Ummm… huh.
African space research: Dreaming of a manned shuttle
In short… some Ugandans want to build their own space shuttle, and think they’ll get it done in about six years. I’m not entirely convinced that they’ve really thought the whole thing through. For example… here’s the head of the program:
“I’ve got a jet engine on order so I’m planning to build a tunnel, put the engine at one end and when I throw a guy in he’ll float in a similar way to how he would in space.”
Ummm.
Still, ya gotta admire people who not only want to accomplish something, they’re willing to put in the work. In this case, they are building their own aircraft from scratch. If it flies, it will be the first aircraft ever designed and built in Uganda (which, coming 11 decades after Kitty Hawk, is both kinda cool and kinda sad). Construction of the aircraft appears to be primarily fiberglass, though I must admit to some confusion regarding the powerplant. Photos of the unpainted aircraft are HERE. Especially, err, interesting is the side view that shows the wing profile. Ummm… best of luck with that, I guess…
Still, ya gotta love their motto:
So slow, we get smart; and so quick, we get old!
A reporter from the Bbc visited them and wrote up a story.
8 Responses to “African Space Research Program”
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And it looks like they’re using (with permission, I’m sure) the alienware logo as their own and some artist’s SF drawing as their “Dynacraft” concept drawing.
Good catch on the “Dynacraft.”
This would make a great plot for a sci-fi/comedy movie. Hapless white ex-NASA layoff victim (Bill Paxton) is recruited by Ugandan Space Program to put a Ugandan in space. Fish out of water hijinks ensue as he and team learn to work together & appreciate differences. Tearjerker ending as plucky Ugandan soars into orbit, inspiring world peace. That chick from IDIOCRACY is Bill’s love interest.
My first thought was V1 and about as safe.
Last time I saw something like that it was sitting on the runway of a cargo cult in New Guinea.
It looks like a Junkers Walli more than a V-1:
http://www.luft46.com/junkers/juef127.html
Reminds me of the Old Negro Space Program:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6xJzAYYrX8
In the unlikely event the wings produce enough lift (rounded tail edge), expect them to snap off at the roots (mounted on either side of the cockpit, no evidence of a wing spar through).
Cargo cult engineering, imitating the appearance of an aircraft with no understanding of how they work?
Bless them for trying though…