Author Topic: NGC Rocket bike failure in Minnesota (Read 3978 times)

drdwb · « **on:** February 07, 2018, 12:23:12 PM »

Follow link to rocket bike story. Good for a chuckle. I hope more detail comes out.

http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODN/westcentraltribune/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=WCT%2F2018%2F02%2F07&entity=Ar00501&sk=010D6455&mode=text

JJ · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2018, 12:32:47 PM »

What a moron....

As they say: "You just can't fix stupid..."

Best line of the article:

According to a police report, the rocket bike consisted of a pair of skis, a bicycle frame and motorcycle exhaust pipe and was being fueled with Heet, an antifreeze product. Ellson apparently attempted to fly the unit off his house roof, fell approximately 13 feet and hit a fence in the yard during the fall.

cloudbase · « **Reply #2 on:** February 07, 2018, 01:30:49 PM »

He must have designed the structure for the Texas A&M bonfire.

Rick in WNY · « **Reply #3 on:** February 07, 2018, 01:37:05 PM »

OK, Heet, depending on which formula you get, is isopropal or methyl alcohol.

I see no mention of an oxidizer.

Therefore, it's NOT a rocket. Maybe a pulse-jet... maybe.

In any case, does anyone know if it's too late for him to get a Darwin Award? IE, has he reproduced?

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #4 on:** February 07, 2018, 03:29:12 PM »

So far as Darwin awards go, the best he can hope for is honorable mention.
The actual; awards only go to those who have succeeded in killing themselves thereby removing themselves from the gene pool.
Oh and of course he was complaining that it hurt, it was supposed to.

Jabo911 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 07, 2018, 03:49:54 PM »

Before I retired I was a firefighter/paramedic. We called this job security.

rodekyll · « **Reply #6 on:** February 07, 2018, 03:58:44 PM »

In other news, that flat earth guy still has a failure to launch. I expect his wife is giving up on him.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/02/06/a-flat-earther-finally-tried-to-fly-away-his-rocket-didnt-even-ignite/?utm_term=.9b12f7aa3f4a

Kiwi_Roy · « **Reply #7 on:** February 08, 2018, 09:12:21 AM »

I saw a video of a previous attempt, looked like he made several miles over the desert, rough landing though.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/11/22/565926690/i-dont-believe-in-science-says-flat-earther-set-to-launch-himself-in-own-rocket

rodekyll · « **Reply #8 on:** February 08, 2018, 02:37:38 PM »

I called him the Elio of rocket science last time the topic surfaced. I've no reason to change my mind.

twowings · « **Reply #9 on:** February 08, 2018, 03:54:01 PM »

'When rescue personnel arrived Friday at Ellson’s residence, he was on his back on a sled, pushing himself around on the driveway with his feet.
He was reportedly swearing and yelling about the pain, according to the report.'

*Tsk, tsk* What a wimp!

Chuck Yeager would have been at the bar buying rounds and laughingly exclaiming, "Damn, that was exciting!"

Lannis · « **Reply #10 on:** February 08, 2018, 04:28:41 PM »

I don't think anyone understands.

These guys were ENORMOUSLY successful and exceeded their goals by quite a margin ....

Lannis

giusto · « **Reply #11 on:** February 08, 2018, 06:37:07 PM »

Quote from: JJ on February 07, 2018, 12:32:47 PM

What a moron.... As they say: "You just can't fix stupid..."

Best line of the article:

According to a police report, the rocket bike consisted of a pair of skis, a bicycle frame and motorcycle exhaust pipe and was being fueled with Heet, an antifreeze product. Ellson apparently attempted to fly the unit off his house roof, fell approximately 13 feet and hit a fence in the yard during the fall.

Yup you can't

In Scout camp we'd say "Stupid Oughta Hurt" and usually does....sounds like this cat proved it!

"Rocket Man... burning out his fuse up here alone" ....."and I think it's gonna be a long long time"

https://youtu.be/-LX7WrHCaUA

ohiorider · « **Reply #12 on:** February 08, 2018, 06:44:43 PM »

Quote from: twowings on February 08, 2018, 03:54:01 PM

'When rescue personnel arrived Friday at Ellson�s residence, he was on his back on a sled, pushing himself around on the driveway with his feet.
He was reportedly swearing and yelling about the pain, according to the report.'

*Tsk, tsk* What a wimp!

Chuck Yeager would have been at the bar buying rounds and laughingly exclaiming, "Damn, that was exciting!"

That's because Chuck is a tough old dude (like me) from West (by Gawd) Virginia! Though he's a whole lot tougher!

Bob

rodekyll · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2018, 12:59:38 PM »

It looks like he finally made it . . . . whatever that means.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/self-taught-rocket-scientist-blasts-off-into-california-sky/ar-BBKEr5H

drdwb · « **Reply #14 on:** March 25, 2018, 01:22:45 PM »

Thanks for the update Rodekyll. I’d vote for him. I don’t normally agree with flat earthers, but this guy knows how to get stuff done,and he’s committed, just like the pig in a Bacon and egg breakfast.

John A · « **Reply #15 on:** March 25, 2018, 01:30:55 PM »

what all these guys need is some liquid oxygen, it would make anything fly.

Lannis · « **Reply #16 on:** March 25, 2018, 01:56:28 PM »

At least one comparison between this guy and the "Elio" car manufacturer is valid.

Elio took $185M in government loans (that's from, well, from me, I guess, some of it), $65M in advance deposits, $100M in investor money, and at the last quarterly report, had $4,000.00 in the bank, and no cars, not even a "Coming Soon!" sign on the Shreveport factory; just bats and crickets.

But he SWEARS that if he can get another $374M, he can get into production by 2020!

So they're both either out of their minds, or have a pair the size of church bells.

At least the rocket guy got off the ground (maybe). No one actually saw him get into the 'rocket' apparently ... ?

Lannis

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #17 on:** March 26, 2018, 02:34:39 PM »

At least one comparison between this guy and the "Elio" car manufacturer is valid.

Proof that you can make a small fortune if you start with a big fortune.

JJ · « **Reply #18 on:** March 26, 2018, 04:03:28 PM »

Quote from: Sasquatch Jim on March 26, 2018, 02:34:39 PM

At least one comparison between this guy and the "Elio" car manufacturer is valid.

Proof that you can make a small fortune if you start with a big fortune.

Last prototype Elio I saw was at Barrett-Jackson in 2014....Nice concept...and when I see one on the streets, I will believe it!!

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #19 on:** March 27, 2018, 01:42:35 PM »

Quote from: JJ on March 26, 2018, 04:03:28 PM

Last prototype Elio I saw was at Barrett-Jackson in 2014....Nice concept...and when I see one on the streets, I will believe it!!

I've made a *lot* of prototypes and mock ups over the years. That "engine" barely qualifies as a mock up.

News:

Author Topic: NGC Rocket bike failure in Minnesota (Read 3978 times)

twowings