Tandem

An Auckland man is building a cruise missile in his garage, just to prove he can.

It is on a quite country backroad that an unlikely roar breaks the silence.

Bruce Simpson is trialling one of his homemade jet engines, which he intends to use to power his very own cruise missile.

The New Zealand home handyman is attempting to build a do-it-yourself cruise missile with legal, off-the-shelf equipment for less than $US5,000.

He is building it, well, just to prove he can.

"Just to prove that very point, that you don't have to be a rocket scientist," Mr Simpson said.

"There's so much stuff available off the shelf, there's so many standard components you can get from anywhere over the Internet, in your local hardware store, that it's important that the awareness is raised.

"I myself knew it would be easy, but I was stunned at just how easy it was."

Defence interest

But Mr Simpson's activities are attracting official interest, particularly as he has now test-fired several jet engines.

On his web site, where Mr Simpson is chronicalling his quest, he says he has been challenged by US military experts over his claim the missile could easily be built.

"In order to prove my case, I decided to put my money where my mouth is and build a cruise missile in my own garage," the 49-year-old said.

Mr Simpsons says he welcomes the interest from defence authorities.

"I've done my best to inform the authorities all along, because the last thing I want is a bunch of black suits turning up and saying 'what's this missile you've got in your garage'?," he said.

"In fact I've asked for some assistance from the air force, because when it comes to testing, I'll need some clear air space and someone who is there to oversee things."

Bruce Simpson was last briefly famous for building a jet engine in his backyard and using it to cool his beer.
His web site said at the time, "the risks should be obvious, but it is worth pointing out that beer is a very dangerous substance when used without due care".

He says he has managed to acquire most of the parts from the online auction house eBay, including a GPS system purchased for $US120 that "was delivered by international airmail in less than a week and passed through customs without any problems".

The initial procurement is so far the only one of 15 stages of development completed in Mr Simpson's missile diary.

Mr Simpson says it is a crude missile but it easy enough to make.

He expects to have it flying by the end of June.

"It's like a small aircraft powered by a jet engine," he said.

He says it could easily reach a chosen destination up to 100 kilometres away, carrying a 10-kilogram payload.

"Obviously the goal of this web site is not to provide terrorists or other nefarious types with the plans for a working cruise missile but to prove the point that nations need to be prepared for this type of sophisticated attack from within their own borders," Mr Simpson said.

Terrorist enquiries?

The NZ Defence Department would not comment but one official told the New Zealand Herald Mr Simpson's web site could be violating the international Missile Technology Control Regime, under which New Zealand has agreed to restrict the availability of missile technology.

Mr Simpson says he has had 400,000 hits on his web site and calls from people in Lebanon and Iran wanting to buy his know-how.

"I have had emails from Lebanon, Pakistan, Iran, quite a few places where one would suspect that it might not be a good idea to get involved."

But he denies he could be helping terrorists, saying he generally ignores those emails.

"I'm not publishing anything or any information that isn't available elsewhere," Mr Simpson said.

"All I'm doing is basically amalgamating it into a single point source.

"Terrorist groups like Al Qaeda have got far more resources, far more well-educated, qualified people than myself and if they wanted to do this, they would do it whether I published my web site or not."

Mr Simpson says there is little authorities can do to stop the spread of such information or the construction of similar missiles.

"Unfortunately, you take a kitchen knife, you can use it to butter bread or to stab someone with it. And we don't ban kitchen knives because they might be a weapon, and the same goes for the GPS and all the other systems involved in this cruise missile," he said.

"I think all we can do is raise public awareness.

"Hopefully it will mean that people in the street will take a little more notice of their neighbours making funny noises at night or shipping large amounts of polystyrene and fibreglass into their garage."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/indepth/f...ms/missile.htm

GakFace

Amazing, Simply Amazing. I remember seeing his site about his Jet Engine Beer Cooler, that was pretty funny. In fact I thought of him when I read this at first too. I like his motives.. Instead of just saying the internet is full of info and such, he's out showing it. If one man can make a missle... no matter how shabby, it is still a missle. I think this article alone should raise some awareness.. Sad that some people need this man to do this to actually realize it all tho.

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RoboBlaster:
Welcome to the club! Not that I'm in the club. And there really isn'a a club in the first place. But if there was a club and if I was in it, I would definitely welcome you to it.

MSD

I'm going to go dig a bomb shelter now.

numberfive

I'm going to build a jet engine to cool my beer now.

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P.S. Always remember: to forget is a form of suicide. (If I could only remember to forget myself.)

The_Dude

the man is a pure genius.

we're here spending millions on one missle and he builds one for 5k? (i know they're not the same quality, but still...)

the man's a freakin genius. give him a job @ the defense dept

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"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

kilty

Maybe he can build a machine that helps you wipe your Arse

Meridae'n

I don't like it. I don't like the idea of Kiwi's building missles, cause there's only one direction they'll be firing them... West!

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What's easier to believe: that a guy was born without sex in the manner of several Greek demigods and grew up to be able to transmute liquids and alter his body density yet couldn't escape government execution, or that three freemasons in a vehicle made with aluminum foil in an era before digital technology escaped our atmosphere, landing on the moon, broadcasted from there, and then flew back without burning up?

JStrider

well i found the website for you guys...

if ya dig a lil it seems to be pretty extensive...

http://www.interestingprojects.com/

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-=JStrider=-

~Clatto Verata Nicto

maxero

id be more worried about him inspiring people than him himself.

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cough

tenchi069

Lots of people have creative hobbies. This guy doesn't have one yet . If with the knowledge he gains himself by doing these projects he gets the idea of creating something new, then it will be a benefit to all of us.

denim

I'm sorry, but this just reminds me of a Monty Python routine called "Church Bells"

jwoody

The discussion forum on that website is scary reading. I just realised that amateur cruise missile building is quite a popular hobby these days.

Get the shovels boys, we're gonna dig ourselves a hole.

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Gortexfogg

It's cool this guy's building this cruise missle and all... but if, in the future, there were ever DIY missile kits available to every person out there... well I'd probably live in a bomb shelter.

Fire

Hey, think of the advantages to the economy- Home defence takes on new meaning ......

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Mood the more as our might lessens

docweasel

just checking out the refer
nice forum
carry on

BentNotTwisted

What he said.

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IS THAT IT ???!!!
Do you even know what 'it' is?

When the last man dies for just words that he said... We Shall Be Free

Arc101

I'm just waiting for the NRA to issue a statement saying that every American should be allowed to own a cruise missile for 'hunting purposes' !

MacGnG

was this the guy that was on Conan? well if it is then thats cool, but that guy is nutty

ace81385

thats nutz lol