X-Wing fighter rocket -- build and launch videp

Posted by Mark Frauenfelder, October 15, 2007 11:18 AM | permalink

These rocketeers built a large scale model of an X-Wing fighter and launched it. It broke apart in the air, spectacularly. I hope they try again!

A long time ago, in a garage in Santee, California, a group of slightly insane rocketeers decided to make a flying scale model of the X-Wing fighter from what is arguably the best movie ever made, Star Wars.
We decided to make the project to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first Star Wars movie. Our club members are making several Star Wars based projects to fly at Plaster Blaster VI, or Plaster Wars.

Link to build notes | Link to video

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Discussion

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#1 posted by Cpt. Tim , October 15, 2007 11:25 AM

"from what is arguably the best movie ever made,"

yes, i agree, there would be much arguing.

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#2 posted by philphil

, October 15, 2007 11:47 AM

Here's a video of what really happened at the launch.

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#3 posted by evox24 , October 15, 2007 11:51 AM

Videp? that should be Video!

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#4 posted by Stefan Jones

, October 15, 2007 12:02 PM

Philphil beat me to it. That video is hilarious!

Big group projects are a regular feature at high-power meets like LDRS and Plaster Blaster. A group of guys work all year on something giant, like a full-scale Patriot or the X-Wing, and then unveil it and let it rip.

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#5 posted by David B.

, October 15, 2007 12:20 PM

Oh, what a shame. I've been waiting to see this since you posted the building-of article. Seems like it failed structurally when the wings deployed. What a shame...

David B.

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#6 posted by David B.

, October 15, 2007 12:21 PM

Thanks PHILPHIL, that YouTube video is hysterical!

David B.

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#7 posted by Blind Zen Archer

, October 15, 2007 12:37 PM

If I'm reading stuff right, I think they just used too much balsa wood for key structure points. A more durable frame might well have survived the launch. Hopefully if they take another shot, they'll adjust the build and we'll see it go!

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#8 posted by Bonnie

, October 15, 2007 2:04 PM

They also did a test run of a Y-Wing, as you can see here.

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#9 posted by Brian Kantor , October 15, 2007 8:13 PM

A look at the flight from a little closer here.

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#10 posted by Brian Kantor , October 15, 2007 8:16 PM

A look at the flight from a little closer http://noh.ucsd.edu/~brian/x-wing.wmv