I had the chance to do some flying with a prototype Chute Release this past weekend, and put it into the air 10 times in three different models. Two of them were BT-60 (1.60 inch/40.6mm ID) based models (Estes Vagabond and Big Bertha – both with plastic ‘chutes) and one has a 1.75 inch/44.5mm inside diameter body (Semroc SLS Aero Dart – nylon ‘chute).
The user interface for the Chute Release is super simple, just as described on the Jolly Logic site
here. To actually pack the parachutes with the release I basically just folded it as I would have normally, then laid the device on the middle of it, and pulled the rubber band around the other side, plugging the release fitting into its receiving socket on the left side of the CR. I did need to fold the ‘chute a bit more tightly so that the package could slide into (and later out of) the model easily enough. The last step is to turn the device on before putting the package into the rocket. Don’t forget this step!
See attached pictures for some examples.
Each of the ten flights also carried an AltimeterThree so I would have altitude vs. time data from each flight to go along with what I could see from the ground. Between the three models I flew the CR to between about 300 feet (Big Bertha on a C6-5 carrying both devices) and 1100 feet (SLS Aero Dart on Estes F15-6s). On all but one flight I had the release set at 200 feet. One of the four Aero Dart flights was set to release at 300 feet. The AltimeterThree graph from that Aero Dart flight, on an Estes F15-6, is attached as well. The knee in the time/altitude curve is very evident.
On every flight, the chute/CR package was ejected as it should be. On eight of them, the ‘chute was released as programmed, with the AltimeterThree data showing the ‘chute as opening fully around 50 feet below the set altitude. Beautiful (and fun to watch). This was clearly shown in the data from the AltimeterThree aboard. I had one non-release – on my second attempt to use the CR - which is why I emphasized TURN IT ON above.
The other flight in which the CR didn’t do its thing was a spectacular Estes E9-6 CATO in which the propellant/delay grain blew out the front of the rocket (and what was left of the motor blew out the back) shortly after liftoff. The A3 on that flight (safely in the payload section) showed an apogee of 48 feet. The ‘chute was melted and separated from the CR and the CR itself was blackened a bit, but that’s all from the CATO. That was the fourth flight of the 10, so you can see that the CR was unfazed by being briefly flame broiled, though it’s not as pretty as it was.
I did get it to false trigger on the ground once. After the I-forgot-to-turn-it-on flight I did a little field repair to the top of the Vagabond’s body tube with some thin CA, and the payload section fit got kind of snug as a result. I put it on and pulled it off a couple of times trying to get the fit to loosen a bit. In the process of doing that I heard the CR release inside the model, so clearly I managed to fake it out this way. At that point I added a small vent hole to the body of the model to avoid that in the future. I put one in the Aero Dart as well – the Big Bertha already had static ports for use with altimeters tied to the nose cone.
By the way, after the 10 flights the battery in the Chute release was still indicating fully charged. The time stamps on the AltimeterThree files show that I did those flights over the course of a little over two and a half hours.
The possibilities that this gadget opens up for models from about 1.6 inches in diameter on up are really intriguing. One that I’m personally excited about is fulfilling my goal to fly a mile high on a fairly small model (no level 2 cert needed). I am not too eager to get into all that one has to in order to do dual deployment (getting black powder, LEUP, etc., etc.) and I was wondering about how I was going to have a reasonable chance of getting the model back (even if I get my EggFinder built and installed). Now I have the answer. For another half-ounce I have a simple, reliable way to deploy the main at 500 feet or 300 feet. I might have to take the drag hit for a larger diameter (rather than being able to go minimum diameter on 29mm motors) but that will be a worthwhile trade I think.
Another is being able to fly higher on our regular club field and still stay reliably ON the field. Based on these first 10 flights, I think we could comfortably fly to 1.5 to two times as high as we normally would allow, depending on winds of the day. Plus the whole cool factor of having the effect of dual deployment that’s this simple to do and fun to watch in action is pretty exciting.
