How did I know Dan??
Please tell more. Did it involve casualties or TV coverage?
Intrigued,
Ian
Well, uh, it wasn't as bad as when I put the 1/2" drill bit through my hand with the non-reversing drill, then forgot to unplug it in my haste to unwind it. So no, no casualties in this particular instance; the result was similar to Pete's, but involved more than one pickup truck, a neighbor's fence, and a few other things like some (formerly) Prize Petunias.
In scale speed, I'm pretty sure *my* Blue Flame exceeded the speed of sound. I do know I lost all power of hearing as I watched, hand over mouth, as it um, rocketed onward and onward, and onward beyond all expectations of success. It was one of those moments where a person experiences almost equal measures of pride and horror, and has to suppress a hearty "Look what I did" while peeking between fingers held over eyes and wondering if the US has extradition treaties with
all South American countries.
The TV coverage came for other things.
I can just now go out without seeing the neighbors' curtains wiggle as I pass, or see them quietly and unobtrusively move their cars out of harm's way. Sheesh, it's been 42 years, you'd think they'd let it go...and might have, if I hadn't dyed the front lawn green during a drought when I was 16. I did it in the dead of night, so when the neighbors left in the morning, my lawn was emerald green among the blond ones. I'd taken care to wind-up the fellow across the street (a green-lawn fanatic) with tales of a "miracle fertilizer" I'd concocted. He was so busy looking at the results on his way to work, he nearly took out the mailboxes. Begged me for the "recipe".
After launching the Blue Flame I uh, hastily assembled a much smaller Blue Flame Mk2, but kept it a secret, hiding it away in the attic till I forgot about it. Seeing this thread got me rooting around and it turned up. Y'know...it's never been properly tested and it can't go
too far...not with just three Estes 1665 boosters...
All the best,
Dan. ("Don't tempt me...")
