Nov 3 2009 Plane Passenger Accidentally Ejects Himself
I know what you're thinking, "big deal, I eject myself all the time", but you're thinking of something different. You see, this guy accidentally ejected himself from a plane mid-flight. WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
The South African air force has confirmed the incident that took place last Wednesday, when the passenger took off for a flight with an experienced pilot from South Africa's Silver Falcons air display team. Investigators are assuming that the passenger tried to steady himself while the pilot was putting the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II through its paces by grabbing the eject lever.
A retired SAAF instructor pilot said the passenger was extremely lucky to have survived the ejection with barely a scratch.He discounted the possibility that the seat fired of its own accord, as too many safety features were built into the system.
"All it takes is for the firing handle [the rubbery black- and yellow-striped loop] to be pulled up about 2,5cm and you're on your way out."
Haha, that's awesome. I wonder what was going through the poor bastard's head. I imagine something like, "HOOOOLY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!". Also, I would have done the same thing. How many people can say they've ejected from a plane before? And, more importantly, does it warrant a free drink at the bar? It does? Sweeeeeet. Because then I pulled the lever and was all like PSSSSSHOOOOOOW!! Bourbon please.
Man accidentally ejects himself from plane [mail&guardian]
Thanks to Russell, who once ejected himself from a Big Wheels trying to jump a recycling bin. And to Equalizer, who once ejected himself from bed and ran like hell after sleeping with a Wookie.
Oct 16 2009 Map Shows All Flights Over North America
This is a screenshot from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (an organization that knows how to party) real-time map of flights over North America. Except it's not actually real-time, it's delayed 5 minutes. Of course, judging from the 2005 copyright in the lower left this may have existed for awhile. But what it lacks in newness I think we can all agree is more than made up for in, uh, little white dots. Don't let Pac-Man see it!
Flight Explorer [natca]
Thanks to e, who's contemplating flying south for the winter. Smart -- I don't jive with the cold either.
Jul 10 2009 Time Lapse Video Of Super Hornet Jet Build
This is a time lapse video of a F/A-18 Super Hornet jet being built. And let me just say, wow, that thing must have over 100 different pieces. Making it nearly twice as complicated as the hardest LEGO set I've built.
Constructing A Super Hornet: "A time lapse of the construction of a Super Hornet" [liveleak]
Thanks to Spy, who may or may not have secretly recorded this footage with a bowtie cam.
Aug 13 2008 Coming In For A Landing!: The Mile High Bed
Thanks everybody for all the birthday wishes yesterday. That was awesome, and I love you all. But today's another day, and...wait a minute -- it's International Left Handers Day! Another day of celebration for me! Shake left-handed, eat and drink left-handed, or give yourself a stranger, WHEE!
Anyway, the Mile High Bed was made my MotoArt, the same company that made the engine cowling reception desk and ejector seat office chair. Constructed from two DC-9 rear stabilizers and a C-130 inner flap, the bed promises to comfortably accommodate yourself and two additional passenger (preferably sexy stewardesses). Unfortunately, price is only available via company contact, which means a freaking fortune. Pfft, who needs a Mile High Bed anyways? Not I. Now a 200 MPH Bed -- that's where it's at. Ladies, to the race car bed! But please note: Be quiet coming in, my parents are asleep, and also, I'm entitled to make all the VROOM VROOM noises I want during the race. VROO....oh, checkered flag. Champagne me, I'm ready for a nap.
Jul 1 2008 Paper Shampoo: Because Liquids Are Sketchy
The last time I tried to fly I woke up on the floor beside the bed. And the time before that airport security confiscated my juice box. Needless to say my hair was unkempt. So how can you get some shampoo on your next flight without a hassle? Simple -- Paper Shampoo.
Paper Shampoo comes in boxes of 30 sheets and costs $12.50 for two packages. They dissolve into a lather whenever you add water (including salt-water, which is awesome because I do the majority of my bathing at sea). Plus they're mint scented. And if there's one thing I've learned in my 40-odd years on this planet, it's this: mint-flavored hair is freaking delicious.
Paper Shampoo lets you travel with clean hair without being branded a terrorist [dvice]
Jun 26 2008 DARPA Vulcan Engine Solves Problems
The problem with traditional scramjet planes (planes with the potential of hitting Mach 12-24) is they require supersonic airflow in order to function. So getting up to Mach 4 is a problem. That's why they've typically been piggybacked on other planes to get up to speed, and then released. Which isn't efficient or cost effective (since when did we start caring about this?).
Enter the DAPRA Vulcan. The Vulcan is a hybrid engine that can power a plane with a turbo jet until it's time to kick on the scramjet and feel your nuts climb up into your stomach. DARPA hopes to have a working prototype complete by 2012 and I'm all for it. Think about it -- Mach 24. That's like 250 trillion miles an hour. Which does comes with some inherent risk: I heard if you go that fast you may actually start aging in reverse and then crash the plane because you're seven and can't fly. I believe it.
Hit the jump for a conceptual video.
Apr 17 2008 Flogos Are Logos That Float Like Clouds
You know when you go to the beach there are those little planes that fly over with the signs trailing behind that tell about awesome all you can eat shrimp deals? I love those. But that's not what these are, these are another sky-based advertising scheme. They're called Flogos, and they're soap bubble formations filled with helium that float your logo around like a balloon. They can be made in 24", 36", and soon to be 46" diameters using some sort of modified artificial snow machine (see videos of them being made here) at a rate of one Flogo every 15 seconds. Each can travel up to 30 miles and go as high as 20,000 feet. Dyed Flogos will be available sometime in 2009, but aren't as cool as Zubbles. Let's see, what else? Oh, rental of a machine starts at about $2,500/day. Which is a lot for logo shaped clouds that, after an hour, disintegrate into a messy foam party in Cancun where I got an eye infection and lost a sandal.
Flogos Site
via
Is it a bird? A plane? No, it's a Flogo! [msnbc]
Thanks to Chad, who floats like a butterfly and stings like a taser to the face, for the tip
Nov 23 2007 Supersonic Jet Goes For A Cool $80,000,000
The first Aerion Supersonic Business Jet was recently sold to Sheikh Rashid, the ruler of Dubai. It set him back a paltry $80,000,000. The thing can reach Mach 1.6 and fly from New York to Tokyo in 9.5 hours. Or from New York to Paris in 4.2 hours. It's powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 engines, which make it go really fast. Almost as fast as me. I just flew home from California and boy are my arms tired. Get it? Because I was flying like a bird. Not in a plane. I was flapping my arms, that's why they're tired. Wow that one gets me every time. I am LOL and ROFL. Oh god, I just SMP. If you'll excuse me I need to do a load of laundry.
Video after the cut, but there's no real life footage of the plane.
Continue Reading " Supersonic Jet Goes For A Cool $80,000,000 "
Nov 12 2007 Boeing 727 Street Legal Limo Doesn't Fly
You take a 727 jet, throw it down on a Mercedes bus, and TA-DA, a Boeing 727 limo. It runs on the original Mercedes turbo diesel engine and weighs 24,000 pounds fully fueled. It's fairly long, at 53', and has a passenger capacity of about 50 people. All the crap you normally find in a limo is included -- like ceiling mirrors, bar, novelty lighting, televisions, etc. What's not included is the ability to fly. The thing just sold on eBay for $274,100, so it was kind of expensive. The only problem is that even if you do bang a couple hookers in it, you won't receive a Mile High Club membership. Because you're not a mile high. You're like a couple feet high. And maybe high on crack cocaine.
thanks to Jordan, who is cool, for the tip
Oct 19 2007 New Vampire 2 Wingsuit For Skydiving
It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's just some dildo in a Vampire 2 Wingsuit from Phoenix-Fly. The suit was designed to slow your free-fall from 111-139 mph to 37-59 mph thanks to the lift created -- allowing you to fly around and enjoy the view longer. It costs $1,250. Now I've been jumping out of planes for awhile now, and I've never worn one of these. They're lacking in style. And I'm all about jumping in style. Which is why I sport a Superman cape. I'm practically the Man of Steel. Sure I'm lacking the superpowers, good looks, and pretty much everything else, but I've got the cape. And the cape, my friends, is a good start.
A picture of a scary looking man who has clearly shit the suit and a video after the jump.
UPDATE: Another video added (thanks Skroonk) that shows some idiot in one of these things trying to touch a mountain while flying around.
Sep 10 2007 Flying Boat A Hit With Drug Smugglers
The Brio flying boat is just that -- a boat that flies! It goes up to 44 mph and can fly over 100 miles with a full load. Making it perfect for offshore drug smuggling. The kit costs $10,000 and comes with everything except the engine (so basically an inflatable boat and hang glider). You get to choose your own motor, which is fine with me, because I'm thinking jet engine. No word on altitude tests, but based on that first picture, I'd say it gets almost high enough to kill you if you fall.
A picture and a long video after the jump, but you'll get the idea after a minute.
Aug 30 2007 Helicopter Boxes Deliver Goods
Dropmaster has come out with CopterBoxes, which are cardboard boxes that act as miniature helicopters so you can throw stuff out of planes without it breaking too bad. The three blades spin at 450 rpm, helping to slow the package's descent to around 40 feet per second. Allegedly they're way cheaper to use than parachutes, and can hold up to 100 pounds per box, which means that I probably shouldn't try to ride in one. Or at least not until I test it out first on my next scientific assistant (read: mail order bride). The last one just died testing my latest jetpack.
A video after the jump.
