1,500 hours sounds about right
July 28, 2019 11:35 AM Subscribe
When you build a turbine engine at home without CNC, you can put it on a beautiful 1:16 scale Eastern Lockheed L-1011 TriStar model, or you can put it on your bike.
OP is underselling the creativity of the bike video, I was expecting a homebrew repeat of the videos where someone just mounts a hobby jet engine on the parcel shelf of a bike, but it's actually a turbine engine direct drive, which is both better and an entirely new level of crazy.
posted by Punkey at 12:18 PM on July 28, 2019 [13 favorites]
posted by Punkey at 12:18 PM on July 28, 2019 [13 favorites]
Better keep his foot away from the exhaust.
posted by Splunge at 12:27 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Splunge at 12:27 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
It IS cool, but I'm not putting a home made jet engine anywhere like near between my legs. The doors that it opens to winning a Darwin Award are manifold.
posted by wotsac at 12:28 PM on July 28, 2019 [16 favorites]
posted by wotsac at 12:28 PM on July 28, 2019 [16 favorites]
The Lockheed is a thing of utter beauty and gives me hope for the human race.
posted by Peach at 12:33 PM on July 28, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by Peach at 12:33 PM on July 28, 2019 [6 favorites]
I wonder how long you have to have been enmeshed in a particular kind of modelmaking before you get that yen to build an unglamorous workhorse of a thing like an L-1011. Which you then meticulously paint in the livery of a defunct second-tier airline.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 12:41 PM on July 28, 2019 [10 favorites]
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 12:41 PM on July 28, 2019 [10 favorites]
Second-tier? It’s is indeed defunct, but my recollection is that Eastern was at one time biggest and busiest airline in the US.
posted by hwestiii at 12:50 PM on July 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by hwestiii at 12:50 PM on July 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
I dunno. As someone who has been to lots of car shows, often the most interesting cars there are old workhorses which once existed in their millions and now you never see, and yet here's someone who restored a Pinto or Renault 16 or a panel van...
Besides, the Eastern commercial jingle is burned into my brain for reasons I cannot understand, so I'm willing to cut any fan of theirs a fair amount of slack.
posted by maxwelton at 12:51 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Besides, the Eastern commercial jingle is burned into my brain for reasons I cannot understand, so I'm willing to cut any fan of theirs a fair amount of slack.
posted by maxwelton at 12:51 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
The RC pushback tug for the RC Lockheed is another level of awesome. Because why not, right?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:09 PM on July 28, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:09 PM on July 28, 2019 [8 favorites]
Just what I've been pining for, a bicycle engine so loud I need ear protectors to ride — with a bonus of apparently making the bike difficult to turn. Would there be a gyroscope effect?
But turbines are so intrinsically amazing that I still kind of want one.
posted by jamjam at 1:13 PM on July 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
But turbines are so intrinsically amazing that I still kind of want one.
posted by jamjam at 1:13 PM on July 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
I like that the bike sounds way faster than it appears to be.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:14 PM on July 28, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:14 PM on July 28, 2019 [7 favorites]
Agreed, for that velocity the bike should be making a putputput, with more or less angry notes as it speeds up a bit, instead of a high pitched whine roar.
posted by RolandOfEld at 1:28 PM on July 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by RolandOfEld at 1:28 PM on July 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
I loved all the lens flares in the RC Lockheed video.
posted by nikaspark at 2:11 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by nikaspark at 2:11 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
A bike with a turbine engine is some Wile E. Coyote level genius.
posted by peeedro at 2:30 PM on July 28, 2019 [9 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 2:30 PM on July 28, 2019 [9 favorites]
I love that there's a little RC, uh, plane-mover thing. What do you even call those?
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 2:33 PM on July 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 2:33 PM on July 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
you can put it on your bike
Glenn Curtiss is jealous.
posted by curious nu at 2:43 PM on July 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
Glenn Curtiss is jealous.
posted by curious nu at 2:43 PM on July 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
I love that there's a little RC, uh, plane-mover thing. What do you even call those?
shapes that haunt the dusk, I think mandolin conspiracy has it above. I love it, too. Perfect touch.
posted by clawsoon at 3:37 PM on July 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
shapes that haunt the dusk, I think mandolin conspiracy has it above. I love it, too. Perfect touch.
posted by clawsoon at 3:37 PM on July 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
I'm fascinated by turboshaft engines and always wanted to make a go-kart or something like that. The bike is pretty awesome. Apart from the obnoxious noise, you'd have to try not to accidentally set stuff on fire with several-hundred-degree EGT. Plus, to get a practical range, where would all the fuel go? Turbines suck up an enormous amount of fuel per minute.
A compressor stall might be exciting in that mounting location.
posted by ctmf at 3:39 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
A compressor stall might be exciting in that mounting location.
posted by ctmf at 3:39 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
The Lockheed is a thing of utter beauty and gives me hope for the human race.
I laughed like a child.
posted by mikelieman at 4:08 PM on July 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
I laughed like a child.
posted by mikelieman at 4:08 PM on July 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
unglamorous workhorse of a thing like an L-1011
The whole problem with the L-1011 is that it was a glamorous thing of beauty. This is part of why it got to market second (not helped by the near-failure of its engine supplier, Rolls-Royce) and so the ugly and (initially) unsafe DC-10 took the major share of the trijet market. But Pacific Southwest Airlines's L-1011s had a lounge in place of the front lower hold, including a stair up from the ground into the lounge, so people could board through it.
Also, given that he only had one jet engine, it had to be mid-mounted, so there was a choice between the L-1011, the DC-10, the 727, the Hawker Siddeley Trident, the Yakovlev Yak 40 and the Tupolev Tu 154. For me, the Tu 154 is the only one that comes close to being as interesting as the L-1011.
(On preview, I'll be honest: the thing I liked most about the L-1011 is that it was the 3rd fastest aircraft on the Top Trumps Airliners set I had growing up, after the Tu-144 and Concorde.)
posted by ambrosen at 4:20 PM on July 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
The whole problem with the L-1011 is that it was a glamorous thing of beauty. This is part of why it got to market second (not helped by the near-failure of its engine supplier, Rolls-Royce) and so the ugly and (initially) unsafe DC-10 took the major share of the trijet market. But Pacific Southwest Airlines's L-1011s had a lounge in place of the front lower hold, including a stair up from the ground into the lounge, so people could board through it.
Also, given that he only had one jet engine, it had to be mid-mounted, so there was a choice between the L-1011, the DC-10, the 727, the Hawker Siddeley Trident, the Yakovlev Yak 40 and the Tupolev Tu 154. For me, the Tu 154 is the only one that comes close to being as interesting as the L-1011.
(On preview, I'll be honest: the thing I liked most about the L-1011 is that it was the 3rd fastest aircraft on the Top Trumps Airliners set I had growing up, after the Tu-144 and Concorde.)
posted by ambrosen at 4:20 PM on July 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
I loved all the lens flares in the RC Lockheed video.
It looks like he used a four-point star filter.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:52 PM on July 28, 2019
It looks like he used a four-point star filter.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:52 PM on July 28, 2019
The thing I heard from insiders is that Lockheed and McDonnell Douglas were close to putting each other into bankruptcy with their competitive pricing, and Lockheed finally backed down. It later got out that McDonnell Douglas would have given up if Lockheed held out for two more weeks.
When a DC-10 dropped an engine, the L-1011 became the popular plane to fly for travelers. Alas for Lockheed, they had already stopped making them
posted by eye of newt at 4:59 PM on July 28, 2019
When a DC-10 dropped an engine, the L-1011 became the popular plane to fly for travelers. Alas for Lockheed, they had already stopped making them
posted by eye of newt at 4:59 PM on July 28, 2019
I think mandolin conspiracy has it above.
Oh thanks! How did I miss that? Anyway yes, perfect touch, and I thought it was interesting that such a small vehicle could push a plane that I think he said was 20ish kilos. I mean, I guess that’s a good demonstration of physics in action. I am now consulting YouTube to see if the real ones pick up the front wheel like that.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 5:09 PM on July 28, 2019
Oh thanks! How did I miss that? Anyway yes, perfect touch, and I thought it was interesting that such a small vehicle could push a plane that I think he said was 20ish kilos. I mean, I guess that’s a good demonstration of physics in action. I am now consulting YouTube to see if the real ones pick up the front wheel like that.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 5:09 PM on July 28, 2019
I feel like I should clarify that I didn't mean my earlier comment as a negative. I spent some time as a 8-12 year old boy and built my share of models, but they were all SR-71s and Spitfires and X-Wings and the odd Space Cruiser Yamato thing. Give it to me big, shiny, and badass, covered with metaphorical rhinestones.
I was wondering how long it usually takes for someone to "graduate" from that sort of thing to seeking out a model of a Fokker 28 because it was an interesting precursor to today's regional jets. Or, I expect lots of younger folks go to car shows to see Ferraris and weird modded things, and only later appreciate a pristine El Camino.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:29 PM on July 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
I was wondering how long it usually takes for someone to "graduate" from that sort of thing to seeking out a model of a Fokker 28 because it was an interesting precursor to today's regional jets. Or, I expect lots of younger folks go to car shows to see Ferraris and weird modded things, and only later appreciate a pristine El Camino.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:29 PM on July 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
Bill Weaver was an SR-71 pilot whose aircraft disintegrated at very high speed, later was an L-1011 test pilot. Lockheed built both aircraft. Quite an interesting person and career. Might or might not have been my neighbor, when I was a little kid in Burbank, Ca.
posted by baegucb at 5:50 PM on July 28, 2019
posted by baegucb at 5:50 PM on July 28, 2019
Those engine noises, however, should never be associated with bicycles.
It's not a bicycle anymore, if it's powered by an engine.
posted by Rash at 8:13 PM on July 28, 2019
It's not a bicycle anymore, if it's powered by an engine.
posted by Rash at 8:13 PM on July 28, 2019
I guess no need to shout "on your left" anymore.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:09 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:09 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Oh my god as a like 9 year old kid with no real engineering skills/equipment, I remember trying to make a "rocket" out of IDK what exactly but probably something like vinegar/backing soda in a bottle tied to my bike and I knew it didn't have thrust but I pretended the effluent was the exhaust of the jet and now I want this bike.
posted by symbioid at 9:13 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by symbioid at 9:13 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Also - that scale model video? Makes me want to put a little camera in front, and build a model of the cockpit so you'd have an augmented reality flight-sim-model... thing.
Do they make those? Like, not just a go-pro attached to one with the model plane controllers, but a sim controller, and the camera streaming as a feed to the monitors of the simulator?
posted by symbioid at 9:17 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Do they make those? Like, not just a go-pro attached to one with the model plane controllers, but a sim controller, and the camera streaming as a feed to the monitors of the simulator?
posted by symbioid at 9:17 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
It's not a bicycle anymore, if it's powered by an engine.
Sure it is. What do you think motorbike means? Motorised bicycle.
posted by Dysk at 12:36 AM on July 29, 2019
Sure it is. What do you think motorbike means? Motorised bicycle.
posted by Dysk at 12:36 AM on July 29, 2019
I'm sitting here with my lower jaw on the floor, so I just have to do this with Punkey's comment:
Metafilter: an entirely new level of crazy
posted by DreamerFi at 2:40 AM on July 29, 2019
Metafilter: an entirely new level of crazy
posted by DreamerFi at 2:40 AM on July 29, 2019
RobotVoodooPower: I guess no need to shout "on your left" anymore.
"Holy shit, I think we're about to be hit by a plane!!! Wait... whuh... uh..."
posted by clawsoon at 4:45 AM on July 29, 2019
"Holy shit, I think we're about to be hit by a plane!!! Wait... whuh... uh..."
posted by clawsoon at 4:45 AM on July 29, 2019
Or you can just use a fire extinguisher . This video gets me every time.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 7:38 AM on July 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 7:38 AM on July 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
Which you then meticulously paint in the livery of a defunct second-tier airline.
They guy's truck is painted to match; there has to be some history there.
I am now consulting YouTube to see if the real ones pick up the front wheel like that.
They do. In the past at low buck airports they were sometimes constructed by converting conventional vehicles. Wish I could find the web site that documented some examples converted from FWD cars.
posted by Mitheral at 3:02 PM on July 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
They guy's truck is painted to match; there has to be some history there.
I am now consulting YouTube to see if the real ones pick up the front wheel like that.
They do. In the past at low buck airports they were sometimes constructed by converting conventional vehicles. Wish I could find the web site that documented some examples converted from FWD cars.
posted by Mitheral at 3:02 PM on July 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
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You know, as one does....
Seriously that bike video is pretty cool. Those engine noises, however, should never be associated with bicycles.
posted by hippybear at 11:41 AM on July 28, 2019 [4 favorites]