Guy builds 21-foot long X-Wing that actually flies
posted at 12:13 pm on October 2, 2007 by Bryan
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Its maiden voyage is coming up, but it’s already the coolest model rocket ever.
The X-Wing model is huge. At 21 feet long and with a wingspan of over 19 feet it is, in fact, big enough to fly a kid in. However, knowing that it will be powered by solid-fuel rockets, they wouldn’t put a kid, dog, monkey or Gizmodo editor inside, even if it uses three full parachutes to land.
After drawing the plans using CAD software, Andy’s team and his friends at Polecat Aerospace used laser cutting to make the pieces out of Baltic Birch wood. They also used solid aluminum for some parts, like the rods which are the pivot point for the wings.
The foils actually open and close via radio remote.
It’s set to launch on Oct 10. You have no idea how badly I want to be there.
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I hope it can actually fly. . . of course the x-wing fighter is designed to fly in zero gravity
ThackerAgency on October 2, 2007 at 12:14 PM
I’m still waiting on the real version of the land speeder. Cool stuff though.
ThackerAgency on October 2, 2007 at 12:15 PM
HockeyTemper on October 2, 2007 at 12:19 PM
Must…resist…urge…to correct Star Wars mis-quote on hotair front page……
sweetlipsbutterhoney on October 2, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Shoulda known better than to not look that one up…
Bryan on October 2, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Saw a full-scale model of a Naboo fighter at the Chabot museum a few years back.This is so way cooler.
Unfortunately it also brings to mind the woman in the Lea Slave costume that had absolutely no business wearing it, but that is another nightmare I have to repress.
bbz123 on October 2, 2007 at 12:22 PM
Need to build a TIE fighter, we must…
JetBoy on October 2, 2007 at 12:23 PM
West, Diana, right she was.
jihadwatcher on October 2, 2007 at 12:25 PM
Aw, it’s not so bad…it’s from the Successories version of Star Wars.
Imagine: Han Solo loading up his reward money, Luke approaching.
“Take care of yourself, Han…I guess that’s where you leveraged your synergy into a results-based orientation.”
And the Rebellion’s motto: “If we don’t take care of the Death Star, someone else will.”
James on October 2, 2007 at 12:27 PM
That made my day!
I’m presently working on a functioning lightsaber.
omnipotent on October 2, 2007 at 12:28 PM
When I was twelve, this would have been the coolest thing ever. At a significantly more *ahem* mature age, this is kinda pitiful.
Splashman on October 2, 2007 at 12:30 PM
I sincerly hope there is an R2 unit being constructed as well.
allie on October 2, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Hey, I want one!
lazypadawan on October 2, 2007 at 12:33 PM
My full scale Death Star will be completed in about 6 months.
1sttofight on October 2, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Grinning, but snarky. Should the Wright “boys’ have been tilling a field instead? Dude. We need inventors.
JiangxiDad on October 2, 2007 at 12:37 PM
I hope it can actually fly. . . of course the x-wing fighter is designed to fly in zero gravity
ThackerAgency
Nerd card REVOKED! The X Wing was designed to fly in the atmosphere and in space. Dagobah, Hoth, Bespin, Yavin IV, the moon of Endor and whatnot all had X Wings flying about and there was no Zero Gravity going on there.
Krydor on October 2, 2007 at 12:45 PM
He previously built a Space Shuttle rocket too.
HERE is the YouTube vid…
Can’t wait for the X-Wing vid tho!
JetBoy on October 2, 2007 at 12:48 PM
“Dagobah, Hoth, Bespin, Yavin IV, the moon of Endor and whatnot all had X Wings flying about and there was no Zero Gravity going on there.”
What you don’t realise is that the universe of Star Wars was microscopic compared to our own. The Death Star was the size of a cricket ball, Luke Skywalker was only a tiny fraction of a millimeter tall, and Yoda was microscopic. What you perceived as normal gravity was in fact friction.
Apeking on October 2, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Hopefully this won’t happen…
whatthecrap on October 2, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Or any of THIS either haha!
JetBoy on October 2, 2007 at 1:04 PM
I’m going to say this once: the X-Wing was designed to fly in any condition Lucas decided the script needed to be in.
Now Babylon 5’s Starfury though is a different story.
TheEJS on October 2, 2007 at 1:04 PM
Inventing the airplane, the Wrights were. X-wing already invented. Rest I must, now. Head hurting, eyes bleeding.
jihadwatcher on October 2, 2007 at 1:05 PM
Tru dat.
- The Cat
MirCat on October 2, 2007 at 1:15 PM
LOL. really.
JiangxiDad on October 2, 2007 at 1:18 PM
awesome!!!, i would love to be there to see this thing fly.
trailortrash on October 2, 2007 at 1:24 PM
I want to reserve a ride if this guy ever builds a full scale model of the Millenium Falcon.
(Unless Apeking’s calculations are correct, and the MF is really the size of a pea, in which case I couldn’t fit inside.)
Bigfoot on October 2, 2007 at 1:33 PM
Once they build a ship that can make point-five past lightspeed and finish the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs, then I’ll be impressed.
JinxMcHue on October 2, 2007 at 1:36 PM
Warp speed is coming, baby! This would be so cool to see.
MikeyB on October 2, 2007 at 1:53 PM
Make that Ludacrous speed!
JetBoy on October 2, 2007 at 2:14 PM
Well said.
geek
I remember reading Isaac Asimov’s “scientifically accurate” sci-fi books back in the day. Space combat consisted of firing a single metal pellet through the enemy’s hull from several miles. No lasers, no bank turns, no sound effects, no gun turrets, no droids, no anything.
To quote Bart Simpson, “I never realized the universe was so boring.”
/geek
saint kansas on October 2, 2007 at 2:15 PM
Uh dood…the X wing fighter was designed to fly on film…as in not real…as in your imagination.
ronsfi on October 2, 2007 at 2:22 PM
Splashman said:
When I was twelve, this would have been the coolest thing ever. At a significantly more *ahem* mature age, this is kinda pitiful.
I find your lack of faith . . . disturbing.
Ransom on October 2, 2007 at 2:22 PM
That’s even cooler than the flying lawn mower–from a geek standpoint, anyway.
Speaking of which, for some reason my g/f didn’t think my “Let’s buy two flying lawn mowers and have air duels over the backyard” idea was nearly as cool as I did. Women!
ReubenJCogburn on October 2, 2007 at 2:28 PM
SWEEEEEEEEET!
I was once in a SW fan film about two college students testing working lightsabers…Got my freakin hand cut off.
LOL!
tickleddragon on October 2, 2007 at 2:38 PM
actually the X-Wing flies in atmospheres and in zero gravity… via the movies, Luke flies his X-wing in the atmospheres of a few planets…
Kaptain Amerika on October 2, 2007 at 3:00 PM
Greatness!!! :thumbsup: :)
trailortrash on October 2, 2007 at 3:02 PM
I debate whether this will actually fly, or just simply launch.
There is a difference.
But either way, it’s pretty cool.
Lawrence on October 2, 2007 at 3:04 PM
I built a full scale model of the 1977 Chevette I drove in high school, complete with rust and iffy transmission. It runs and everything! No one seems very impressed by it, though.
Ugly on October 2, 2007 at 3:17 PM
jihadwatcher has a very strong sense of…er, practicality. Think of him as a Robert Picard.
Asher on October 2, 2007 at 3:54 PM
Bigfoot said: “I want to reserve a ride if this guy ever builds a full scale model of the Millenium Falcon.”
Cool! Back in ‘99 I had a ‘79 Buick LeSabre that I fancied as my “Millennium Falcon” a la Han Solo. Figured I could drive it into the “millennium” since we were close to it, then. Had it 16 yr after buying it used in ‘83. It had 185k or so on it but, alas, GM longevity wasn’t it’s genes. The 350 V8 crapped out with a blown head gasket and worn out & noisy, clattering lifters. Couldn’t see putting anymore $ into it so I gave it away to a mechanic who fixed it for a less fortunate student w/o any wheels at all. It might still be running… Anyway, I bought an old Volvo which I drove into the millennium and from all indications, it’ll never quit, true to the Volvo heritage. Anyway, not my point, but Bigfoot sparked a memory thread! Thanks, guy!
Re: Yoda’s words…do I remember correctly, then, that he actually said: “Try not. Do. Or do not”?
Roger Brown on October 2, 2007 at 4:10 PM
For years, I’ve been trying to design and build the metal-harnessed bikini that Princess Leia wore in Return of the Jedi. Problem is my wife refuses to wear it . . .
i_will_not_surrender on October 2, 2007 at 4:57 PM
Thanks, trailortrash!
tickleddragon on October 2, 2007 at 5:22 PM
Hmmmm.
I wonder what kind of rockets it would use. What impulse rating would they require. Since 9/11, the feds have taken all (or most) of the fun out of model rocket flying.
NO DOUBT, there is some bureau-o-weenie at BATFE or Homeland Securithy that is saying right now: “Overall length 21 feet, wing span 19 feet, 4 rocket motors. Hmmm cruise missile? What! CRUISE MISSILE! CRUISE MISSILE!“
georgej on October 2, 2007 at 5:27 PM
Not to mention the possibilities as deception drones. Fire them off a Burke-class DDG, and watch the fun off the Shatt-al-Arab;
Let them explain that one to their superiors…..
cheers
eon
eon on October 2, 2007 at 5:45 PM
I hope the test flight goes well…but for some reason this story just brings to mind Porkins repeating “Stay on target…”
Nosferightu on October 2, 2007 at 6:34 PM
Great! The launch date is the same day my Mom is planning to tell my Dad that she’s divorcing him! I’ll tell her it’s in her honor……
She won’t get it.
TBinSTL on October 2, 2007 at 6:49 PM
Yeah, but what happens when it lands?
JellyToast on October 2, 2007 at 7:01 PM
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The x-wing was designed to look cool in movie. Nothing more and nothing less. It “flies” with a stick up its butt or while dangling from wires.
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All this reminds me of the lady who asked Leonard Nimoy what it felt like to go through a transporter.
Herikutsu on October 3, 2007 at 1:01 AM
Is that the euphemism we’re using for it these days? Hope your mother doesn’t walk in on you…
(kidding.)
Captain Scarlet on October 4, 2007 at 4:52 AM
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