How Many Hybrid fliers are out there?

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Jclark

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It seems like whenever i go to a launch that i'm the only one flying hybrids. I fly both Hypertek, and Contrail motors ranging from J to L power; they seem to be crowd pleasers, but, it doesn't seem like many people fly them. I was just wondering how many hybrid fliers are out there, and what launches have the best turnout for Hybrids?
 
I occasionally "pass gas", as it were.

But Ivan Galysh is the most active flyer in the Northern Virginia area. He usually does a couple of J or K flights at the NOVAAR and Battle Park launches.

Mike Harris uses a lot of gas at the South Carolina launches.
 
I have a few hyrbids: A RATTworks H70, K240, and K350 Tribrid. I haven't used any in about three years. My biggest hangup seems to be my ground support equipment - either I have a stuck solenoid or my siphon tube came off again or my tank is empty. I love playing with the hybrids for the coolness factor.
 
I'm also the lone hybrid flier at my club. The crowd seems to like them, but no one else seems to have any interest in flying them. I have a wide selection of Contrail cases and so far have flown a H thru M, including a Hybrid to Hybrid 2-Stage.
 
I aspire to such greatness (really). Right now, I'm simply aspiring--flying only a single SRS H. Not lack of interest; other priorities really--I'll get back to it (have to to justify my Contrail 38s).

I'm also the lone hybrid flier at my club. The crowd seems to like them, but no one else seems to have any interest in flying them. I have a wide selection of Contrail cases and so far have flown a H thru M, including a Hybrid to Hybrid 2-Stage.
 
HyperTEK, RATTWorks and SkyRipper here.

We have a reasonable number of hybrid fliers at our club, but it helps that the club owns the GSE and some of our more active fliers use them.

I did just sell my HyperTEK M, as I don't see myself using it again, but will likely pick up the SRS 54mm set sometime soon.

-Kevin
 
I'm almost the only hybrid flier in my club. I'm good for one SRS 29mm or 38mm at each of our high power launches. I supply the GSE and I've given the nitrous to anyone who wants to fly. I've had a couple of people give it a try but no one else really flies them consistently.
 
Hypertek 54mm I, J, and K.

My challenge is that due to my work schedule, I only get to go to 1 or 2 HPR launches a year, and the two closest fields are 4 to 5 hours away. I always have a hard time deciding which rockets to take. There is also the challenge that one of the HPR fields has recently decided to bring only the GSE equipment and not the nitrous tank to the field, which then requires a hybrid flyer to supply their own nitrous tank. I don't have my own tank, and if I get one, that's yet another large, heavy, bulky item that has to be transported.

They are a hoot to fly, and spectators seem to love them.
 
The GSE that came to our launches years ago isn't available, but I have collected all the pieces I need for a new system. Just need time to put it all together.

Ratt Works H-70

Hypertek 54-300cc
Hypertek 54-440cc

Aerotech 54mm
Aerotech 98mm

John
 
I'm also the lone hybrid flier at my club.

That's not true Robert! I just haven't made it to a launch in a while. :)

Next month for sure- I've still got my SkyRipper K347 assembled from
the last NEFAR and TTRA launches where I didn't fly.
 
I have a few hyrbids: A RATTworks H70, K240, and K350 Tribrid. I haven't used any in about three years. My biggest hangup seems to be my ground support equipment - either I have a stuck solenoid or my siphon tube came off again or my tank is empty. I love playing with the hybrids for the coolness factor.

I understand that, i started out with Hypertek GSE. When i first got it, it did'nt work at all; two cold solder joints on the solenoid saver. Even after i fixed the problem, it still took me 4 atempts to light a J motor for my level 2. my GSE has gone through 2 revisions, and is extremely reliable now. Getting your GSE to work the way you want it to is a hobby in it self.

Jeremy
 
I understand that, i started out with Hypertek GSE. When i first got it, it did'nt work at all; two cold solder joints on the solenoid saver. Even after i fixed the problem, it still took me 4 atempts to light a J motor for my level 2. my GSE has gone through 2 revisions, and is extremely reliable now. Getting your GSE to work the way you want it to is a hobby in it self.

Jeremy


So is building the pads you launch from. ^_^
 
Until Aerotech returns their 54mm hybrid reloads to production (and recertifies them) I am an ex hybrid flyer.
 
Voltage drop is a real problem with the Hypertek set up, i only used it once before i re- designed the whole thing. My first revision was to install relays in the pad control box, and build a new launch control box, the system had push lock speaker terminals, and connected together with 500' of cat 5 wire. For my second revision, i swapped out the NOS fill solenoid for the Pratt Hobbies BFG; then, i took out the unnecessary solenoid saver. Doing some research i found some people designed their GSE to separate the oxygen control from the fire control; this makes a big difference, letting the oxygen flow a few seconds before you fire the ignitor. The motor lights almost instantly, saving the fill stem. I replaced the push button switch with a toggle switch, and replaced the speaker connectors with pc serial port connectors. That's the system i have used for the past three years; so far, it's been 100 % reliable.

Jeremy
 
Thanks.

Voltage drop is a real problem with the Hypertek set up, i only used it once before i re- designed the whole thing. My first revision was to install relays in the pad control box, and build a new launch control box, the system had push lock speaker terminals, and connected together with 500' of cat 5 wire. For my second revision, i swapped out the NOS fill solenoid for the Pratt Hobbies BFG; then, i took out the unnecessary solenoid saver. Doing some research i found some people designed their GSE to separate the oxygen control from the fire control; this makes a big difference, letting the oxygen flow a few seconds before you fire the ignitor. The motor lights almost instantly, saving the fill stem. I replaced the push button switch with a toggle switch, and replaced the speaker connectors with pc serial port connectors. That's the system i have used for the past three years; so far, it's been 100 % reliable.

Jeremy
 
At the two clubs I belong to I'm the only regular hybrid flier. Most launches I'll fly hybrids exclusively. I have the SRS 38mm set and 54mm set in addition to my own motors.

I've had a lot of fliers take me up on demos of my motors and flights of the SRS motors, but so far no one has become a regular flier.

I personally like the ease of flying them and the performance.

Edward
 
Hybrids is one of the areas I really want to explore. I have not done so yet because I am still working on more basic skills and because this is an area where I think I could benefit from some hands on guidance. There is none to be had around me. I hope that will change.
 
Unfortunately, because so few of us fly hybrids it's hard to find help at a launch. I have had to learn it pretty much on my own. It helps a lot to have a good electrical, and mechanical background, that is how i have been able to trouble shoot and fix some of the problems i have had.

Jeremy
 
Unfortunately, because so few of us fly hybrids it's hard to find help at a launch. I have had to learn it pretty much on my own. It helps a lot to have a good electrical, and mechanical background, that is how i have been able to trouble shoot and fix some of the problems i have had.

Yes, it's definitely easier if you have someone to learn from!

I learned monotube hybrids on my own; when our club bought HyperTEK GSE, we were fortunate to have someone from a nearby club who was willing to come up and teach us how to use that system.

-Kevin
 
Never see them in this area. No one in the club flies them. As a consequence, I have never witnessed a hybrid launch in the 6 years since I joined the BAR. My only awareness of them is virtual.

Mark K.
 
I am very fond of my hybrid motors.

Here is my favorite picture sequence.

_mg_9337_300.jpg


_mg_9338_300.jpg
 
We have a few hybrid fliers in our club(TripoliSC)..One used to be(maybe still is) a Hypertek dealer..Been interested in trying hybrids, just haven't gotten around to it..They certainly make a distinctive sound when launched, that's for sure!
 
I'm going to be flying a hybrid for the first time at LDRS, I have a Rattworks J160 I'm putting in an extended PML Gamma.
 
At the ROC Launches (Including LDRS) we get good support from a dedicated Hybrid Vendor, Ron from Black Dog Rocketry https://www.blkdgrkty.com/. I have 4 different hybrid rockets I plan to launch at LDRS, from a Ratt H to a Hypertek M.
 
Edward, are Alpha Hybrid motors pre-filled? If so, doesn't that really cut down on the GSE that is needed?

MK
 
Edward, are Alpha Hybrid motors pre-filled? If so, doesn't that really cut down on the GSE that is needed?

MK

Yes - Ed's Alpha Hybrids are prefilled. They burn really nicely too - I prefer them (just from having watched Ed launch several of them - I haven't flown any) to most hybrids.
 
Yes - Ed's Alpha Hybrids are prefilled. They burn really nicely too - I prefer them (just from having watched Ed launch several of them - I haven't flown any) to most hybrids.
I'm intrigued. :)

Another reason to get Level 2. :D


MK - currently at L0 :rolleyes:
 
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