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Video: Jet-powered carousel is spinning insanity
You'd think the hand-lettered warning scrawled on a piece of cardboard reading "CAUTION This May KILL You!" would be enough to scare off Popular Mechanics associate editor Seth Porges. But no. He hops on board the world's first jet-powered merry-go-round, test-piloting the home-made deathtrap with one other intrepid volunteer. In this spine-tingling video shot by DVICE's own S.E. Kramer, the two riders even hang tough when one of the jets flames out.
Despite the fact that those attending to this crazy contraption are wearing white coats, they're not scientists. They're part of a Brooklyn-based arts collective, The Madagascar Institute — not exactly inspiring confidence in the riders of this beast. And what, they're somehow controlling it with a leaf blower?
We get a kick out of home-made jet travel, even it's just around in circles like this. Still, there must be a law against this kind of stuff. The Madagascar Institute's motto ought to give you a hint: "Fear is never boring."
By dexter at 4:43 PM ON 09/29/09
it's a pulse-jet engine . do the research :)
By Marco at 6:13 PM ON 09/29/09
Dexter, your comment makes no sense.. Why should they do the research when you have already informed them that it is a pulse jet engine.. That is unless you where being obnoxious or pretentious. But that couldn't be right, could it?
By gfish at 6:44 PM ON 09/29/09
The point being that in order to fire up a pulse-jet engine, you need to get air moving through it. That's almost universally accomplished with leaf blowers for amateur projects. It has nothing to do with control, and the breathless writeup is really rather embarrassing.
By DorkMan at 1:18 PM ON 09/30/09
I agree with Sheldon/gfish. I'm both embarrassed and appalled.
By Lbrewer42 at 3:04 PM ON 11/09/09
"There must be a law against this type of stuff?"
America used to be a much better place when people were personally responsible for their own actions. If people are crazy enough to build and ride things - then they simply need to be the ones held responsible for accidents. Why have the government control our actions when it comes to non-addictive, non-immoral, society damaging behaviors?
These people would need be held responsible if they were stupid enough to allow minors to take part in this without the parents right there - but this is still SUPPOSED to be AMERICA. If ridiculous laws such as are implied by this quote were always a part of the American intellect - the Wright brothers would have been serving jail sentences - where in the world has the media-brainwashing led us to?
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Lbrewer42:
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