Feltwell facility tests unmanned vehicles: experts say vehicles tested could reach 9.81 meters per second

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Michael Hess
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England --  Sixteen competitors moved restlessly around the large building on Royal Air Force Feltwell Saturday to help settle their nerves before the first test of the unmanned vehicles they each designed and built.

Wing leadership traditionally doesn’t allow the use of the geographically separated unit for testing such vehicles, but they made an exception for these engineers from the East Anglia military community. Their confidence and rationale was that the sturdy, red brick building could facilitate the needs of the builders and contain the decibels produced by the event.

Airmen volunteered to wear specialized uniforms with unfamiliar insignia while they built the steel track that spanned the width of the large, crowded room. Several other volunteers held back the crowds from the ropes, which marked the “pit” around the metal track, for their own safety and the integrity of the competition.

The first heat ensued and the unmanned vehicles were unleashed. The first three accelerated down the steel track to the slope and banked laterally onto the straight way, past the state of the art tracking system and into the foam inertia disruption device where they came to a stop.

At the top speed of 9.81 meters per second (under the right conditions), these unmanned vehicles evolved from their meager beginning as a 5-ounce prism of pinewood to a high-speed pinewood derby car sculpted by the hands and minds of RAF Lakenheath’s Cub Scout Pack 404.

“These boys designed, built and raced these cars. It gets them to work with their hands and display a little creativity,” said Tech. Sgt. Patrick Rodgers, 48th Security Forces Squadron and boy scout leader.

The top car in the race was built and raced by Wolf Scout, Raymond Wood. The second grader took home the first place trophy for overall best car, however, every boy took home something.

“There was a lot of enthusiasm during the competition, but the main thing here is sportsmanship,” said Sergeant Rodgers.

The six Boy Scout leaders kept open a careful ear and watchful eye to ensure that every boy shook hands before the competition and there were no sour or prideful words spoken among the scouts.

Designing and racing the cars make up a small part of the competition. The other part is that everyone has fun and learns that being happy about winning is “okay” but that pride is bad, said the leaders.

“It’s a fun time for the boys though it’s only made possible by the volunteers,” said Sergeant Rodgers.