SteAmChopper

Since our return from the Playa last year, we decided to get a jump on things, literally the week we got back.  In addition to adding a propeller on the front, as well as 2 on the tail, extending the height of the rotors with a secondary blade system above the top rotors, adding a flame thrower from the tail, fabricating new clouds from high density foam blocks, and so much more, one of the most interactive additions since the SteamChopper's conception will be our new, interactive dashboard, which will not only include all sorts of antique instruments and vintage gauges necessary for flight, but will feature a very special new creation, an absolutely one-of-a-kind, custom engineered cold cathode display, aka nixie tube device that will display exactly where we are, in real-time, like modern GPS with a vintage twist, accurate literally to the 'minute' of the unique street structure of Black Rock City with my original algorithms and custom manufactured circuitry. (This will bring our ancient helicopter this year with an antique, yet kind of tech/robotic/modern twist that will fit right in with this year's theme.)  Riders will be able to turn different steampunk dials to select where we are going, and better yet, we can turn back the clock to past Burning Man years and actually see the street name we are on with the name of the same street From Past Years. Other interesting data can also be accessed, such as past years' theme names, population, man height, etc, and all of this will be controlled from antique potentiometer dials and other scientific instruments used to control the devices, which will display the info via numbers and letters inside some of the rarest nixie tubes on the planet, which have been sourced from across continents.  Meanwhile, another, connected nixie device will continuously be counting down the days, minutes and seconds to the actual burn, while swapping to other info such as temp and humidity.  All of this will be intertwined with custom mini steam engines and boilers, and an interconnected system of gears turning throughout the devices, and many other antique instruments such as sundials, navigational sextants, compasses, and telescopes, all accessible for anyone and everyone to try out, learn about and play around with.

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The SteamChopper was designed from conception to be open, inviting and easy for anyone to get on and off. We pride ourselves in giving so many burners their first ride in an art car / mutant vehicle, and these new additions are all part of our continuing efforts expand upon the existing interactivity and to share our art and good vibes with as many people as possible...