the positive... the chute worked, pity there was nothing left to save...

    --
    Donald 'Duck' Dunn: We had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.
  14. To shreds, you say? by tompaulco · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, how's his wife holding out?

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    If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
    1. Re:To shreds, you say? by Neuticle · · Score: 2, Funny

      To shreds you say?
      Oh dear.

      --
      "Cheeze it!" - Bender
  15. Re:Spacecraft becomes Aircraft. by Ungrounded+Lightning · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hell, they even landed a city (Atlantis) from a non-orbit.

    Whatever. I suppose with enough shields and inertia dampeners you can do almost anything.


    No Kidding.

    The stuff they did with Boston after mounting it on that guitar-shaped spaceframe are really impressive.

    Reentry capability after interstellar flight was a necessity, while hovering on pressor beams simplified the search for a suitable landing area. The asteroid clearing capabilities made manouvering in planetary ring systems possible and the debris shielding was impressive. Needed a little boost to get out of the atmosphere, though.

    The early prototypes weren't as sleek but worked pretty well, too.

    --
    Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
  16. Re:Top Gear Reliant Robin Rocket by hb253 · · Score: 2, Funny

    It was doomed from the beginning. They used Lucas (Prince of Darkness) electical parts.

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    Self awareness - try it!
  17. Re:Spacecraft becomes Aircraft. by Jarjarthejedi · · Score: 2, Funny

    I thought that was automatically done once you posted on /. :P.

    --
    There are two kinds of fool One says 'This is old therefore good' Another says 'This is new therefore better'- Dean Ing