@Background Pony #8C41  
Actually, this might not be that far off. A common theory about Scootaloo is that she has plenty of wing strength, she just has it aimed wrong to get her off the ground*. Simple rotating herself 90 degrees backwards would help, but here the cardboard helps direct the airflow. Maybe a bit of “training wheels” effect. It doesn’t need heat resistance, and a relatively minor amount of cartoon logic excuses the minimal amount of tape used and any inadequacies of the cardboard.
 
*Search fimfiction for “bullhead” to find one story that uses this idea.

RECYCLING

This can’t end well.

^Hm, a rocket or jet engine in a cradboard box. Sounds legit… ;)

“You didn’t forget to put in an engine, did you, Derpy?”
 
“‘Put in a what?’”

Yeah, she’s curious.

Looks like someone took pity with the poor chicken. Rainbow Dash is not amused…