6 inch V-2

The tailcone greatly reduces base drag; improving stability.

JD

crossfire said:

I just don't get the no nose weight part???? Any other short rocket we always have added nose weight. I guess time will tell when I get mine in the air.

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How does reducing base drag increase stability? I would expect the reverse to be true.

Gerald

G_T said:

How does reducing base drag increase stability? I would expect the reverse to be true.

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+1.

JDcluster said:

The tailcone greatly reduces base drag; improving stability.

JD

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While it is true that the base drag is greatly reduced on a V2 as a result of its tail cone, it contributes no stability increase as a result of the base drag reduction. What does contribute to increase the V2 stability is the increase in fin area and the increase in aerodynamic stability, resulting from the shape of the aft section of the V2 airframe. However, because there is no vane controlled thrust vectoring in a V2 model rocket of any scale, it is important to use motors with a high thrust/fast burn rate to rapidly get the airframe up to speed, so that the aerodynamic stability effect of the boat tail can become effective.

To compensate for the need for immediate speed needed for a stable V2 lift off, nose weight is often used to increase stability. Add to much weight and you get a less than straight lift off, sometimes with a pronounced arc...IMO, most of the design/simulation programs we use are somewhat deficient when it comes determining stability of the V2. As a result, getting it right on the money is mostly by trial and error and will very, depending on the initial thrust of the motor used with each flight. Your millage may very.