1/4a observation

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Long_Gone

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I noticed an A10-4T engine today had a larger diameter nozzle that all the others and the igniter plug fell out, so jammed tissue paper in. The engine was placed in my mini stealth (awesome flier) and it flew like it was shot out of a cannon! NONE of the other engine exhibited the behavior on both 1/4 A10 or 1/4 A3. Strange. Thought it was worth sharing, maybe nothing seeing that it did not blow out the nozzle.
 
Negative on what? Which part of my post (or of the thrust curve data) do you disagree with?
 
Here are some photos
 

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A10s have been CATOing recently. This is not normal. And the nozzle is bigger than the A3 by design. That's why you use the orange plug for the A3 and the green plug for the A10.
 
Anyway these are sketchy to say the least!!! That is two out of a pack. The first was not a complete cato the second was I have more!!!!!!!! Do we tempt fate and see what happens maybe we get some more reports to file....auaagh!!!!!
 
Anyway these are sketchy to say the least!!! That is two out of a pack. The first was not a complete cato the second was I have more!!!!!!!! Do we tempt fate and see what happens maybe we get some more reports to file....auaagh!!!!!



Are you still jamming tissue paper in the nozzle?
 
Are you still jamming tissue paper in the nozzle?
Only if I need to usually a last resort BUT that is how I have done it for ever, just a tiny ball slid in gently with a tickler of a toothpick.

On a side note I was looking at The MESS report's chart and something happened in 2013 that is when there were a uptick in cato's and it just got worse from there.
So what did Estes do starting in 2013 that is causing failures at this rate?

Are they testing enough samples per batch?

Are they listening and making adjustments to correct the issue or are they pumping out engines and taking the cato hit on the chin when a tiny fraction makes an report or contacts them?


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