With this sweet little contraption.........

[Bryan]

I can't imagine a better way to get object separation. No more cliff strikes???

http://www.billfryer.com/dsc/index.html

[Nick_D]

This is actually called a Trebuchet. I did a story on them for the Fixed Object Journal back in 1992. These are medieval siege machines, the first war engines. They worked like this:

You have your local warlord’s castle surrounded with your army but you can't breach the walls or entrances. Instead of starving your enemy by waiting him out, the Trebuchet is used as an early form of germ warfare. With it you could fling plague ridden horses, or cows, over the walls and into the castle. Everyone inside gets sick and dies.

If your adversary sends out an ambassador to discuss terms, he is also flung back over the walls. Very demoralizing . . .

I spoke to a man in England, who had built a full size Trebuchet, about taking the ride over a cliff, or something, and he said the acceleration on his machine would be too much for a jumper to handle as they approach 20 G on launch or 0 to 90 mph in a second and half.

Nick :-)
BASE 194

[Craig]

I don't think they are using it anymore after a recent, tragic accident:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2510573.stm

Check out some pictures of a dead pig being parachuted from one:

http://members3.clubphoto.com/simon255707/418726/guest.phtml