RocketTree
Well-Known Member
I built a fleet of 4 inch rockets, with Aerotech style exhaust baffle (steel mesh). All have 29mm motor mounts. Recovery is 48 inch nylon chute, 25 feet Aerotech style knit elastic shock cord, and NOMEX cloth. I should point out, this is the first time I have used a Nomex cloth.
Launched with a G38-4 last weekend on a first test flight to 500 feet. Nose cone separated as it should, but the Nomex+chute+cord stayed in the body tube..... and became a big lawn dart right above us.
The chute and cord were folded as normal inside the Nomex cloth "cup", and could be easily dumped out if the rocket was turned upside down - which makes me think it was not stuck.
During flight, the ejection charge lightly popped the nose cone off at apogee, but thats it. No laundry.
The Nomex had no sign of burn/residue and no exhaust scent to it after deployment. Pulled out the steel mesh, the bottom half was coated with black, while the top half of the mesh was as clean as new.
This brings me to my question - is NOMEX + Mesh Baffle TOO MUCH protection?
Launched with a G38-4 last weekend on a first test flight to 500 feet. Nose cone separated as it should, but the Nomex+chute+cord stayed in the body tube..... and became a big lawn dart right above us.
The chute and cord were folded as normal inside the Nomex cloth "cup", and could be easily dumped out if the rocket was turned upside down - which makes me think it was not stuck.
During flight, the ejection charge lightly popped the nose cone off at apogee, but thats it. No laundry.
The Nomex had no sign of burn/residue and no exhaust scent to it after deployment. Pulled out the steel mesh, the bottom half was coated with black, while the top half of the mesh was as clean as new.
This brings me to my question - is NOMEX + Mesh Baffle TOO MUCH protection?