Project: “Death from Above” - Day 1

Clever, Missouri - Christmas Day - 1300 hours
My father is in the backyard, lighting “parachuter” fireworks for the kids. They run and catch the produced parachute as it descends to the earth. He then brags about the large volume of fireworks he has stored in the “safe room” (it’s for tornados, not money and jewels).
My curiousity peaks.
I look across the yard at the odd self-propelling airplanes that my aunt sent for the kids to play with. The kids aren’t quite old enough and the chaotic flights of the planes, pointed into the wind, had me launching them while the kids hid behind me and screamed with joy when the planes passed. (Maybe I’m a little over-protective).
But I connect the dots between the over-abundance of fireworks and the under-used airplanes.
“A project,” I think, “something to keep me busy so I don’t just sit around all week…something that flys…and shoots….and blows up…”

- Project: “Death from Above” -

Step 1: Procure self-propelled airplanes giving to smal children for Christmas. Check.

Technical: Although the planes are quite awesome, I had little resistance to taking one of them for modification and possible destruction. I think the family has come to realize that when my genius strikes, they should not get in the way. Also, I think they were all napping.

Step 2: Testing plane for weight and flight longevity. Check.

Technical: The plane tests for strong flight and a decent weight, meaning the extra ounces of weight from the six bottle rockets should not affect it terribly. Also, the engine seems to charge quickly and keep going for a long time. This may prove a problem ion retreiving the plane post launch….especially if it catches on fire itself.

Step 3: Locate and collect combustible projectiles (bottle rockets). Check.

Technical: Once again, with everyone napping I was able to gleam a large supply of needed bottle rockets.

Step 4: Obtain tools and additional items for full build. Check.

Technical: I found all things necessary for the final build, I believe. Straws (Bottle Rocket launch tubes), Tape (launch tube adhesion), Scissors (sizing launch tubes), the plane, and the rockets.

Step 5: Constructing the launch tubes and attaching them. Check.

Technical: I cut the launch tubes down roughly to a length that matched the wings themselves. I knew that if I didn’t provide enough support, the rocket might not last long in the tubes after takeoff. Everything attached well and the launch tubes should not be a problem.

Step 6: Fuse problems…..fuse problems….bah! Check.

Technical: As I shove the bottle rockets into the launch tubes to test the plane’s total weight I realize…..”these fuses are too short!” I don’t want this to blow up in my hand, long before launching the plane…so I improvise. I extract some fuses from three packs of old firecrackers. (Two for the main project launch and one for a “fuse extension” test.) I attach one fuse extension to a test group of three bottle rockets.

Step 7: Testing fuse extensions

Technical: As you can see, I first think the fuse extension is a failure but after seeming to go out, they exlpode with life and the three bottle rockets launch simultaneously a good 8 seconds after lighting.

However, darkness creeps over quickly and I realize that the project only has two steps left….the final deployment of the plane to test conditions and then the main lauch. But, in darkness neither of these can be completed or documented well. So I resign for the night.
Launch is scheduled for tomorrow, 1100 hours.