Posts by Lester Haines

Re: first car reviews, now cookery?

Yes. We'll be presenting our SPB Spring-Summer 2012 collection next week. I'll send you one of our dresses, if you fancy giving it a whirl.

Re: Get it right!

I stand corrected.

Re: Re: Sir

It's "Cumdribble Bold Caps", isn't it?

Re: IT angle?

Oh dear.

Re: Re: copy editor fail

Er no, I certainly meant monolith. As regards the "turd in a punchbowl", though, nothing to do with me guv.

Re: Casting error

Diana - you're tearing me apart!

Highlander II airbrushed from history

Fair enough - it's a very civilised idea.

You probably want to revisit the NEVER bit of the headline on this poll.

Re: So...

Correct. The thought of sitting through all 10 of the worst films is indeed quite terrifying.

Re: Re: Wind and Spin

OK, let's put a lid on this debate pending some tests.

Re: Re: C Rail - Apex Down

The average airspeed is indeed zero. Regarding testing, the problem with a tethered truss is that can't move freely with the breeze, and is therefore artificially subject to wind pressure.

See our fantastical flying truss video, which demonstrates how, if you've got a tether, the truss is pulled down towards the ground by any wind, while it floats gracefully once released.

We often get asked about the PARIS balloon, Vulture 1 and payload passing through the jet stream, as if they subject to extreme winds as you would be if you were a house in a hurricane.

Our PARIS experience showed that the biggest potential problem is long payloads spinning closer to the ground, although a swivel fitting ensures the lines can't get tangled.

Re: C Rail - Apex Down

"Along the longitudinal axis of the truss" - I think you mean lateral axis.

However, your point is well taken about four attachment points.

Re: I'm missing something here

Because it's too big and expensive to blow on the REHAB test, not to mention the fact we have to order the reload months in advance. We are, though, looking to get a smaller unit with the same propellant from the same manufacturer to test in REHAB.

Re: Censored]

No chance. You'll just have to wait and see...

Re: Another mighty initial thrust idea

Agreed. Some form of ground-based test is indeed required.

Re: Another mighty initial thrust idea

Poor Coco and LeeE - behave yourselves, gents. This is not the YouTube commentard troll pit.

Re: Launch-smaunch

The design boffins have the whole thing under control. I can't say any more at the moment, because the Vulture 2 design and mighty thruster are strictly under wraps until the aircraft's ready to roll out of the hangar.

Re: LOHAN ideas..

Let's make this the forum for LOHAN. There's a big risk attached to launching at balloon burst. We've thought it over...

Re: Erm...

Oi - watch it...

Actually, La Caixa's Catalan, so I suppose they could insist we do all business in that attractive lingo.

Re: Vacuum pump

I think we'd be better off getting a dedicated vacuum pump, tbh, and not waste any time faffing around with this unit.

Oh come on, when did you lot lose your appetite for complex and entertaining solutions? I take your point, though. Whatever happens, we have plenty of alternative seal ideas if we need them.

Re: Rocket motor firing toward glass plate? Ummm...

We want the lid to blow off, as a safety measure. It's just an ignition test.

Re: Re: Let me be the first to point out…

I have no idea. We really didn't run it for very long.

Re: Let me be the first to point out…

Yes. Paradoxically, it completely sucks while completely not sucking.

Re: Why a titanium rod?

Agreed about the ground-based test rig. We'll look into it.

Re: Hm... rubber.

Ahem...

Re: Re: Why He?

Indeed. We have actually discussed this before. Pipe smoking and hydrogen is an ill-advised combination.

Re: Moment?

Agreed. We're going to have to test this set-up with a small rocket motor, to see what happens.