Jet-Powered Merry-Go-Round at Gadgetoff '09 | PopMech

Brooklyn-based arts collective The Madagascar Institute had tested their home-built jet-powered merry-go-round-they'd just never tested it with people on it. So PM's Seth Porges volunteered his life and limb (a nearby warning sign warned that it "Could Kill You") to be the first human ever to take a jet-powered ride on this steam punk-inspired machine. Here is his maiden voyage.
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[@labbetuss92]

Was expecting more to be honest. Seeing how I've seen some kids with one old moped engine go much faster :) This was more in style!

[@DeadRaymanWalking]

This is even more fun than a merry-go-round ride at the fair

[@freesk8]

I am SO glad there are people in the world who do stuff like this! I'm also glad they are OTHER people...

[@Ouclypse]

Oh that looks PERFECTLY stable.

[@da_uno]

That's one of the cooler things i've seen you guys build in a while.

[@emb8]

As an engineer working on pulsed detonation engines I'm constrained by "safety", but this is what I wish I could really work on! I don't think this design will make its way to neighborhood playgrounds, however.

[@wrybread]

It would be difficult to put into words exactly how awesome I think this is. Lots and lots and lots of awesome at the very least.

[@mabiel3]

got to love that old rusty wheel on top,holding every thing together.

[@ihatestupidpeople264]

WOW! thats pretty innovative. ive been experimenting with pulse jets. they have so many uses. keep up the good work.

[@KennethWarford]

I might be wrong but I think it is to get the air flow in the right direction before igniting that style of jet engine.

[@01DOGG01]

Insane in many ways

[@nolobede]

Is that a wooden 4x4 as a mast ? Darwin award candidates.

[@GrimlyKK]

Excellent stuff. Bring back the V1s!

[@trevorb6]

I fail to understand how the jet engines were started with a leaf blower; truly fascinating, 22nd century technology!

[@tr4nsg0th1ca]

we need one of these in every playground in the USA RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!

[@Jarek4]

dude, some of this is made out of wood so FUCK THAT. If it was made out of metal hell yes

[@sackcheck]

LOL, guy in the red is drunk while the one in white is holding on for dear life.

[@wmcneal42]

OMG! ME NEXT!! that is awesome. 5 stars!

[@TheCoyoteKid]

This experiment is made of victory and win.

[@bagelboi66]

Oh man that is outta control! I want to ride it next.

[@SauceSaiyan21]

it looks like freakin harry potter lol

[@SOGGYmilktoast]

So FREAKEN sick. Its not only FUN.. its SAFE too! Nice work guys!

[@Aoxmodeus]

That was more than a little bit AWESOME. So freakin rad :D

[@JJR93]

Zos magnificent Men in their flying machines, they go uppity up up, they come down ditty down down...

[@wolfgangiceclaw]

I WANT A RIDE!!!!

[@DanielDubno]

This was done at Gadgetoff 2009

[@EduardoNolazco]

Awesome video! Only 2 things: a) why is there a guy in the middle? is he holding the center pole? I suppose the risk was controlled isn't it? b) 1 simple tripod for your camera: $20, getting your video without any movement: priceless :)

[@gdagreatone]

that was tight, but idk how i feel about my face chasing fire.....

[@BigTymerPimp]

Rockets and merry-go-rounds.....sounds like nothing can go wrong.

[@bmdoublesyou]

the leafblower 'spools' up the turbine ~BMW art car

[@vector6977]

thats awesome ! the Doppler kinda sounds like a light saber too.

[@DudleyaSetchellii]

Toys... gotta love it.

[@69mag]

f'in too cool, and it looks like they got a real life carny to run it for them!

[@Kamianek]

This is awesome but needs to go faster!! > :D

[@pearl_girl7508]

Oh my God this comment was posted whempn I was 0 years old!

[@hossome1]

nice implementation of a pulse jet!

[@mrsXokevinXojonas00]

that looks like fun!

[@franckrichard8077]

This is how Stormtroopers trained before going on Endor ....

[@77Fmydog]

why is the leaf blower still going after the ride ends

[@sgrannel]

That wobbling support mast looks awfully dangerous! Nice engines, though.

[@cosmicgoatslap]

They need to replace the swings that do this at lagoon with these

[@Lx3IV]

OMG... THIS is EVERY kid's dream!!!

[@CrashingFlame]

Damn i wonder how many g's tat pulls at the start

[@Towerbrian23]

That looks fun

[@uberman6023]

That was a lot of faith in a 4×4!

[@OldManCassius]

ooooooh, pulse jets. Good job guys.

[@narcberry]

That's a really small base, if the center of balance varied just a a couple feet, you'd be in trouble. -5 points to the idiots that hoped on board. +5 points to the folks with cameras.

[@Kyuubinuyasha]

still be fun as hell

[@KidBowsur]

ok this needs to be at six flags in a week lol

[@jaywalker512]

I really hope so.

[@mja2035]

Did the guy behind the jet engine emitting a flame get burnt?

[@timohyland]

You guys are insane! But that wouldn't stop me from riding! :-)

[@nick.allison]

So is this ride next to the Thunderdome?

[@zekshoes]

All you need is the clarinet polka by Lawrence Welk

[@Towerbrian23]

Looks like fun 😁

[@OHUQTU]

How many little puppies from the shelter had to die during testing, before they tested this on humans?

[@dkman222]

i thought this was gonna get crazy but it didnt lol

[@WWoodyW]

need to strengthen the structure and take those to full power

[@DanielDubno]

It didnt until I asked them to correct it... which it now has been... "chief"

[@theflea1123]

that is just awsome

[@cncgeneral]

A jet engine is not complicated. I would like to build one, it would be a fun project, but I don't have the time or money.

[@notabadog]

at 2:20 somebody says "Fear is never boring"

[@UltraLathrop]

awesome.

[@HDYaqui]

Guess what I'm going to MAKE THIS WEEKEND?!!!!!!!!

[@rodigopizarro9414]

Not gunna lay a part of this sounded like light sabers

[@EpicDude86]

More like AWESOME-GO-ROUND

[@XixisII]

SCIENCE! at work.

[@Mshine67]

Is that a autmobile rim being used as part of the rotor hub? LOL.. Reminds me of Jackie Chan in that movie Around the World in 80 days

[@DoubleVisionandco]

Jesus these guys are crazy!

[@placebomessiah]

oh sweet red hot ignition chamber

[@Electric_snot]

I was just waiting for it to lift off and take over the world XD

[@amieI7123]

I'll buy your entire stock

[@jaydesh9]

this is soo kewl.. !!

[@HIGHDEFTUBE]

Was this in prospect park?

[@fairyheli2]

#LOL "caution. this may kill you"

[@Tubeaholic2011]

@Tubeaholic2011 I was actually disappointed, thought it would go faster, scrap the seats, this is a baby ride.

[@internet146]

giant flames and al,l I loved it

[@billiejoe1980]

Next they will build the jet powered water slide

[@cncgeneral]

I'm guessing it probably cost around $150-200 max to make this. Some bent exhaust pipes and tubes with an old car hub and a few bits of steel. Not really enough to get worked up over.

[@McLoaferson]

thats awesome

[@ultimateownage2]

So....... Why/how did they ignite it with a leaf blower?

[@plutocrazy1]

Did anyone else watch this entire video waiting to see what does horribly wrong?

[@originaldriver2066]

You guys are frigging nuts. You used two "pulse-jets" to make a merry-go-round. You get two thumbs up just for not killing yourselves.

[@AndyAndyAndy11111]

Holy S***!

[@spudisking]

was it ment to catch fire?

[@NancyFrye]

Whew! No death.

[@deadlyfalcon89]

AWESOME!

[@MommieDearest67]

What's interesting is that their velocity is zero!

[@Kahhlie]

I want to ride

[@trevorb6]

Oh, so that's why! All we have to do is stop all the rocket powered merry-go-rounds and we should be OK! You should get a Nobel Peace Prize. Make sure you carefully inspect your next box of breakfast cereal.

[@UkCobra]

they need more power

[@Dyskombobul8td]

lol helluva ride 4shr.

[@MegaMonkeyman101]

ME NEXT!!!

[@1DARBY1]

that is so awesome!!!!!!!!!

[@SteveBurdetteWolf]

safety first.

[@drahveson]

gee that looks safe...

[@Rayrockny]

Would be funny if that flame torched the other guys face.

[@brennenharley]

how? all i see is the pipe tips

[@Alunamai]

That looked fun and very very dangerous!!! lol Thank god no onw was hurt!

[@trevorb6]

Well, what do I know? I was born near the middle of the 20th century. How am supposed to know what 22nd century technology looks like? It still looks like a leaf blower to me and they didn't have leaf blowers in 1905; then again, maybe they did. What do I know?

[@WhiteLycanXII]

So... what part of this seemed like a good idea?