Grandfather says he built a trebuchet.
They were used in the middle ages to fling smallpox-infected corpses over castle walls.
Grandfather used his to launch model airplanes, although some of his colleagues suggested its utility for such things as flinging the neighbor’s cat back home:
Grandfather supposes model airplane launching is not nearly as useful in the contemporary world as corpse or cat slinging — but he says he’s at liberty to define “useful” for himself.
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About the Author: RD Blakeslee is a nonagenarian in West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here. This article was originally published on 20 July 2017.
Original oil painting by: Grandfather’s wife; Photo Credits: Jube T. Cornpone
That’s cool. I assume your plane is a glider? How far did it fling them?
Oscar,
The planes are have battery-powered electric motors driving a propeller.
The Trebuchet just gets the plane aloft at flying speed, then the propeller takes over.
Current events are forever re-casting our lives.
We used to say (I still do) “model airplanes”.
Now, they are officially “drones”, with connotations that are inapt for these models.
Where can I get one of those things? I don’t think I’ve seem them at Home Depot. It will come in handy for returning the poop that my neighbors dog leaves on my property every day.
Cranberry, I’m afraid trebuchets are politically incorrect (PETA, which is as politically correct as it gets, likes its cats unflung) so he had to build his own.
It looks like loads of fun! I’d set up a big target in that field and launch bean bags and then see who could come closest to the mark!!
There are already cows out there and that could be fun …moving targets.
Trouble is, they would probably eat the beanbags.
You think Cranberry would want to fling some cow pies?
Don’t know. Cranberry?
Nothing more from Cranberry, but I’d say he would have two problems:
1. He says he can’t buy a trebuchet at Home Depot, and
2. He probably couldn’t buy cow pies there, either.
I think exchanging dog turds for cow pies is an equitable trade. Don’t you?
Sorry, but that isn’t a Trebuchet. That is a catapult. A trebuchet has a cam action on the arm pivot that you drop a heavy weight onto.
You’re right.
That’s the trouble with grandfathers.
Technically challenged.
Lol
OK.
I get laughed at alot, but it’s one of my more virtuous contributions in these sour times, I think …
There, see? CATapult. Full circle right there.
Numba One Dotta,
Good one!
(All the children are above average)
Let’s build a few more and then we can take them to DC. You’re in charge of bringing the cow pies. I’ll load ’em!
“All the children are above average”. lol Thank you for the morning laugh from Lake Wobegon.
Cranberry, put the dog stuff behind the front wheels. They will back out over it. The smell will have them wondering if something is wrong with their car.