Real-Life 'Star Wars' X-Wing To Launch Next Week
In the world of sci-fi geekery, there are few things more recognizable than the skin-tight suits Jeri Ryan wore as Seven of Nine in the series 'Star Trek: Voyager'. One of those other icons is the X-Wing fighter from 'Star Wars', with its distinctive crossed S-Foils. Many fans have wanted one of their own, coming no closer than some toy or model, but Andy Worner and a team of friends from Polecat Aerospace have come about as close to real-life as you can expect: They built a 21-foot rocket-powered model of the ship.
And it really flies.
Well, they think it'll really fly, at least. Its maiden voyage is set for next week, October 10.
The craft is powered by four solid-fuel rocket engines that, the team hopes, will propel the ship high enough to enable it to switch those fabled S-Foils into attack "X" position mid-flight. Given that the process takes 35 seconds to complete, that may be asking a bit much for the first flight. And, since this X-Wing model is made out of lightweight wood, there may only be a first flight. They plan (hope?) to use three parachutes to bring the thing back to earth safely.
We can't wait to see this thing take to the sky, and we hope that the entire team from Polecat use the force, stay on target, and rely on any other applicable 'Star Wars' cliches.
From Gearlog
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Comments
16
Subscribe to commentsrickyFeb 5th 2010 2:48PM
Thats just a rocket someone made, duuhhh, the ones around it are just rockets!!
BenOct 3rd 2007 6:04PM
Hope someone doesn't yell "I CAN'T SHAKE EM'!"
JustinOct 3rd 2007 6:37PM
Seven Of Nine was Star Trek Voyager. She never even appeared in DS9.
GowronOct 3rd 2007 8:38PM
KAPLAH...!!!
GabeOct 3rd 2007 9:30PM
is it going to air on tv? And if it does what channel? And if it doesn't how can i see the flight? plz let me know.
Duchovny2Oct 3rd 2007 9:34PM
May the Dorks be with you!
Tim?!?Oct 4th 2007 4:51AM
"May the Dorks be with you!"
This from somebody whose screen name is Duchovny2?
HehHehHeh!
geo257Oct 4th 2007 7:45AM
Yeooowwwy! Who cares what space opera Jeri Ryan was in! She was the hottest thing to ever happen to science fiction; she had hormones jumping off of her exo-suit and sloshing around on deck! Hubba Hubba Goodrich Rubba!
Jeri Ryan: She's What's For Dinner!
brotakuOct 4th 2007 8:12PM
the launch is oct 10th in the desert off the 8 fwy near the mexican bourder in a place called Plaster City. i hope i can find it.
JoshOct 5th 2007 10:40AM
Rocket powered? No no noooo! They should have used miniature jet engines, it would be much more controllable and might actually fly like it does in the movies.
Oh and geo257, we should be clear about this...Xenia Seeberg in Lexx was absolutely the hottest thing to hit science fiction, ever, bar none.
Nicky Cline in Battlestar Galactica is a damn close second, though.
BenOct 7th 2007 12:10PM
And it failed miserably :)
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/boom/x+wing-rocket-launches-disintegrates-mid+air-307945.php
Mr.PlowOct 8th 2007 1:13PM
Call me crazy, but Billie Piper AKA Rose Tyler from DOCTOR WHO is hotter than all of them !
MikeOct 10th 2007 1:55PM
May the farce be with you.
MarkOct 19th 2007 12:00PM
The flight was a success until a mysterious black craft described as having " bent,octogonal wings" flanked by two other similiar, smaller craft swooped in and destroyed the model. "All too easy" was reportedly heard coming from a nearby short wave radio about this same time...
SigOct 20th 2007 2:15PM
:D
Mark says:
The flight was a success until a mysterious black craft described as having " bent,octogonal wings" flanked by two other similiar, smaller craft swooped in and destroyed the model. "All too easy" was reportedly heard coming from a nearby short wave radio about this same time...
10/19/07 12:00 PM
bcseatonOct 30th 2007 4:45PM
Does anyone know if in fact that the first test flight happened and what were the results?