Slashdot Mirror


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." "

9 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)
  3. She'll hold together by kalpol · · Score: 4, Funny

    Come on baby....aw hell.

    --
    12:50 - press return.
  4. 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.

  5. 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
  6. 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.

  7. 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?
  8. 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.

  9. 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