Homemade Rocket Explodes, Kills 5 in Roi-et.

[beer monkey]

Five killed as rocket explodes


Five men were killed and 12 people injured on Friday when a large home-made rocket exploded during the Krathin merit-making celebration in Roi Et's Pho Chai district.



The accident took place at 9.30pm in a rice field located one kilometre from Nong Waeng Yai village in Tambon Kham Bia. About 100 villagers had gathered to watch the display.

Anukul Saengboonmee, 29, Panom Kamolkhan, 75, Damrong Khamying, 26, Jamnong Chamnanyong, 36, and deputy abbot of Wat Kham Bia Phra Charee Sukaro, 42, died at the scene, Pho Chai district chief Pradit Sriprasith said Saturday.

The Nation

[Ter]

Talk about going out with a bang... What type of fuel do they use ? is this common ?
ter

[Allen A Hale]

I have observed the making of rockets three times so my reply is based upon these limited opportunities.

The rockets are filled with a gunpowder mixture.

It is my understanding that in many cases the gunpowder is made from a home made recipe.

Wooden sticks are used to tamp the powder into the rocket casing.

I have some photographs of men working on their rockets with lit cigarettes dangling from their lips.

This accident is not all that surprising to me based upon my limited experiences.

[Geordie]

After much dialogue & consultation with the TG & various dictionarys we have recipe for rocket fuel

CHARCOAL....only best grade from good quality hardwood ground into a fine powder.

SULPHUR....

PHOSPHOUROUS....

Mix the 3 ingredients thourghly then pack tightly into a tube sealed at one end, seal the open end when full with a flamable dynamite type fuse running through into the mixture. Now using good quality duct tape secure a Bamboo pole 3 x longer longer than the rocket body to it & stand it upright[angled slightly]in your homemade Bamboo launch pad, You now light the fuse & f*ck off out of the way as quick as humanly possible..................The Thais use electronic ignition ie. a car battery!!! Enjoy your experience if you try this out as it may be your last. [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o<

[Ter]

Thanks guys that explains it all very well, and thanks for the lesson.
Ter

[jackspratt]

After much dialogue & consultation with the TG & various dictionarys we have recipe for rocket fuel

CHARCOAL....only best grade from good quality hardwood ground into a fine powder.

SULPHUR....

PHOSPHOUROUS....

Sounds like a form of gunpowder to me.

[rickfarang]

I was just thinking about this a couple of days ago, when I noticed some really large diameter PCV pipes in Golbal. Maybe those that sponsor these competitions would find it a good idea to limit the size of the rockets so as to reduce the death and damage when things go wrong.

An extreme solution would be to stop these competitions all together. How many lives is this tradition worth?

[darwinian]

Don't use phosphorus!!!!

[beer monkey]

I am sure they all know the dangers but it is their tradition, and can't see them personally stopping it over a few deaths, which may occur every year.

[darwinian]

Use Saltpeter not phosphorus to make gunpowder.