six-o-one
11-20-2005, 08:34 PM
Finally. The maiden flight of my Cherokee-DD. Great weekend, but had stuff today. Hadn't planned on launching, but just couldn't let the day get away. Zero to three mph winds (very rare around here) lured me out. Kind of a rush with daylight savings time, didn't get to the field until 3:15.
Anyway. Started things single stage, with my second Cherokee-D making its first flight. Super. Straight, fast, and high. All went well, landing 80 yds away with no damage. Good start.
Let's move on to the two-stagers. Navaho-AGM on its third flight (both of the first two perfect), but its first on maximum power-C6-0--C6-7. Not sure what happened here, left the rod and began a slow parabolic path. Staged, but almost horizontal flight path after staging took it a long, long way away. Recovered the booster, but upper stage is MIA. Calling for rain tonight also, so its officially gone. First rocket I have lost since returning two years ago. Oh well, had planned on building another one anyway.
Moving on. Maiden flight of my Estes Vigilante home made (CC-Express kit bash with nose cone from Thrusline) clone. Another two-stager from my youth. C6-0--C6-7. Heck with easing into it. Again super flight. Perfect staging, booster recovered, straight flight and altitude as advertised. Returned a little fast as the shock cord partially wrapped the chute, but no damage.
Well, the long walk and search for the Navaho used a lot of time, so now it is 30 min before dark. Gotta shoot the DD. Had forgotten how cool it is to launch with dwindling light. D12-0--D12-7 combo was great. Straight as an arrow, flame clearly visible. Perfect staging, booster recovered, and then right through the low-flying clouds. Craig rocksim'ed altitude around 2300 ft, and this must have gotten there as it was straight up and true. Again, return a little fast as chock cord again partially wrapped the chute (no coincidence, I think, and a change in shock cord is forthcoming). No damage. Gotta thank Craig for all the tech info and discussion on this one. Looks great, flys great. Funny, the only rocket I lost was the only one I had flown before. Anyway, good day overall.
Anyway. Started things single stage, with my second Cherokee-D making its first flight. Super. Straight, fast, and high. All went well, landing 80 yds away with no damage. Good start.
Let's move on to the two-stagers. Navaho-AGM on its third flight (both of the first two perfect), but its first on maximum power-C6-0--C6-7. Not sure what happened here, left the rod and began a slow parabolic path. Staged, but almost horizontal flight path after staging took it a long, long way away. Recovered the booster, but upper stage is MIA. Calling for rain tonight also, so its officially gone. First rocket I have lost since returning two years ago. Oh well, had planned on building another one anyway.
Moving on. Maiden flight of my Estes Vigilante home made (CC-Express kit bash with nose cone from Thrusline) clone. Another two-stager from my youth. C6-0--C6-7. Heck with easing into it. Again super flight. Perfect staging, booster recovered, straight flight and altitude as advertised. Returned a little fast as the shock cord partially wrapped the chute, but no damage.
Well, the long walk and search for the Navaho used a lot of time, so now it is 30 min before dark. Gotta shoot the DD. Had forgotten how cool it is to launch with dwindling light. D12-0--D12-7 combo was great. Straight as an arrow, flame clearly visible. Perfect staging, booster recovered, and then right through the low-flying clouds. Craig rocksim'ed altitude around 2300 ft, and this must have gotten there as it was straight up and true. Again, return a little fast as chock cord again partially wrapped the chute (no coincidence, I think, and a change in shock cord is forthcoming). No damage. Gotta thank Craig for all the tech info and discussion on this one. Looks great, flys great. Funny, the only rocket I lost was the only one I had flown before. Anyway, good day overall.