Posted by WinField on 07/27/06 18:31

J.F. Cornwall wrote:
> WinField wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Phineas T Puddleduck wrote:
>>
>>> You could do what we did, and just bought fireworks...
>>>
>>> The local toy store by me used to sell balsa kits for making gliders.
>>> Of course, if you replaced the BODY of the glider with a rocket....
>>>
>>> ;-)
>>
>>
>> Doesn't sound like you actually tested what you allude to above.
>>
>> As a kid, my friend and I strapped an Estes rocket engine to a
>> balsa-wood glider, thinking it would really soar.
>>
>> What we got instead was a rather large "ball" of tiny balsa-wood chips
>> raining gently down in front of us. We never did see the glider get
>> shredded ... just phhttt, and a shower of fluttering chips.
>>
>> Science does surprise. Even kids.
>>
>> - winfield
>
>
> That would have been the Mark I, which taught you about materials
> strength, right? So what was the Mark II built with? ;-)
>
> Jim

I'm not sure what you're referring to, Jim. Sorry. The glider(s) were
sold in the local drugstores. Real simple designs.

Estes rockets aren't really designed for pushing any kind of model
plane. The thrust pulse is way too short and strong.

- winf

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