Background story here, courtesy of Neatorama.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/star-wars/rocketpowered-21foot-long-xwing-model-actually-flies-updated-new-pics-show-it-even-has-builtin-r2d2-305976.php

Another article on them there. Very impressive.

really looking forward to the XPrize cup and seeing the latest Armadillo update.

Ah, thanks Thylan -- that was where I first saw it too, I was trying to find that again!

lol - that was awesome

woh, i am surprised that failed so badly... then i look at how they made it and LOL it's an oversised theatre prop which they basically blew up with a rocket bomb.

funneeee!!!

upvote for best thumbnail ever.

This gets funnier every time I watch it!

It took me a few watches to spot the parachute, but I couldn't tell if that was for R2-D2.

Also, with its construction, failure would be impossible to apply to this. Blowing up on the pad (which it doesn't) would still be hilarious and not really a failure, considering.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag.(show it anyway)

I hope R2 wasn't damaged too badly. If any of Siftbot's parts could be used to repair him ...

In the words of the announcer "Holy Shit!"

It was always going to fail, anyone who'd seen the construction photos could tell it didn't stand a chance in hell... it got further up than it had any right to really.

Overthrust!

just can't understand why they spent so long making such an obvious error. it would have been WAY cooler if it had survived at least 3 more seconds.

(Chicken Run Scottish voice) needs more THRUST!

FUBAR