Category:	Stories - Random Stories	Created:	12/28/1999 12:00 AM
URL(s):	http://www.ov-10bronco.net/contributors.cfm#ScottHashimoto	Updated:	11/12/2001 03:30 AM
Testing the Waterworld OV-10 Replica Scott Hashimoto tells of the testing of the OV-10 replica used in the Waterworld show at the Universal Studios theme park.
By Scott Hashimoto
©1999 Scott Hashimoto, All Rights Reserved. Check this out, I was taking a tour of the USS Hornet in Alameda, CA and was on the flight deck looking over San Francisco Bay, when I saw this odd sight. A large catapult was launching this OV-10 with pontoons into the bay. They were doing this all day, and I went down to investigate. I talked to the head guy, who turned out to be the special effects engineer for this project. It was for the Universal Studios Tokyo "Waterworld" show. This engineer needed to launch this replica over 200 times to insure accuracy, due to the fact that it will not be tethered, and launched over a wall towards the audience. I asked him what made him pick the OV-10, and he said he had seen one once and thought it looked odd and that no one would recognize it. He built the replica at something like 35/47 scale (don't ask me, it was weird.) It weighed 2000 lbs, and when it landed in the water, it landed at over 20 g's! I watched them bend the sponsons back a few times before they figured out the angle of decent was too steep. It was pretty funny to watch this whole thing. Scott Hashimoto
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