Originally posted by n3tjm
Guess what!? I am now in the ranks of L2. The Megablast flew successfully on a J350-14W to about 2500 ft. Both the drouge an the main deployed at apogee... but the rocket landed in the field. Video and pictures coming soon
The Doug
Doug, not to burst your bubble, but I just went thru this. Technically, if both the main and the drogue opened at apogee, that shouldn't have passed. You may have gotten lucky with whomever witnessed your flight. Unless you loaded up and flew again and the deployment worked as slated.
Now, before I go to deep in this, let me ask. Did you want both to open at apogee? If so, then you passed, but if you expected the drogue to open and then the main at some altitude specified by the altimeter, you didn't (technically)
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I should know, I went to a launch at Oburg a month ago and a guy was going for his L2. He flew the first flight on a J360 Pro38, great flight, but the FinCan separated and it came in hot. No damage, but didn't pass, reconfigured, stuffed another J360 in and tried it again, and this time the drogue and main opened at apogee, wouldn't pass him on that one either. Last flight after much debate was with a J350 and this time, all worked as planned and he went home L2.
On my L2 flight, just two weeks ago, again, the L3 and L1 that certifed me asked if I was expecting main at apogee or at altimeter. I said the later, and few the flight, it worked as planned and I as well was certified. But had the main come out at apogee, no joy.
None of the above matters if it stays on the field or not I don't believe, it has to do with configuration and flying the flight you specify and it being successful.
I'm curious of others thoughts on this topic as well, and also curious Doug, of your original flight intent.
Congrats, but I'd say you were lucky if your description was indeed the only flight that you took and if the outcome was as you mentioned and yet you expected main at some lower alt.
my .02. Not trying to be the cert police, I just know how hard people work and what they have to go through
Your thoughts on the topics? Or clarifications?
Alan