Go Devil 54 for L1/L2 cert questions

Mendal said:

....<anipiped>...Even if you put a GPS tracker on this you are going to run into some major issues tracking as this rocket can easily surpass the lockout speed of basically all commercially available GPS systems. I would suggest not only dual deploy but redundant electronics for deploy ment and plan for GPS and Radio trackers..<snipped>....

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Hmmm, while true that you may temporarily lose lock, it returns once the rocket slows down near apogee. I have flown several different GPS trackers, as have many others, well past Mach 2 and have had no issues getting back my rockets. I routinely fly 38mm MD rockets to 15K' and above with just a single Featherweight GPS tracker and walk right up to them. I used to do the same thing with simple RDF trackers but it took a lot longer to find them. While a backup never hurts, I think one good tracker will be plenty.


Tony

OverTheTop said:

I agree. The same path is not a requirement. It does depend on the person. Personally I jumped from D motors to L1 (certified on an I). It is a path that should not be taken lightly, but if well-considered and with some decent background (people and/or engineering theory) it is not out of the question. As long as they are not on the extreme left of the Dunning-Kruger curve they should know what path is sensible.
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I did the same thing, my first ever flight above a D motor was dual deploy with an R-DAS compact (which I still have and fly), my third HPR flight was my L2 at LDRS 21 (2002) near Amarillo. I didn't get my L3 until over a decade later, in 2013 at BALLS. I don't feel that my 'rush' to L2 in any way hindered my knowledge or ability, I was very deliberate in studying many different websites and posts on build techniques and electronics. (Back then thought lot was on Usenet - rec.models.rockets anyone?)

As long as there is no rules prohibition against it, flyers should be able to choose their own path. For those with limited time, budget, or flying opportunities, I see nothing wrong with getting there in just a few flights.


Tony

Mendal said:

Even if you put a GPS tracker on this you are going to run into some major issues tracking as this rocket can easily surpass the lockout speed of basically all commercially available GPS systems.

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GPS system these days are quite good. A recent flight of mine to M2.14 lost GPS lock for 4.5 seconds during boost. Not a major concern.

I’m going to go against the grain. Do your certs on the rocket you want to fly. What is the point of having a whole extra rocket and using up motor money on something you have no interest in? If low and slow is your thing then awesome, go for it. If MD vanishing acts float your boat, make those.

You’re going to have a steeper learning curve and you’re definitely going to want tracking for the L2 flight. If you accept those, go for it. If you want to go down this path check Jim’s darkstar thread sticky, he has a post with excellent design for a motor adaptor for MD rockets. I’d copy the crap out of that if I were you.

I did my L2 on a 2” fiberglass rocket with a J420, have also flown it on G, H, I motors and a J825. G, H and I flights were easy to track, J vanished passing 3000 feet but an Eggfinder helped me walk right up to it.