I recently moved from northern California to Massachusetts. We could argue the merits, and whether I am crazy to move to the cold weather, but I have discovered some major differences from a rocketry perspective. The biggest difference is field size and trees. In California I flew with LUNAR, TCC, and Aeropac. There, we had much bigger fields to fly in, all the way to Nevada's Black Rock Desert, which is seemingly endless. In these fields we I could have a rocket drift a mile or more without any issues. So, I rarely did dual deploy for rockets going less than a mile, and I have even flown dual deploy up to 7K ft. Also, we had higher waivers. 15k at my local clubs, 100k+ at Black Rock. So, I used to like flying minimum diameter, high flying/fast rockets.
Now that I am in Mass, the local club (CMASS) has an undersized field with a 5k waiver, and a slightly farther club (MMMSC) has a 10k waiver. In addition, they have trees, so the "penalty" for a rocket drifting off too far is much higher. Therefore, they use dual deploy, often for rockets going only 2k-3k ft. They also don't fly as high. With my existing fleet, I can't fly bigger than an I at CMASS' field, and maybe a K at MMMSC.
So, I have been thinking what to do. Clearly I need a rocket that is dual deploy and won't go as high on a big motor. But I also want something that is easy to set up and fly. I also hate very heavy rockets, since I am usually carrying them back myself.
So, I decided my best bet would be a Polecat 7.5" thumper, 75mm mount, AV bay option.
I ordered the kit from Mike at Bay Area Rocketry, and I am planning to start the build over the holidays.
Now that I am in Mass, the local club (CMASS) has an undersized field with a 5k waiver, and a slightly farther club (MMMSC) has a 10k waiver. In addition, they have trees, so the "penalty" for a rocket drifting off too far is much higher. Therefore, they use dual deploy, often for rockets going only 2k-3k ft. They also don't fly as high. With my existing fleet, I can't fly bigger than an I at CMASS' field, and maybe a K at MMMSC.
So, I have been thinking what to do. Clearly I need a rocket that is dual deploy and won't go as high on a big motor. But I also want something that is easy to set up and fly. I also hate very heavy rockets, since I am usually carrying them back myself.
So, I decided my best bet would be a Polecat 7.5" thumper, 75mm mount, AV bay option.
- Large diameter=drag, low altitude on big motors
- Cardboard/plywood = low weight (compared to say a Gizmo XL)
- Dual deploy
- Capable of flying a range of motors - J to M, maybe a large I depending on final weight
- Reasonable cost
I ordered the kit from Mike at Bay Area Rocketry, and I am planning to start the build over the holidays.
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