PROJECT SAND


Moderators: Freakzilla, ᴶᵛᵀᴬ, Omphalos

User avatar
A Thing of Eternity
Posts: 6090
Joined: 08 Apr 2008 15:35
Location: Calgary Alberta

Re: PROJECT SAND

Post by A Thing of Eternity »

Don't remember that part, was it earlier in the book or later?
Image
User avatar
trang
Posts: 1224
Joined: 06 May 2008 18:59
Location: Hot Tub Time Machine

Re: PROJECT SAND

Post by trang »

Check the links out for "thopters" might find it interesting:

http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=44" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-F ... ewsNum=279" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.ornithopter.net/index_e.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Personally I always thought of the machine as kin to a dragonfly.. independent wings that allow movement in virtually any direction, jet assisted of course.

Expert from the site:

"Paul fastened his safety harness, saw that his mother was secure, checked the aircraft. The wings were at full spread-rest, their delicate metal interleavings extended. He touched the retractor bar, watched the wings shorten for jet-boost takeoff the way Gurney Halleck had taught him. The starter switch moved easily. Dials on the instrument panel came alive as the jetpods were armed."

Although this quote gives primarily technical details about the aircraft, the winged motion was often used in association with the symbol of the hawk, which was part of the Atreides coat of arms. Here's another quote that describes its manner of flight:

"He broke off as the Duke kicked on the jet brakes. The ship bucked as its tail pods whispered to silence. Stub wings elongated, cupped the air. The craft became a full 'thopter as the Duke banked it, holding the wings to a gentle beat, pointing with his left hand off to the east beyond the factory crawler. "

Neither the word itself nor the concept were inventions of Herbert's. Da Vinci first described them (with very good engineering diagrams); the first flapping-wing working models were created by Alphonse Penaud in France in the late nineteenth century.
"Long Live the Fighters", "Dragon.....the other white meat."

Image
Post Reply