Water Cooler Bottle Rockets

[Pete]

We've had a few sessions of water rockets this year, using pop or squash
bottles with rubber corks pushed in the ends with football valves through
them connected to a car foot pump.

Good fun, reasonably safe and they can go a fair distance.

Now one of my Explorers turned up last week with a bottle from water
cooler!! :o)

I'm up for giving it a go, but no way am I (or anyone else) going to stand a
foot away from it pumping a foot pump!

Does anyone have any links or tips as to how to get such a large bottle in
the air?

Thanks,

Pete

[Daniel]

Post by Pete
We've had a few sessions of water rockets this year, using pop or squash
bottles with rubber corks pushed in the ends with football valves through
them connected to a car foot pump.
Good fun, reasonably safe and they can go a fair distance.
Now one of my Explorers turned up last week with a bottle from water
cooler!! :o)
I'm up for giving it a go, but no way am I (or anyone else) going to stand a
foot away from it pumping a foot pump!
Does anyone have any links or tips as to how to get such a large bottle in
the air?
Thanks,
Pete
--
Peter Maley
SL, 3rd Whitstable
ESL, Tombstones ESU

This was on Mythbusters! The smaller drinks bottles allow for more
pressure than the water cooler bottles, they blow up more quickly! and
if it bursts it can do some damage

[Tim Jones]

Post by Daniel

Post by Pete
We've had a few sessions of water rockets this year, using pop or squash
bottles with rubber corks pushed in the ends with football valves through
them connected to a car foot pump.
Good fun, reasonably safe and they can go a fair distance.
Now one of my Explorers turned up last week with a bottle from water
cooler!! :o)
I'm up for giving it a go, but no way am I (or anyone else) going to stand a
foot away from it pumping a foot pump!
Does anyone have any links or tips as to how to get such a large bottle in
the air?
Thanks,
Pete
--
Peter Maley
SL, 3rd Whitstable
ESL, Tombstones ESU

This was on Mythbusters! The smaller drinks bottles allow for more
pressure than the water cooler bottles, they blow up more quickly! and
if it bursts it can do some damage

Having tried this out personally usinng a compressor I can asure you
that water cooler bottles will hold high pressures and fly a an awful
lot further than smaller bottles. Where do mythbusters get their
"facts" from?

However I wouldn't recommend using them unless you've got an awful lot
of space to play in.

[Stephen Rainsbury]

Post by Pete
I'm up for giving it a go, but no way am I (or anyone else) going to stand
a foot away from it pumping a foot pump!

Just put a coat on and go for it!

[Simon Draper]

Post by Stephen Rainsbury

Post by Pete
I'm up for giving it a go, but no way am I (or anyone else) going to
stand a foot away from it pumping a foot pump!

Just put a coat on and go for it!

Check out Brainiacs, they did it with a large bottle from a water cooler
might be able to find it there.
good luck!
Simon

[unknown]

We've had a few sessions of water rockets this year...
...one of my Explorers turned up last week with a bottle from
water cooler!! :o) ...
Does anyone have any links or tips as to how to get such a
large bottle in the air?

Links from http://www.npl.co.uk/waterrockets/otherlinks.php may
help.

[Eddie Langdown]

Post by Pete
We've had a few sessions of water rockets this year, using pop or squash
bottles with rubber corks pushed in the ends with football valves through
them connected to a car foot pump.
Good fun, reasonably safe and they can go a fair distance.
Now one of my Explorers turned up last week with a bottle from water
cooler!! :o)
I'm up for giving it a go, but no way am I (or anyone else) going to stand
a foot away from it pumping a foot pump!
Does anyone have any links or tips as to how to get such a large bottle in
the air?
Thanks,
Pete
--
Peter Maley
SL, 3rd Whitstable
ESL, Tombstones ESU

Strapped to the back of a medium sized Beaver-Scout?

Eddie

[Tim Jones]

Post by Pete
Does anyone have any links or tips as to how to get such a large bottle in
the air?

We just 1/3rd filled it with water and slid a length of plastic water
pipe into the hole in the bung until it almost touched the bottom of
the bottle (approx 1/2" white pipe from Focus IIRC). We then gaffer
taped the pipe to a fence post, reeled out a good length of air line,
hid behind a convenient wall and cranked the pressure up until it
took off. It took off at just short of 120psi IIRC and we probably had
to much water in as it flew really high turned in a big and was still
at pretty much full power when it landed in the river and shattered.

Be very carefull these things can really fly a long way!

[Eddie Langdown]

Post by Tim Jones

Post by Pete
Does anyone have any links or tips as to how to get such a large bottle in
the air?

We just 1/3rd filled it with water and slid a length of plastic water
pipe into the hole in the bung until it almost touched the bottom of
the bottle (approx 1/2" white pipe from Focus IIRC). We then gaffer
taped the pipe to a fence post, reeled out a good length of air line,
hid behind a convenient wall and cranked the pressure up until it
took off. It took off at just short of 120psi IIRC and we probably had
to much water in as it flew really high turned in a big and was still
at pretty much full power when it landed in the river and shattered.
Be very carefull these things can really fly a long way!

I want some of that!
Not having a farm at our disposal, i'm not sure where our nearest suitable
open space would be.
There is a field next to Tower Bridge......
Not sure what to use as a target...

Eddie Langdown 16th Bermondsey London

[Tim Jones]

On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:39:44 +0100, "Eddie Langdown"

Post by Eddie Langdown
I want some of that!
Not having a farm at our disposal, i'm not sure where our nearest suitable
open space would be.
There is a field next to Tower Bridge......
Not sure what to use as a target...

We didn't use the farm.

A few scout leaders tried it on the football pitch in town after the
scouts had gone home one evening. We were a bit concerned when the
"missile" turned and headed for the town centre!

[Eddie Langdown]

Post by Tim Jones
On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:39:44 +0100, "Eddie Langdown"

Post by Eddie Langdown
I want some of that!
Not having a farm at our disposal, i'm not sure where our nearest suitable
open space would be.
There is a field next to Tower Bridge......
Not sure what to use as a target...

We didn't use the farm.
A few scout leaders tried it on the football pitch in town after the
scouts had gone home one evening. We were a bit concerned when the
"missile" turned and headed for the town centre!

We did the same with a hot air ballon which carried a big wad of burning
meths, it headed for the farm! We must get to do that again.
ok on a calm dampish night.
2 'dry- cleaning' bags joined into one long one, circle of wire, wad of
cotton wool soaked in meths held in the middle with thin wire. Warm the bag
over a stove until it it itching to take off, light the meths and slowly, so
slowly...
The flame is flickering up inside the bag as it rises in the darkness.
You do need to choose the area, as they sometimes buckle and come down in
flames..... we have had them travel nearly half mile, but usually a few
hundred yards.
Eddie

[John McMahon]

Post by Eddie Langdown

Post by Tim Jones
On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:39:44 +0100, "Eddie Langdown"

We did the same with a hot air ballon which carried a big wad of burning
meths, it headed for the farm! We must get to do that again.
ok on a calm dampish night.
2 'dry- cleaning' bags joined into one long one, circle of wire, wad of
cotton wool soaked in meths held in the middle with thin wire. Warm the bag
over a stove until it it itching to take off, light the meths and slowly, so
slowly...
The flame is flickering up inside the bag as it rises in the darkness.
You do need to choose the area, as they sometimes buckle and come down in
flames..... we have had them travel nearly half mile, but usually a few
hundred yards.
Eddie

We use tissue paper glued with pritt stick.

Gave a demo to George Purdey, who expressed concern that we were on the
flightpath to Birmingham Airport ...........

[unknown]

Post by John McMahon

Post by Eddie Langdown

Post by Tim Jones
On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:39:44 +0100, "Eddie Langdown"

We did the same with a hot air ballon which carried a big wad
of burning
meths, it headed for the farm! We must get to do that again.
ok on a calm dampish night.
2 'dry- cleaning' bags joined into one long one, circle of
wire, wad of
cotton wool soaked in meths held in the middle with thin wire.
Warm the

bag

Post by Eddie Langdown
over a stove until it it itching to take off, light the meths
and slowly,

so

Post by Eddie Langdown
slowly...
The flame is flickering up inside the bag as it rises in the
darkness.
You do need to choose the area, as they sometimes buckle and
come down in
flames..... we have had them travel nearly half mile, but
usually a few
hundred yards.
Eddie

We use tissue paper glued with pritt stick.
Gave a demo to George Purdey, who expressed concern that we
were on the
flightpath to Birmingham Airport ...........

Been there, done that! In fact, if you are anywhere near an
airfield, you should - nay, MUST - tether your hot air balloon.
Half a mile and a few hundred feet of elevation is easily
achievable.
"Near" means (legally) within 3 miles of the airfield boundary,
if I remember correctly. Kite fliers may be better informed than
I am.

[Eddie Langdown]

Post by John McMahon
Gave a demo to George Purdey, who expressed concern that we were on the
flightpath to Birmingham Airport ...........

Been there, done that! In fact, if you are anywhere near an airfield, you
should - nay, MUST - tether your hot air balloon. Half a mile and a few
hundred feet of elevation is easily achievable.
"Near" means (legally) within 3 miles of the airfield boundary, if I
remember correctly. Kite fliers may be better informed than I am.
--
MatSav

Yes, out dist site next to Biggin Hill has been very tempting....

Eddie

[Dave]

Post by John McMahon

Post by Eddie Langdown

Post by Tim Jones
On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:39:44 +0100, "Eddie Langdown"

We did the same with a hot air ballon which carried a big wad of burning
meths, it headed for the farm! We must get to do that again.
ok on a calm dampish night.
2 'dry- cleaning' bags joined into one long one, circle of wire, wad of
cotton wool soaked in meths held in the middle with thin wire. Warm the

bag

Post by Eddie Langdown
over a stove until it it itching to take off, light the meths and
slowly,

so

Post by Eddie Langdown
slowly...
The flame is flickering up inside the bag as it rises in the darkness.
You do need to choose the area, as they sometimes buckle and come down in
flames..... we have had them travel nearly half mile, but usually a few
hundred yards.
Eddie

We use tissue paper glued with pritt stick.
Gave a demo to George Purdey, who expressed concern that we were on the
flightpath to Birmingham Airport ...........

Been there, done that! In fact, if you are anywhere near an airfield, you
should - nay, MUST - tether your hot air balloon. Half a mile and a few
hundred feet of elevation is easily achievable.
"Near" means (legally) within 3 miles of the airfield boundary, if I
remember correctly. Kite fliers may be better informed than I am.
--
MatSav

Don't know what the distance is but at Centenary Camp in May our District
did have to have discussion with LBIA as they were releasing 100 baloons and
also one of the bases was building hot air balloons one of which escaped and
was drifting in the "wrong" direction.

The sire we were using was well within 3 miles of the airport.

DaveB
West Yorks

[Stephen Rainsbury]

Post by Dave
Don't know what the distance is but at Centenary Camp in May our District
did have to have discussion with LBIA as they were releasing 100 baloons
and also one of the bases was building hot air balloons one of which
escaped and was drifting in the "wrong" direction.
The sire we were using was well within 3 miles of the airport.

We got permission from the CAA to release our 100 balloons and there was not
problem, apparantly they are only interested if there are more than 500 in
one day :-)

[Stephen Rainsbury]

Post by Eddie Langdown
The flame is flickering up inside the bag as it rises in the darkness.
You do need to choose the area, as they sometimes buckle and come down in
flames..... we have had them travel nearly half mile, but usually a few
hundred yards.

Ours went straight up, over a tree and down into the Buckmore Park car park,
heading straight for an open top sports car!

[James Smith]

Post by Stephen Rainsbury

Post by Eddie Langdown
The flame is flickering up inside the bag as it rises in the darkness.
You do need to choose the area, as they sometimes buckle and come down
in flames..... we have had them travel nearly half mile, but usually a
few hundred yards.

Ours went straight up, over a tree and down into the Buckmore Park car
park, heading straight for an open top sports car!

We did this at work one year - and we lost sight of the glow of the
baloon when it became just a flicker (we were worried that it was going
to go straight into the main building at work)...

The worrying thing - was that it was heading directly for Stansted!!

Used a two beer can burner on the bottom - with meths and hexamine we
had a four foot flame!!

[David Patrick]

Post by James Smith

Post by Stephen Rainsbury

Post by Eddie Langdown
The flame is flickering up inside the bag as it rises in the darkness.
You do need to choose the area, as they sometimes buckle and come
down in flames..... we have had them travel nearly half mile, but
usually a few hundred yards.

Ours went straight up, over a tree and down into the Buckmore Park car
park, heading straight for an open top sports car!

We did this at work one year - and we lost sight of the glow of the
baloon when it became just a flicker (we were worried that it was going
to go straight into the main building at work)...
The worrying thing - was that it was heading directly for Stansted!!
Used a two beer can burner on the bottom - with meths and hexamine we
had a four foot flame!!

I believe it was a similar design that caused a full scale alert at
Winchester Cathedral after one was spotted landing on the mainly wooden
roof of that building. The Fire Brigade were not best pleased it has to
be said.

[Egroeg the Niffirg]

On Thu, 11 Oct 2007 21:13:47 GMT, James Smith

Post by James Smith

Post by Stephen Rainsbury

Post by Eddie Langdown
The flame is flickering up inside the bag as it rises in the darkness.
You do need to choose the area, as they sometimes buckle and come down
in flames..... we have had them travel nearly half mile, but usually a
few hundred yards.

Ours went straight up, over a tree and down into the Buckmore Park car
park, heading straight for an open top sports car!

We did this at work one year - and we lost sight of the glow of the
baloon when it became just a flicker (we were worried that it was going
to go straight into the main building at work)...
The worrying thing - was that it was heading directly for Stansted!!
Used a two beer can burner on the bottom - with meths and hexamine we
had a four foot flame!!

What you needed was one group doing the balloons and one doing water
rockets to fire at the balloons.

;)

--
George
Alas poor sig, I knew it well.

[badger.badger]

Post by Eddie Langdown
We did the same with a hot air ballon which carried a big wad of burning
meths, it headed for the farm! We must get to do that again.
ok on a calm dampish night.
2 'dry- cleaning' bags joined into one long one, circle of wire, wad of
cotton wool soaked in meths held in the middle with thin wire. Warm the bag
over a stove until it it itching to take off, light the meths and slowly, so
slowly...
The flame is flickering up inside the bag as it rises in the darkness.
You do need to choose the area, as they sometimes buckle and come down in
flames..... we have had them travel nearly half mile, but usually a few
hundred yards.
Eddie

That sounds like fun, I made some nice large balloons out of bin bags
filled
with Helium a few years ago, I had hydrogen available as well, but decided
that might not be quite so wise...Large black bin bags floating away
accross
the city in daylight remained visible for several miles !

[John McMahon]

Post by Eddie Langdown
Not having a farm at our disposal, i'm not sure where our nearest suitable
open space would be.
There is a field next to Tower Bridge......
Not sure what to use as a target...
Eddie Langdown 16th Bermondsey London

When you get bailed can you post the pictures?

Can just imagine the DC disappearing in the Teal Helicopter when Special
Branch pop round for a chat ..........




John.