An "R"-powered rocket build

The Rocketry Forum

Help Support The Rocketry Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Status
Not open for further replies.
Well yesterday was a good day.

The reason I backed off the project was the R motor. Pat G smartly stepped back due to his plate (as always) being full and then some. I realized I don't have the years of practice needed to build and test successive motors on up to an R.

Yesterday a couple of very experienced rocket motor guys came to the house. They are on the road right now and I don't have permission to give names. However after a lengthy discussion yesterday it became obvious that they are quite capable of producing the R motor needed for this rocket. One of them can't actually build due to other aerospace agreements but one of them if given time certainly has the skills to produce up to a mid R motor.

The plan will be for me to transfer the 10' motor casings, liners and casting sleeves to this gentleman.

BALLS 2020 is the immediate goal. The motor builder will provide full support meaning he shows up at BALLS with the R motor after full approval through the Tripoli C3RC review process. After the flight he takes the casing back for cleaning and prep for a future launch.

A man must know his limitations and I know mine. I can build a great rocket especially with engineers (and many of you!) providing input and corrections. However I don't have the required knowledge of propellant formulation and actual mixing to do the motor on my own. I don't (yet) have the ability to converse with the C3RC team on motor formulations with enough knowledge to get the proper approvals. The C3RC takes this stuff very serious as they should.

However with an expert motor builder I know we can get through the C3RC process correctly. The rocket is solid and I'm looking forward to getting it through the C3RC.

The only things I sold that need to be replaced are the electronics and the recovery harness. Easy to do in the months ahead.

If this rocket and motor flies successfully we will then look at a 16" G-12 airframed rocket with an S motor.

I've learned a great deal in the past year and will continue to do so.

This is an AWESOME thread and for the first time a very big rocket was built from scratch using inputs of dozens of you. Trust me there are many old-timers out there who haven't approved of my approach. I respect their discontent however I also know a team approach produces superior results 100% of the time. There's a reason the airlines, shipping, railroads, hospitals and many other fields are utilizing a team approach to the decision-making process. As an airline Captain trust me the past three decades have drastically changed how I arrive at the smartest decisions especially when hundreds of lives are in the balance.

So we move forward with strength! As always I'm open to ideas and corrections. I don't know it all. But there is a 22' foot rocket sitting on a world-class launch trailer built by THE Levi Seaton that is aching to stretch it's legs. It's exciting to know a new path has opened for this to happen.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Chuck C.
 
Cool, love to see it actually happen. Can you give us any info on the motor itself? Understand if that's gotta be held tight for now..
 
Last edited:
Hopefully, the "new rocket motor guys" will see an uptick in their luck as well. Looking forward to seeing this fly.

Jim
 
Cool, love to see it actually happen. Can you give us any info on the motor itself? Understand if that's gotta be held tight for now..

Yes it's not going to be a "showy" motor. It's going to be designed using modern methods for producing the most power. Using these methods a 10' casing should be able to produce upwards of a mid-R.

Chuck C.
 
Reopened at poster request but keep it civil and within the rules.

Chuck,

Never fear . . . I intend to instantly report any "snarky" posts, immediately !

Dave F.

Well yesterday was a good day.

The reason I backed off the project was the R motor. Pat G smartly stepped back due to his plate (as always) being full and then some. I realized I don't have the years of practice needed to build and test successive motors on up to an R.

Yesterday a couple of very experienced rocket motor guys came to the house. They are on the road right now and I don't have permission to give names. However after a lengthy discussion yesterday it became obvious that they are quite capable of producing the R motor needed for this rocket. One of them can't actually build due to other aerospace agreements but one of them if given time certainly has the skills to produce up to a mid R motor.

The plan will be for me to transfer the 10' motor casings, liners and casting sleeves to this gentleman.

BALLS 2020 is the immediate goal. The motor builder will provide full support meaning he shows up at BALLS with the R motor after full approval through the Tripoli C3RC review process. After the flight he takes the casing back for cleaning and prep for a future launch.

A man must know his limitations and I know mine. I can build a great rocket especially with engineers (and many of you!) providing input and corrections. However I don't have the required knowledge of propellant formulation and actual mixing to do the motor on my own. I don't (yet) have the ability to converse with the C3RC team on motor formulations with enough knowledge to get the proper approvals. The C3RC takes this stuff very serious as they should.

However with an expert motor builder I know we can get through the C3RC process correctly. The rocket is solid and I'm looking forward to getting it through the C3RC.

The only things I sold that need to be replaced are the electronics and the recovery harness. Easy to do in the months ahead.

If this rocket and motor flies successfully we will then look at a 16" G-12 airframed rocket with an S motor.

I've learned a great deal in the past year and will continue to do so.

This is an AWESOME thread and for the first time a very big rocket was built from scratch using inputs of dozens of you. Trust me there are many old-timers out there who haven't approved of my approach. I respect their discontent however I also know a team approach produces superior results 100% of the time. There's a reason the airlines, shipping, railroads, hospitals and many other fields are utilizing a team approach to the decision-making process. As an airline Captain trust me the past three decades have drastically changed how I arrive at the smartest decisions especially when hundreds of lives are in the balance.

So we move forward with strength! As always I'm open to ideas and corrections. I don't know it all. But there is a 22' foot rocket sitting on a world-class launch trailer built by THE Levi Seaton that is aching to stretch it's legs. It's exciting to know a new path has opened for this to happen.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Chuck C.

Chuck,

What a great "Christmas Present" . . . I am eagerly anticipating the successful completion of this project !

Merry Christmas, Sir !

Dave F.

STEELY-EYED MISSILE MEN - AVATAR.jpg

Yes it's not going to be a "showy" motor. It's going to be designed using modern methods for producing the most power. Using these methods a 10' casing should be able to produce upwards of a mid-R.

Chuck C.

Chuck,

With all of that in mind, re-simming, after Motor Static Testing is highly-advised. With the substantial power increase, the fins should be re-evaluated to assess their flutter stability.

Is there a "checklist" of items left to be completed and /or tested ( i,e, - Charge Cannons, Electronics testing, etc. ) ?

Dave F.

STEELY-EYED MISSILE MEN - AVATAR.jpg

Yes it’s gonna soar....

Andrew,

With the projected power increase, we will need to re-evaluate the Fins for Flutter Resistance . . . I may have a source for the type of analysis program you had previous access to, or similar.

Dave F.

STEELY-EYED MISSILE MEN - AVATAR.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Yes it's not going to be a "showy" motor. It's going to be designed using modern methods for producing the most power. Using these methods a 10' casing should be able to produce upwards of a mid-R.

Chuck C.
Funny seeing the ' in lieu of the " when referecing motors.
 
If the rocket doesn’t exceed current flutter Mach after new motor data is collected I don’t see a need to sim it again. However if another flutter sim is needed I still have access to finsim v4.53.
 
If the rocket doesn’t exceed current flutter Mach after new motor data is collected I don’t see a need to sim it again. However if another flutter sim is needed I still have access to finsim v4.53.

Hi, Andrew !

Initially, we were anticipating a 6% "R" motor AND we never had an "All-Up" weight for the rocket. With the latest update, the end result could be a 50% + "R" motor. Depending on "Real World Testing", whenever that is performed, velocities could, likely, be considerably higher than previously anticipated.

Merry Christmas !

Dave F.

STEELY-EYED MISSILE MEN - AVATAR.jpg
 
Last edited:
Sounds like you have some really qualified folks in your corner. Much smarter than me. My concern is aft case heating that could cause case failure around the nozzle due to heat transfer from the nozzle to the case.
Also I understand that multiple firings and case heating can compromise strength. I witnessed a 6 inch O motor blow off the aft end of the case after 4 successful firings. Fifth firing and the case gave way above the nozzle before the rocket left the pad so there wasn’t an erratic or dangerous flight. Actually, went up the rail, got off the end, tipped over on the ground all the while the flaming grains were falling out slowly under the auspices of gravity. Consumed the aft end of the rocket and burned a tire off the launch trailer! Entertaining actually except for the builder. :confused:
Since you mention you have the assistance of aerospace engineers that should cover your bases. All the best.
Kurt Savegnago
 
Back on topic . . .

Chuck,

Whenever you get a chance, please update current status, including any outstanding items, tasks, or testing to be completed.

Thank you & Happy New Year, sir !

Dave F.

STEELY-EYED MISSILE MEN - AVATAR.jpg
 
It’s actually kinda fun to think about The Black Rock.

Such a great place to fly when conditions are perfect.

Not having to invest a lot of time and energy into the motor building is awesome. Just concentrate on the rocket.

Pretty cool.

Chuck C.
 
Ok we may not see the same intensity of building this rocket as we saw earlier but we're still going to enjoy some intensity.

I also will be posting some questions inviting comment.

Took the rocket apart this morning to begin work.

The pics show first off the motor casing. It really is a beautiful piece of work.

The next pics are how I want to attach the airframe to each end of the Avionics Bay. Decided to go with a bolt setup that allows you to epoxy the holding nut inside the Av Bay.

I didn't space the stringers inside the Av Bay perfectly so I'm going to have to figure out how to space the 8 retaining bolts on each end so they don't hit one of the stringers. That will take some thinking lol.

Chuck C.

IMG_5478[1].JPG IMG_5483[1].JPG IMG_5484[1].JPG IMG_5485[1].JPG
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top