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tropple · 06-12-2004, 06:13 PM

Early in my career as a Navy aviation electronics technician, I worked in an F-8 squadron in San Diego.

I remember one long boring night shift when we made a cannon out of coke cans and tape. We used alcohol for propellant and fired a couple balls made from masking tape and self-vulcanizing rubber tape wrap. The damned things flew across the hanger width and made big sooty blotches on the far wall about 60 feet up.

The third time, the cannon blew up creating the most amazing fireball that rose to the level of the windows at the top of the hanger where the squadron offices were located.

Needless to say, the squadron duty officer and asdo and PO of the watch all ran out to investigate the fireball that lit up the duty office.

When the panic died down, the night check maintenance chief about kicked all of our asses to hell and back.

Since then, I have never been tempted to experiment with any type of artillery. I prefer my potatoes in salad.

I was working a project a couple years ago in Denver and saw a couple guys shooting a potato cannon outside their building. It was pretty spectacular. The potato went a couple hundred yards, easy. After the first bounce, you couldn't see it, it was so far away. It was most impressive.

06-12-2004, 06:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
tropple Junkie	Early in my career as a Navy aviation electronics technician, I worked in an F-8 squadron in San Diego. I remember one long boring night shift when we made a cannon out of coke cans and tape. We used alcohol for propellant and fired a couple balls made from masking tape and self-vulcanizing rubber tape wrap. The damned things flew across the hanger width and made big sooty blotches on the far wall about 60 feet up. The third time, the cannon blew up creating the most amazing fireball that rose to the level of the windows at the top of the hanger where the squadron offices were located. Needless to say, the squadron duty officer and asdo and PO of the watch all ran out to investigate the fireball that lit up the duty office. When the panic died down, the night check maintenance chief about kicked all of our asses to hell and back. Since then, I have never been tempted to experiment with any type of artillery. I prefer my potatoes in salad. I was working a project a couple years ago in Denver and saw a couple guys shooting a potato cannon outside their building. It was pretty spectacular. The potato went a couple hundred yards, easy. After the first bounce, you couldn't see it, it was so far away. It was most impressive. __________________ +++++++++++Boom! Last edited by tropple; 06-14-2004 at 08:50 AM..