Heroic Playmonaut wowed by LOHAN's bulging package

Following the recent successful fitting and testing of our Vulture 2 spaceplane's Raspberry Pi and Picam rig, the Low Orbit Helium Assisted Navigator (LOHAN) team is relieved to announce that we've wrapped the permanent installation of the rest of the aircraft's avionics. What's more, our heroic Playmonaut now has the proper …

[Peter Simpson 1]

As an American...

...I'm glad to see you remembered the cupholder!

[ukgnome]

And as a Brit...

I'm glad he's not riding in the shotgun seat.

[ItsNotMe]

Re: And as a Brit...

"I'm glad he's not riding in the shotgun seat."

No, but as a retired Airline type... he IS in the First Officer's/Co-Pilot's seat. ;-)

[Roger Stenning]

It is indeed right and proper..

..that the pilot have a good old cup of tea to hand, but how the heck is he going to drink the rapidly cooling thing, if he's got his brain bucket on his bonce?!

It's cruelty to playmonauts, that's what it is! Give the poor pilot a straw, for heavens' sake!

[horsham_sparky]

dont' forget

to check your centre of gravity now that all the kit and kaboodle are in.. would be a shame to see it nosedive instead of gliding elegantly.. it would spill playmonaut's cuppa-char!

[Lester Haines]

Re: dont' forget

We're on the case.

[horsham_sparky]

Re: dont' forget

a test glide to check the trim might be prudent, local RC flying clubs are a good place to go and get help from, the gliders use powered planes to get them going :-)

and while I'm at it, the best way to suck an egg is to make sure you don't get one too big, and to thoroughtly wash the chicken poo from it first :-p I'm sure you've thought of all this stuff already.. nice work on the assembly :-)

[Martin Gregorie]

Rubber band problem?

Rubber bands stiffen when they get to the sort of temp where LOHAN is going. Does this also weaken them? If so , replacing the bands with thin cable ties may be a good idea.

[Lester Haines]

Re: Rubber band problem?

Yes, temperature may be an issue. We'll review the rubber bands.

[Peter Simpson 1]

Re: Rubber band problem?

Silicone bands?

// one of the many *other* uses for that versatile substance....

[Lester Haines]

Re: Re: Rubber band problem?

A possibility, but see Dave Akerman's comment about interior heating from the electronics.

[daveake]

Re: Rubber band problem?

True, but it'll be nice and warm in there what with the Pi etc.

[Simon Rockman]

Why does it need an autopilot

When it has a Playmonaut to fly the thing?

[Martin Budden]

Re: Why does it need an autopilot

The autopilot is for when the Playmonaut has to go to the toilet. He only has a tiny bladder, after all.

[Barry Tabrah]

Operational Redundancy Opportunity

Looks like there's enough room for a Co-Playmonaut in there.

[Fink-Nottle]

Re: Operational Redundancy Opportunity

The co-playmonaut would have to be a miniature of Michel Lambert, France's second best racing driver.

[Lester Haines]

Re: Re: Operational Redundancy Opportunity

We may have to open this one up to a public vote, if there is finally enough room for a second crew member. No guarantees, though - the electronics boys are eyeing more toys...

[Captain DaFt]

Re: Operational Redundancy Opportunity

"the electronics boys are eyeing more toys..."

More? With all the software and hardware it's already sporting, adding more may just turn the LOHAN launch into the advent of the singularity!

[Lester Haines]

Re: Re: Operational Redundancy Opportunity

Indeed. I am fearful of a rift ripped through the very fabric of time and space.

[Mark 85]

Missing a servo????

You have pitch and yaw covered. Isn't there a need for roll?

Enough of my being picky. Well done.

[Lester Haines]

Re: Missing a servo????

The canards operate independently, so they also control roll.

[John Sager]

Re: Missing a servo????

Will the canards give you enough roll control, being close in to the fuselage? Are you expecting to have any aerodynamic control at launch altitude?

[Lester Haines]

Re: Re: Missing a servo????

The canards will have sufficient roll control, but there is the issue of lack of air to consider. It's all about velocity.

[IT Drone]

Re: Missing a servo????

Tea... Rolls... Will there be bacon too?

[Lester Haines]

Re: Re: Missing a servo????

Yes there will. Watch this space.

[Steve Crook]

Oxygen supply?

Don't see any tanks or does the suit incorporate a rebreather?

[daveake]

Re: Oxygen supply?

I'm sure Lester has plans to add an oxygen tank, complete with a stirrer ...

[Lester Haines]

Re: Re: Oxygen supply?

I actually think there is room for that and a minibar.

[Neil Barnes]

You do realise that by putting the pilot in the right seat

you've demoted him to co-pilot?

Just sayin'...

[Lester Haines]

Re: You do realise that by putting the pilot in the right seat

He's going solo ;-)

[Wanting more]

Is there going to be a test flight before the high-altitude run? There's a lot to go wrong in there so a shakedown might be useful.

Also looks like there's space for a copilot (or sexy stewardess).

[John Brown (no body)]

"Also looks like there's space for a copilot (or sexy stewardess)."

That's the space for the inflatable emergency autopilot. Although you do normally need a sexy stewardess to blow him (up).

[Faye B]

There'll aways be Paris

I vote for our dear Paris Hilton to be the model for the sexy co-pilot/stewardess. Do they do a play-mobil figure of her (presumably it's a very expensive one).

[Lester Haines]

Re: There'll aways be Paris

We do have a Playmobil blonde in a bikini, which has in the past represented the lovely Paris...

[JonP]

PAVA Antenna

The PAVA ... has three antennas, which are actually guitar strings.

"G" strings, I assume?!

(someone had to say it!)

[Martin Budden]

Re: PAVA Antenna

Air on a G string

[Pirate Dave]

Cool

Good work on all that.

With all the gizmo gear in LOHAN, eh, how much effect do you guys expect the rocket engine to have? My original take on LOHAN (back when you started) was that it would be small and light like PARIS, so a rocket engine would really make it go, err, like a rocket. But with all the weight you guys are adding, is it going to do much more than clear the fantastical flying truss?

(I'm not a rocket guy, so I'm talking out my arse here...)

[Lester Haines]

Re: Cool

Don't you worry, it'll clear the truss, and then some.

[Anonymous Coward]

ISS

This thingamajig will go all the way up to ISS?

[Pet Peeve]

Playmonaut

Does your intrepid pilot have a cockpit window, or is he flying on instruments? It's not like there's any shortage of the latter...

The tea cup is so perfectly British!

[WillbeIT]

Don't rely on USB

I reckon, el reg, Lester et al, that that dodgy USB connection is the only one that will let you down. At least clamp or rig it so it is guaranteed to stay coupled with LOHAN.

[Lester Haines]

Re: Don't rely on USB

All potentially-vulnerable connectors will be epoxied. Look carefully at the Futaba S.BUS out cable here: http://regmedia.co.uk/2014/03/01/pixhawk_mount_01_big.jpg

It's got a smidge of space-grade adhesive on the right holding it in place. We're not going to take any chances with stuff working loose.

[imanidiot]

Good show

I'll join in on advising some CoG checks before attempting to fly.

Other than that, looking very good!

[Gartal]

optional pedantry

"The tea cup is so perfectly British". Actually it is a mug.

[Gartal]

Memories

Ah I remember when I was a kid and we built one of these thingy's. It was powered by good old British engineering at it's peak.

We had blister steel for the wing ribs as worked over by blokes with 18lb sledge hammers, a donk built by the redoubtable Mr. Watt at his Soho Works. The GPS doover lackey was I have to admin not quite up to the spec you have here, a piece of lodestone on a string. We did have a bar, several in fact, one for the Pilot and one for the lower order. And hot water for tea was available on tap from the boiler provided by Messers Babcock and Wilcox. Said boiler was a chain fed Sargasso fired arrangement with rather lovely glass and brass sight glasses and a spot for hanging rubber bands and number eight fencing wire.

As cautioned by others above, we had some problems with details like yaw and pitch, rock and roll and the fact that the wings were clad in cast iron panels but other than that it was a fine machine.

During the flight we filmed some bloke heading off the moon in an orange space ship, piloted by of all things a dog with a hand (paw) book on Electronics for Dogs.

Landing was a piece of cake, we aimed at the Earth and we hit it. You can still view our landing place in Arizona http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteor_Crater (of course the media got hold of it and said it was a meteor, didn't want to frighten the horses.)

Great job LOHANeers, keep up the good work.

[Anonymous Coward]

Holy crap! this thing looks heavy. I hope you strap-on a large one to give it sufficient thrust.