Originally published at: This massive cannon fires dead chickens at high speed in the name of airplane safety | Boing Boing
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The Royal Canadian Air FARCE, however, has traditionally used it to ring in the new year.
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There is a story that I believe to be true about such a gun. Details are hazy.
An aircraft operator/manufacturer/tester or whatever in need of one of these devices, duly ordered one.
Upon installation, the new chicken-gun owner contacted the manufacturer to inquire about securing a supply of dead chickens. The chicken-gun manufacturer suggested using chickens obtained at a local supermarket.
The chicken-gun owner duly did this only to discover that upon first use, the chicken-bullet unexpectedly not only completely destroyed the aircraft windshield, but did substantial damage to the rest of the aircraft.
An investigation was instigated by the chicken-gun manufacture the result of which was a one-line recommendation.
Defrost the chicken.
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Smarter Everyday: We built a cannon that fires baseballs faster than the speed of sound!
Canada’s Aerospace Research Centre: Hold my Molson.
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Did they at least credit Mythbusters? That’s was old school, season 1 materiel.
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The birds — always dead ones only
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A Weapon to Surpass Metal Gear
With sufficient accuracy this device could be used to resupply chicken stores across the country - direct from the farm.
What did you do in the trade war granpa? I was a chicken gunner.
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A tale as old as time itself. Or Tim himself. I can’t recall.
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Cut to CHICKEN sitting in the barrel of the CHICKEN CANNON.
CHICKEN turns to camera and shrugs.
“Braaaawk! It’s a living.”
CHICKEN puts on helmet and slides down into the barrel of CANNON.
laugh track
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Chicken cannons in airplane testing go back as far as 1968.
(Not that I would put it past a 12 year old Jamie Hyneman to come up with something like this.)
The version I heard in 1984 had the Air Accidents Investigation Branch at RAE Farnborough giving the advice to Americans.
I would like to offer some carcasses of certain feral chickens in my neighborhood. to whom may I speak at the NRC?
with that out of the way, may I say that a 17.25inch barrel could shoot a gotdam butterball turkey!
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I remember hearing that story as an undergrad Aerospace Engineering major in 1987. I suspect it is apocryphal.
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May I present…
The Great Gonzo debuts Cirque du Poulet - an act that attempts to make chickens fly (using rocket technology and gun powder); however Crazy Harry gets carried away and blows the chickens up.
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Keep an eye on those people. That’s how Gerald Bull got his start.
One day they’re firing chickens, the next someone says “what it we use a sabot around the chicken with a base bleed to cut the rear drag?”, and the day after some other country’s hypersonic missile gets taken out by a bird strike – from behind.
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I was a cow gunner… Used a cattling gun
(out I go)
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