Please, please, DO NOT provide examples from other fliers. No "I saw this happen to a friend" or similar. I'm looking for those who can say "it happened to ME" (and the circumstances).
Background: Estes rockets that have the metal engine hook also include a cardboard engine block. Redundancy is fine, but.... the biggest Estes motors have a maximum thrust of 30-35 N, less than eight pounds. I don't know about you-all (yinz, you-uns), but though my fingers aren't very strong they can apply well over eight pounds of force. But I still can't bend the forward end of the hook with bare fingers. It takes a pair of pliers (and more than a few pounds!) to straighten that hook enough to allow the motor to slide by it.
So...if you've had an Estes motor that straightened out the front of the hook enough to let the motor shoot up through the rocket, I'd like to hear the account. (Was the hook installed correctly? Other specifics?)
Best,
Terry
FWIW I routinely flatten the forward end of the hook with pliers and leave the engine block off entirely. Because I may use McMotors-brand motors, some of which are longer than Estes'
Background: Estes rockets that have the metal engine hook also include a cardboard engine block. Redundancy is fine, but.... the biggest Estes motors have a maximum thrust of 30-35 N, less than eight pounds. I don't know about you-all (yinz, you-uns), but though my fingers aren't very strong they can apply well over eight pounds of force. But I still can't bend the forward end of the hook with bare fingers. It takes a pair of pliers (and more than a few pounds!) to straighten that hook enough to allow the motor to slide by it.
So...if you've had an Estes motor that straightened out the front of the hook enough to let the motor shoot up through the rocket, I'd like to hear the account. (Was the hook installed correctly? Other specifics?)
Best,
Terry
FWIW I routinely flatten the forward end of the hook with pliers and leave the engine block off entirely. Because I may use McMotors-brand motors, some of which are longer than Estes'