Solomoriah
08-20-2007, 04:56 PM
This afternoon was cloudy but fairly calm, with breezes of around 5 MPH or so. Justin and I decided to launch a few of our rockets, including some of mine that had never been launched as well as a few that hadn't been up recently. I set up three launch stands, one with an Electron Beam controller, one with my metal 12V launch controller, and one with my new wooden 6V launch controller. The first to go up was supposed to be Justin's Estes Patriot, on a B6-4, but it wouldn't ignite. I held it off for later.
The first actually launched was my Estes Alpha, on an A8-3, and it was a beautiful and perfect launch and recovery.
Next we launched my Centuri Sky Devil on an A8-5. The flight was nice, but the parachute was damaged (two shroud lines inexplicably cut, no burn marks) and the rocket came down hard. However, it was undamaged, and will fly again.
We set up another rack and went again, and again, Justin's Patriot (with a new igniter fitted) failed to ignite. Again, I held it off a bit.
I launched my Estes Bullpup on a B6-4. This was its first flight, and it was a nice one, with a perfect deployment and recovery.
Justin's Quest Flash was launched next, on a B6-4, and it turned in another excellent performance... and lost a fin on impact, again. This time we have the fin, and again we will repair the rocket. I'm thinking we need a parachute with a small spill hole instead of a streamer for this rocket.
I got out a different controller (for this was one of the Electron Beam controllers, of which we have three), and using the same (second) igniter, Justin was able to launch the Patriot at last. Excellent flight, good recovery. Need new batteries, obviously.
I had planned to launch my modified Black Vulcan on a C6-3, but I found that the modified launch lug installation was binding on the rod; so I skipped this one.
I launched my Semroc Thunderbee on a 1/2A3-2T. Good flight, but the streamer didn't slow it enough and it broke a fin. I think I'm going to see if I can get the fin replaced under warranty on this one. EDIT: They ARE replacing the fin under warranty, as well as the streamer, and are including a parachute in case I want to convert to it. Semroc rocks!
Last was my Estes Sprint on an A8-3. This high-flying rocket once again surprised me, trying to drift out of the field and into some trees. Amazingly, it threaded the needle between several rocket-eating trees and landed at ground level.
This time around we got several decent pictures, including two actual launch pics; our new digital camera has that flurry-of-pictures mode that makes it easy. Here's my Bullpup going up:
http://rocketry.newcenturycomputers.net/images/20070819-bullpup-launch.jpg
More pics on my launch page:
http://rocketry.newcenturycomputers.net/launch20070819.html
The first actually launched was my Estes Alpha, on an A8-3, and it was a beautiful and perfect launch and recovery.
Next we launched my Centuri Sky Devil on an A8-5. The flight was nice, but the parachute was damaged (two shroud lines inexplicably cut, no burn marks) and the rocket came down hard. However, it was undamaged, and will fly again.
We set up another rack and went again, and again, Justin's Patriot (with a new igniter fitted) failed to ignite. Again, I held it off a bit.
I launched my Estes Bullpup on a B6-4. This was its first flight, and it was a nice one, with a perfect deployment and recovery.
Justin's Quest Flash was launched next, on a B6-4, and it turned in another excellent performance... and lost a fin on impact, again. This time we have the fin, and again we will repair the rocket. I'm thinking we need a parachute with a small spill hole instead of a streamer for this rocket.
I got out a different controller (for this was one of the Electron Beam controllers, of which we have three), and using the same (second) igniter, Justin was able to launch the Patriot at last. Excellent flight, good recovery. Need new batteries, obviously.
I had planned to launch my modified Black Vulcan on a C6-3, but I found that the modified launch lug installation was binding on the rod; so I skipped this one.
I launched my Semroc Thunderbee on a 1/2A3-2T. Good flight, but the streamer didn't slow it enough and it broke a fin. I think I'm going to see if I can get the fin replaced under warranty on this one. EDIT: They ARE replacing the fin under warranty, as well as the streamer, and are including a parachute in case I want to convert to it. Semroc rocks!
Last was my Estes Sprint on an A8-3. This high-flying rocket once again surprised me, trying to drift out of the field and into some trees. Amazingly, it threaded the needle between several rocket-eating trees and landed at ground level.
This time around we got several decent pictures, including two actual launch pics; our new digital camera has that flurry-of-pictures mode that makes it easy. Here's my Bullpup going up:
http://rocketry.newcenturycomputers.net/images/20070819-bullpup-launch.jpg
More pics on my launch page:
http://rocketry.newcenturycomputers.net/launch20070819.html