Files | Project Firebolt

IMG_20180518_144127.jpg

A recent picture of the new fuselage! Not such a beautiful shape, but simple, and strong!

JPEG Image - 4.57 MB - 05/28/2018 at 09:59

tooth_pick_34_2.jpg

Top-down view. ...And that's it for the historical pictures, at least for now. The next version after this one is the one chosen as the mascot for the project.. the one that begins to convince people it might actually work..

JPEG Image - 220.61 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:21

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tooth_pick_34_1.png

Tired of making scale models, I go back to full-scale. Another terminated project. The thing shakes like jello. I actually present this at a maker fair. During the brief time when I'm proud of it, as opposed to embarrassed.

Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 726.12 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:18

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canard.jpg

I get super fancy. For the first time, the plane doesn't crash, because I provide it with a launch system such that it can't get seriously damaged. The final flight is actually successful, within a limited definition. Unfortunately, it's too dark to see anything in the video. I think the frame of this has finally been thrown out, the wings survive. An aeronautical engineer convinces me to go back to aft-tail designs for stability reasons.

JPEG Image - 24.32 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:15

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after_aerodynamics_class.jpg

Now, I have. I went the full 9-yards, and figured out a way to taper my wings. Am I still using magazine pages for the wing surfacing material? Yes I am. Did I actually do tests to find out if these would be strong enough to support my weight in the air? yes I did. Are the ribs made of card-board? yes they are. I was confident enough at this point that I did actually invite a local aviator over.

JPEG Image - 52.52 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:11

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the_insect.jpg

I decide to graduate from cardboard. Looks now like I'm taking the standing thing seriously (can't have been with the cardboard..), I'm at least trying to validate building methods.. It's obvious I've never studied aerodynamics or flight mechanics.

JPEG Image - 33.11 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:09

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cardboard_1.jpg

First cardboard plane. Somebody convinced me to do a really small one first. I got inspired, and decided to use cardboard, to see if it could work. I can't quite figure out now what I was thinking, I had already had the idea for standing on it while I was building the 2_week one. I might upload videos of the second cardboard plane..

JPEG Image - 53.00 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:06

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2_week.jpg

Third plane. My first exploration on KISS. Two weeks to build. (the other one was 8 months). Building a launching system took the rest of the summer, and the next (really that long?.. wow). (The tractor never worked.. I can imagine your mouths gaping that I even tried..). It never got launched. Sad tale. Somewhat like Einstein, not realizing he had the answer for years.

JPEG Image - 22.35 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:01

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8_month_2.jpg

Second picture of second plane.

JPEG Image - 78.12 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:00

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8_month_1.png

Second plane I invented myself. The first one was an exploration with bamboo. took ages, weighted a ton. I came to my senses only at the end. Never tried launching it.

Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 1.92 MB - 04/04/2018 at 01:58

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hang_loose.png

First plane I ever built. Hang loose. It was awesome. My feet were two feet in the air. Then a bunch of cables snapped. It didn't work that well. I convinced myself I could improve it.

Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 60.09 kB - 04/04/2018 at 01:56

Preview

new_safety_bars.PNG

Cad image that I show people..

Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 297.28 kB - 04/01/2018 at 17:55

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IMG_20180518_144127.jpg A recent picture of the new fuselage! Not such a beautiful shape, but simple, and strong! JPEG Image - 4.57 MB - 05/28/2018 at 09:59		Preview

tooth_pick_34_2.jpg Top-down view. ...And that's it for the historical pictures, at least for now. The next version after this one is the one chosen as the mascot for the project.. the one that begins to convince people it might actually work.. JPEG Image - 220.61 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:21		Preview

tooth_pick_34_1.png Tired of making scale models, I go back to full-scale. Another terminated project. The thing shakes like jello. I actually present this at a maker fair. During the brief time when I'm proud of it, as opposed to embarrassed. Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 726.12 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:18		Preview

canard.jpg I get super fancy. For the first time, the plane doesn't crash, because I provide it with a launch system such that it can't get seriously damaged. The final flight is actually successful, within a limited definition. Unfortunately, it's too dark to see anything in the video. I think the frame of this has finally been thrown out, the wings survive. An aeronautical engineer convinces me to go back to aft-tail designs for stability reasons. JPEG Image - 24.32 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:15		Preview

after_aerodynamics_class.jpg Now, I have. I went the full 9-yards, and figured out a way to taper my wings. Am I still using magazine pages for the wing surfacing material? Yes I am. Did I actually do tests to find out if these would be strong enough to support my weight in the air? yes I did. Are the ribs made of card-board? yes they are. I was confident enough at this point that I did actually invite a local aviator over. JPEG Image - 52.52 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:11		Preview

the_insect.jpg I decide to graduate from cardboard. Looks now like I'm taking the standing thing seriously (can't have been with the cardboard..), I'm at least trying to validate building methods.. It's obvious I've never studied aerodynamics or flight mechanics. JPEG Image - 33.11 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:09		Preview

cardboard_1.jpg First cardboard plane. Somebody convinced me to do a really small one first. I got inspired, and decided to use cardboard, to see if it could work. I can't quite figure out now what I was thinking, I had already had the idea for standing on it while I was building the 2_week one. I might upload videos of the second cardboard plane.. JPEG Image - 53.00 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:06		Preview

2_week.jpg Third plane. My first exploration on KISS. Two weeks to build. (the other one was 8 months). Building a launching system took the rest of the summer, and the next (really that long?.. wow). (The tractor never worked.. I can imagine your mouths gaping that I even tried..). It never got launched. Sad tale. Somewhat like Einstein, not realizing he had the answer for years. JPEG Image - 22.35 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:01		Preview

8_month_2.jpg Second picture of second plane. JPEG Image - 78.12 kB - 04/04/2018 at 02:00		Preview

8_month_1.png Second plane I invented myself. The first one was an exploration with bamboo. took ages, weighted a ton. I came to my senses only at the end. Never tried launching it. Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 1.92 MB - 04/04/2018 at 01:58		Preview

hang_loose.png First plane I ever built. Hang loose. It was awesome. My feet were two feet in the air. Then a bunch of cables snapped. It didn't work that well. I convinced myself I could improve it. Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 60.09 kB - 04/04/2018 at 01:56		Preview

new_safety_bars.PNG Cad image that I show people.. Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 297.28 kB - 04/01/2018 at 17:55		Preview