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Paper Airplane Touches Edge of Space, Glides Back
itwbennett writes "Brits Steve Daniels, John Oates and Lester Haines just became the envy of geeks the world over. The trio 'built a one-wing glider from paper, lofted it to the edge of space at 90,000 feet with a helium balloon, and posted sound and video recordings from the plane as it glided safely back to the ground,' writes blogger Kevin Fogarty. The Register newspaper sponsored the stunt and reported each step of the process. And British defense-contractor Qinetiq supplied the cameras and testing chambers, says Fogarty."
Sure, it's cool. But balloon stories are a dime a dozen right now, don't you agree?
And to be honest, it would have been more impressive if they didn't try to make it sound more impressive by using the word "space", but instead used the now neglected word "stratosphere".
Cause it wasn't even a third of the way up to the lowest common definition of the space "boundary", but a stratospheric paper plane? That's way cool!
When I first read that headline, I thought, "Impossible!" Then it gradually dawned on me that they meant the near edge of space. As in the boundary of our atmosphere. Not the far edge of space, as in the boundary of the universe.
"I don't care about the Constitution!" --Bill O'Reilly, November 17, 2009
Wouldn't this paper glider have encountered jet streams? How did it survive them? https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Jet_stream
It's not even that cool. Say "paper airplane", and everyone thinks of the folded paper planes we all made so many of as a kid.
This is just a traditional model airplane with a ton of work done to substitute paper for balsa, _just_ so they could say "paper airplane" in the headlines. It's totally disingenuous.
Vulture 1 team, turn in your Geek Badges. You are Junior Marketing Assistants now.