Nuts - nac

[Dave Eaton]

check out the latest top gear episode.

the boys decide to prove that britain can get into space and so get a group
of guys to develop a re-usable space shuttle - based on a reliant robin.
the proof will be the launch and landing of the robin.

they do it properly with space-shuttle-like external fuel tanks and a large
central booster rocket; they tack some wings onto the robin and mount it
with explosive bolts to the fireworks.  and they develop a glide path
vector, controlled by a gentleman from the local model aeroplane club to
control the descent.

they have 24 days to develop it all from scratch.  and they managed it in
time, turning up a an airforce bombing range to test it all.

and their success?  successful blast-off, and separation of the 2 booster
rockets, but the failure of 1 explosive bolt meant that the main fuel tank
didn't jettison and the glide path of the vehicle became rather vertical.
downward.  it hit the ground travelling quite fast and produced a *very*
large explosion...

when it came to the main event i got into a little bit of trouble with
she-who-casts-no-shadow - we had a couple of friends around and i was so gob
smacked that i just kept saying "bugger me"....

hopefully youtube will carry the episode soon enough.....

dave
'03 rs6
'04 allroad tdi