7.5" Iris Build

[vahpr]

Been a while since I built a rocket and I admit, I had totally forgotten how much work is involved Trying to get the sustainer ready for Red Glare 10/23/10. If the removable fins hold up to the 15k ns N on the 1st flight, I'll detail it and do a semi-scale 6 motor booster for spring. That'll be cool but 1st things 1st.....

Anyhoo, it's here:

http://www.vahpr.com/VAHPR/7.5%22_Ir...uild_Blog.html

As always, comments are welcome,

Jerry O

[vahpr]

Hey guys,

Lot's of new (for me) techniques in this part, but the Iris is coming along nicely and is definitely starting to resemble a rocket.

http://www.vahpr.com/VAHPR/Iris_Buil...s_Build_3.html

So, on the external fin mounts, what do you think, should I miter the alum on the fin side or leave it square?

[vahpr]

humm...link issues??

http://www.vahpr.com/VAHPR/Iris_Buil...s_Build_3.html

or just follow the blog or gallery on www.vahpr.com, sorry.....

Jerry O

[MaxQ]

Hey guys,

Lot's of new (for me) techniques in this part, but the Iris is coming along nicely and is definitely starting to resemble a rocket.

http://www.vahpr.com/VAHPR/Iris_Buil...s_Build_3.html

So, on the external fin mounts, what do you think, should I miter the alum on the fin side or leave it square?

Well, it will be a beaut, whichever method you choose.

(whatever you choose to do...just don't give it to Ben when you're done flying it ).

Welcome Jerry!
Good to see (er...hear from) you again.

[vahpr]

(whatever you choose to do...just don't give it to Ben when you're done flying it ).

Heehee -roger that I give him credit though, he worked hard to do repairs and had a couple good flights if I recall.....

Jerry

[THarrison]

Looking great Jerry! Can't wait to see it fly!

Todd

[AZ_Ron]

What's that Jerry?? Possible 2-stage flight on this thing in the Spring??
Darren W. invited my wife and I to visit him in Delaware... We're planning on coming out to visit and attend Red Glare in April! We're VERY excited about heading out that way. I've never been to a launch east of Arizona!
Will be awesome to meet folks I've know for years, but have never had the opportunity to meet in person.

R

[daveyfire]

Great to see you back on the horse, Jerry! Can't wait to see the flight next weekend.

Darren W. invited my wife and I to visit him in Delaware... We're planning on coming out to visit and attend Red Glare in April! We're VERY excited about heading out that way. I've never been to a launch east of Arizona!

Oh SWEET Ron... see you THERE!

[THarrison]

What's that Jerry?? Possible 2-stage flight on this thing in the Spring??
Darren W. invited my wife and I to visit him in Delaware... We're planning on coming out to visit and attend Red Glare in April! We're VERY excited about heading out that way. I've never been to a launch east of Arizona!
Will be awesome to meet folks I've know for years, but have never had the opportunity to meet in person.

R

[vahpr]

Ah, so you'll be staying at castle (and I really mean CASTLE) Wright, very cool

Yep, I'm planning to 2 stage it for April Red Glare. I'd originally thought to go w/6 54x2000s, get the bt to about 1 sec with a big core, but Darren tells me the AT I-1299s are proving reliable. Cesaroni might be an option too and using 38's has a couple advantages, namely room for a bigger dia central parachute tube and overall ease of use, not to mention not having to cast all those 54s...

But I don't want to get ahead of myself, this thing has to survive the 1st flight next weekend.

Dave and Todd, good to see you'll be joining the fun! I'll be wanting to hear your 1st hand accounts of Balls..........

Jerry O

What's that Jerry?? Possible 2-stage flight on this thing in the Spring??
Darren W. invited my wife and I to visit him in Delaware...

R

[vahpr]

Couldn't resist a little preview.....those painted tubes were the upper section of my old Sandhawk which I didn't donate to the young rocketeer's fund.......

Jerry

[seanmca79]

Will be awesome to meet folks I've know for years, but have never had the opportunity to meet in person.

R

Awesome! I'll be there.

[vahpr]

Hey guys, part 4 of the build is up at:

http://www.vahpr.com/VAHPR/7.5%22_Ir...Iris_Blog.html

T Minus 3 days........time flys!!!!

[bobkrech]

Looks great Jerry. Sure it will fly great too.

Bob

[MaxQ]

Looked good to me.

Your airplane had no landing gear.
Think I know why.

[vahpr]

Yea, very pleased with the flight, lots of unknowns, especially the motor, but all worked well. Pics at http://www.vahpr.com/VAHPR/7.5%22_Ir...Iris_Blog.html and I'll cut and post the video tonight. The new HD cam caught excellent on-board footage and very little roll makes it more watchable I think.

Yea, the landing gear - well, all I can say is that the plane looked strangely cool without them - almost like a Cessna 172 RG, and belly landing it with that breeze was absolutely a non-issue. Good HD footage there as well, a gyro on the ailerons really smoothed things out. Coming soon..........

Jerry O

Looked good to me.

Your airplane had no landing gear.
Think I know why.

[vahpr]

Well, glad that went well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0cA0yMKD4U

[GregGleason]

Nicely done and congrats!

What is the story on the RC/video-cam aircraft? Is that to help locate rockets that go beyond tree lines?

Greg

[vahpr]

Hey Greg,

Thanks! The camera plane might be useful for rocket location, but I use it primarily for aerial footage at events as it adds a cool perspective to the video.

Recently I used it to augment an RC Float Fly video: http://www.vimeo.com/13751311
and the July 4 fireworks at Great Meadow, Va
http://www.vimeo.com/13227298 where Bill Schworer and I have been on the crew for the past few years

A system I own but have not yet installed will allow "FPV" - first person view, where you pilot the plane by means of a video downlink. This would be very useful for "search and rescue" missions I think, and I'm looking forward to experimenting with it,

Jerry

Nicely done and congrats!

What is the story on the RC/video-cam aircraft? Is that to help locate rockets that go beyond tree lines?

Greg

[bsexton]

Your building techniques are impeccable to say the least -- looking good and congratulations on the flight at Red Glare.

[ben_ullman]

congrats on the flight Jerry. I saw it but didnt get to catch up with you.

Ben

[vahpr]

Thanks Bruce, Ben. Ben I meant to see you about some stuff you were unloading, but I think it had already been spoken for - if not, shoot me an email, Thanks!!!

[vahpr]

Red Glare X "N" flight video

was a 115mm 15k ns white, need to shroud that on-board cam next time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br9PkImDLEA

[GregGleason]

Red Glare X "N" flight video

was a 115mm 15k ns white, need to shroud that on-board cam next time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br9PkImDLEA

Nice ride!

What video equipment did you use?

Greg

[THarrison]

Great flight Jerry! Can't wait for the two stage!

[vahpr]

You too Todd, can't believe how fast Shake Weight (I still laugh just saying that) took off.

Greg, the on-board is a Contour 1080p helmet cam - the extreme sports guys use 'em. The only downside (if you can call it that) is it's a .mov file that Windows editors have problems with - cant be read by Vegas 9 and earlier or WMM....

[ben_ullman]

great flight Jerry! As usual! did you sand the inside of the tube this time?! I remember the sandhawk kept popping fillets!

Ben

[vahpr]

Ben, Ben, Ben, clearly you haven't followed the build article - there's no glue in this thing, the fins are removeable!! No more sanding interiors or popping fillets! LOL

great flight Jerry! As usual! did you sand the inside of the tube this time?! I remember the sandhawk kept popping fillets!

Ben

[ben_ullman]

Ben, Ben, Ben, clearly you haven't followed the build article - there's no glue in this thing, the fins are removeable!! No more sanding interiors or popping fillets! LOL

OH! I see how you set it up now. I thought you still glued the internal struture! Very nice! So in essence you can have whatever motor combo you want!

Ben

[vahpr]

Yes, although for practicality I limited it to 4.5" and below motors. 6" is nice, I still have a 30k ns, but on this rocket that's going over 15k', scratching the waiver and more importantly making recovery a potential hassle. Now if I lived in Kansas or Texas............