The Test
And so after a gruelling 10-hour build, the teams faced their destiny in a bleak chalk quarry. The team to record the furthest single flight would be through to the next round.
First throw
First up were the Beach Bums and their truck-powered winch and glider. They opted for a slow take-off speed and it proved fatal, as their winged mannequin veered sharp left before plummeting to the quarry floor having covered just 18 metres. Rob's comment said it all – 'Pathetic!'
The Vikings looked confident as they began winching back their mannequin inside their giant gun barrel. On release, their tensioned bungee rope flung the dummy into the air and they looked set for a big throw. That was until a strong headwind stopped their mannequin in mid-air and reduced the distance covered to 22 metres. Nonetheless, it put the Vikings in pole position.
Second try
For their second attempt, the Beach Bums revved their engine higher to ensure a faster take-off. This they achieved successfully, but perhaps too successfully – Cliff's lightweight aluminium wings folded upwards preventing him from gaining any lift. A distance of 21 metres meant that the Vikings retained the lead.
Not content with their one-metre lead, the Vikings added extra weight to their dummy for their next throw, hoping to counter the strong headwind. After remedying some fraying bungee with emergency taping, they were ready. The extra dummy weight did the job and their giant catapult hurled their mannequin payload an impressive 26 metres.
Final attempt
It was do or die for the Beach Bums as they prepared for their third and final flight. After the folding wing incident they returned to a slower take-off strategy and as Cliff sailed off the end of their ramp it appeared that he was once again set to plummet to the quarry floor. But then nature intervened! A gentle gust of wind filled Cliff's wings and for the first time he began to glide – covering a fantastic 37 metres!
The Vikings now had it all to do with their final throw. Desperate for extra power they winched back as far as they dare, placing ever greater tension on their already fraying bungee. It was a risky strategy that backfired, spectacularly! One of the Vikings' bungees snapped before they were ready to fire. With only half their bungee power, the brave Vikings' final flight was for pride only – the dummy covered just 20 metres and the Beach Bums were through to the next round.
