Thorpe-Seeop was a company based in Mesa, AZ where I worked as the sole engineer on the SeaView product line. The project involved aeronautical, mechanical, and electrical engineering. The picture depicts the aircraft milliseconds after leaving the pneumatic cannon at approximately 80mph. In about a second the aircraft's wings spring out, and the tail surface springs forward. If you'd like to learn more about the company feel free to visit the website: www.seeop.com