Man + Wings = Flight or 'Fake and Ghey'

[shadowgrin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYW5G2kbrKk


http://techcrunch.com/2012/03/20/housto ... an-flight/

Smeets was busy trying to manage a successful pairing of the accelerometers of a WiiMote and an HTC Wildfire S, which would together allow him to control the outrunners on his giant, self-built wings. Gradually, the engineer honed his mechanical pinions to the point at which, in late January, he actually took flight. Well, when we say “flight,” we really mean that the motion consisted more of two or three extended hops. But, damn you, it was progress.

Today, Jarno took his wings out for a second/tenth try, and, in the process, may just have made semi-self-propelled aeronautical history. We’ll check on that, but as far as hacks go, this one is pretty high up there. Finding just the right concoction of wind velocity, speed of departure, and whispered Hail Marys, Jarno today flew over 100 meters on his self-built wings.

The dude's blog for his project: http://www.humanbirdwings.net/

[Patr1ck]

Not touching them until they are retractable.

[Andrew]

Reminds me of a great Paul Jennings short story.

[shadowgrin]

...and...

*waiting for the short story*

[Andrew]

Basically, a boy is entered in the local "birdman" competition, where the winner is the one who can fly the furthest off a pier without the aid of a motor; only pedaling, flapping, jumping or gliding is allowed. The main character constructs some wings that he intends to flap/glide with but when it doesn't work out, he arranges to borrow his uncle's hang glider only to find out that the school bully has stolen it. He happens across a mysterious hat fashioned out of a cat, which periodically opens its eyes, "sees" something and allows - or rather, forces - the person wearing it to copy what it "sees".

Our hero decides that he'll wear the cat hat along with his homemade wings during the competition, allow it to "see" something flying (like a bird or a plane) and win that way. He does, but because the cat's eyes open randomly and often at inopportune times, hi-jinks naturally ensue.

It's a great kid's story from one of Australia's best children's authors, but I'm guessing you probably needed to be an Aussie kid growing up in the 80s/90s to really appreciate and have a fondness for it. In any event, seeing this brought it to mind.

[koberulz]

http://www.snopes.com/photos/technology ... dwings.asp

[shadowgrin]

Fake and Gay wins.

[Andrew]

Looked cool nevertheless.