ThirstyBarbarian
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I have an LOC Warlock, and I want to get a new parachute that will provide a softer landing. This is my only rocket that seems to get landing damage from normal landings in other words, its built stock (not heavy), its using the stock chute, the chute always deploys properly, but the rocket still gets some damage to the fins and has required some repairs. Recently I was standing very close to the rocket when it landed, and I saw that it hit hard and bounced, and I ended up having to redo a couple of fin fillets.
What descent rate should I be aiming for?
The stock chute is a flat 58 chute, similar to a Top Flight 58. According to Top Flight, that 58 chute is the right size for a 9-12 lb rocket, and the 50 is recommended for an 8 lb rocket! That cant be right for this rocket.
I havent flown an alitemter on this rocket, so I dont have a measured descent rate. But according to several descent rate calculators, its probably coming down at about 22 ft/s on the stock 58 flat parachute. Because that chute isnt working for me, I want a descent rate lower than 22 ft/s.
Spherachutes recommends their 66 chute for an 8 pound rocket, and a maximum of 72 (measured over the top, so the opening is actually about 45). But Im considering an 84. The calculator Im using predicts the descent rate as 20 ft/s on the 72 and 17 ft/s on the 84.
And last, a 60 Fruity Chutes elliptical has a predicted descent rate of 15.4 ft/s.
In the past, most of my rockets have been small enough that if I wanted a softer landing, I could just buy the next size chute, and it didnt cost much to give it a try. But this chute is likely to be expensive, so I want to get it right! I want it big enough for softer landings, but not so big its drifting away, and I dont want to pay extra for a chute bigger than what I need.
Any ideas on the descent rate I should be aiming for?
What descent rate should I be aiming for?
The stock chute is a flat 58 chute, similar to a Top Flight 58. According to Top Flight, that 58 chute is the right size for a 9-12 lb rocket, and the 50 is recommended for an 8 lb rocket! That cant be right for this rocket.
I havent flown an alitemter on this rocket, so I dont have a measured descent rate. But according to several descent rate calculators, its probably coming down at about 22 ft/s on the stock 58 flat parachute. Because that chute isnt working for me, I want a descent rate lower than 22 ft/s.
Spherachutes recommends their 66 chute for an 8 pound rocket, and a maximum of 72 (measured over the top, so the opening is actually about 45). But Im considering an 84. The calculator Im using predicts the descent rate as 20 ft/s on the 72 and 17 ft/s on the 84.
And last, a 60 Fruity Chutes elliptical has a predicted descent rate of 15.4 ft/s.
In the past, most of my rockets have been small enough that if I wanted a softer landing, I could just buy the next size chute, and it didnt cost much to give it a try. But this chute is likely to be expensive, so I want to get it right! I want it big enough for softer landings, but not so big its drifting away, and I dont want to pay extra for a chute bigger than what I need.
Any ideas on the descent rate I should be aiming for?