And They Said It Would Never Fly

by ANN Associate Editor James Aronovsky

What's that saying, that the only difference between men and boys is the size of their toys? A British artist, tinkerer, and would-be pilot, seems to illustrate this statement perfectly. He has constructed what may be world's largest rubber-band powered model plane. He began flight test operations last Sunday.

Mark Klews was inspired by the balsa wood planes he built as a boy, so using the most rudimentary knowledge of physics, he scaled up a popular 18 inch model to one with a wingspan of 20 feet. Since his boyhood plane could fly as far as 160 feet, Klews was expecting, by the process of advanced arithmetic, to be able to reach 2,700 feet in the full-sized version.

However, because traditional balsa wood isn't available in such large sizes, Klews decided to construct the giant model out of pine.

In keeping true to the authentic design of the original, the plane appears to have no moving control surfaces, no instrumentation, nor any way to actually guide the aircraft once in flight.

Thankfully, when the 200 foot bungee cord power plant started spinning the five foot propeller -- besides shaking a lot, the plane only managed to move six feet --backwards.

In truth, Klews probably wasn't expecting too much. It is likely that as an artist, he was more interested in the act of artistic creation leading up to the test flight. The British Register says the aircraft will now retire to an exhibition at Clews' former alma mater -- the University of Westminster. Gallery curator Michael Maziere explained the failed experiment was still valuable. "These works reveal the importance of failure as an essential process of development. [Such] futile gestures take the raw desires of our childhood fantasies to their logical conclusion."

Which is what I always say after a really botched flying maneuver.

Believe it or not, there is actually a serious aeronautical attempt to create a real rubber band-powered manned flying machine called, what else? the "Rubber Bandit", although its current status is unclear.

Still to wind up this story (sorry) -- Klews was undaunted at his failure to launch. He told the London Telegraph, "It was spectacular, everything I hoped it would be, apart from actually flying. We are taking a step in the right direction just by moving. I mean, technically it is a step in the wrong direction I suppose, but at least it's a step."

We can only conclude that's one small step for a man, one giant leap into absurdity.

FMI: University of Westminster Exhibition,   www.rubberbandit.org