Did anyone catch the rather interesting International Scrapheap Challenge the other night? The aim was to build an aircraft in two days, from scrap, to fly a 1/2 mile course to celebrate 100yrs of flight.
The US team decided to recreate a Walden IX, the French a Bleriot Type XI and the Brits a hybid biplane based on a Wright 1912 blueprint, one of the most successful designs of that era with the tail from a 1909 French Antoinette.
Fascinating viewing and a joy to watch the Brits “pile of scrap” take off first attempt and fly a faultless circuit!
If you missed this programme then you can read a bit about it here –
http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/S/scrapheap/challenges/First…
I won’t spoil the result if you didn’t see the programme – have a read.
All in all an excellent contest!
By: Der - 24th December 2002 at 20:47
RE: Scrapheap Challenge UK v USA v France
I was amazed to see the wing construction on one of the planes was the same technique I use when building r/c models.
Now, there’s an idea!
By: Bluebird Mike - 24th December 2002 at 18:27
RE: Scrapheap Challenge UK v USA v France
Yes Bob, I saw this too! I’m quite a fan of ‘Scrappie’, although it’s not quite as hot as it used to be. This was something else though-I thought all three aircraft were quite amazing, no matter how well they eventually performed!
Sign In
December 24, 2002 at 5:23 pm