60 Acres Park, Redmond, WA (Seattle area)

[4regt4]

Flew my Big Mamma today for the second time. Got some great onboard video from my Runcam, first time I’ve used it, very impressive quality. Just taped it to one fin.


I knew the swivels that I had on hand wouldn’t be strong enough,so I used two - and they still broke! Partially because the shock cord tangled so it was too short. I’ll be reexamining how I do this. But nothing busted, so all good!
Videography by Alex and Runcam.

What size swivels are they? I'm finishing up one, and wondering if I undersized the swivels.

Hans.

 

[DirkTheDaring]

Looks like you all had a great time. A little cold for me. I'll wait for warmer weather.

I was pretty worried about that, but with the sun out it felt a lot warmer than I expected. I was in shirtsleeves most of the time.

 

[DirkTheDaring]

What size swivels are they? I'm finishing up one, and wondering if I undersized the swivels.

Hans.

several different sizes, sorry I don't know the specs. I've ordered these in 220 pound size and now I'm worried that won't be enough - but the solution is a longer shock cord packed carefully so that it does not tangle. I'm not so good at that. Also I may go to separate parachutes. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07FN2Q9B5?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1&psc=1

 

[DirkTheDaring]

I saw that fly from across the field and thought it was a 2-stage that didn't light. The separation was majestic with the upper body tube heading straight up.

Did you Z-fold the shock cord when you put it in the body tube? That has always saved me from big tangles.

I wandered over in your direction but just then I think you were chasing a rocket so I never did say "hi". I have a lot of trouble with long shock cord, what is this Z fold you speak of? Thanks.

 

[DirkTheDaring]

Nice videos!
Maybe the Richter Recker should be called the Richter Wrecker?
Nice flight of Yung Un's Nuke. Love them goonies.
The Shipping Tube shipped to another zip code.
Beautiful flight and glide of the SOT. Good job on the trim.

The Wrecker it is for sure! And thank you.

 

[boatgeek]

I wandered over in your direction but just then I think you were chasing a rocket so I never did say "hi". I have a lot of trouble with long shock cord, what is this Z fold you speak of? Thanks.

It's surprisingly hard to come up with a picture or video for Z-folding. The best I can explain it, you spread your fingers and thumb of your non-dominant hand out as far as possible. Think a shaka sign but with your fingers not folded in. Lead the shock cord past your thumb, then over to your pinky finger, then back to your thumb, etc. You're leading the shock cord away from you very time you take a half turn around your finger or thumb. That makes the shock cord cross itself every time it crosses your palm. That keeps it all from tangling when it comes out of the rocket. If that doesn't make sense, then I can take some pictures/video.

 

[DerRedMax]

several different sizes, sorry I don't know the specs. I've ordered these in 220 pound size and now I'm worried that won't be enough - but the solution is a longer shock cord packed carefully so that it does not tangle. I'm not so good at that. Also I may go to separate parachutes. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07FN2Q9B5?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1&psc=1

I use the 220# snap swivels

 

[DirkTheDaring]

It's surprisingly hard to come up with a picture or video for Z-folding. The best I can explain it, you spread your fingers and thumb of your non-dominant hand out as far as possible. Think a shaka sign but with your fingers not folded in. Lead the shock cord past your thumb, then over to your pinky finger, then back to your thumb, etc. You're leading the shock cord away from you very time you take a half turn around your finger or thumb. That makes the shock cord cross itself every time it crosses your palm. That keeps it all from tangling when it comes out of the rocket. If that doesn't make sense, then I can take some pictures/video.

Thanks, I can picture that. I also tried the crochet method from Apogee, but found that the kevlar cord can still catch on itself. I'll give your method a shot.

 

[DirkTheDaring]

I use the 220# snap swivels

Thanks, we'll see how that works for me!

 

[DerRedMax]

Check this video out about z-folding a parachute.

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

It's surprisingly hard to come up with a picture or video for Z-folding. The best I can explain it, you spread your fingers and thumb of your non-dominant hand out as far as possible. Think a shaka sign but with your fingers not folded in. Lead the shock cord past your thumb, then over to your pinky finger, then back to your thumb, etc. You're leading the shock cord away from you very time you take a half turn around your finger or thumb. That makes the shock cord cross itself every time it crosses your palm. That keeps it all from tangling when it comes out of the rocket. If that doesn't make sense, then I can take some pictures/video.

This was probably the best demo for the Z-folding I've seen. Works great with Kevlar but not so much with elastic.

 

[BEC]

...and besides, it's aways fun to watch Xyla Foxlin have fun with rockets (with or without Joe Barnard and a Christmas tree)

 

[DirkTheDaring]

...and besides, it's aways fun to watch Xyla Foxlin have fun with rockets (with or without Joe Barnard and a Christmas tree)

Indeed

 

[DirkTheDaring]

I plan to be at the Washington Aerospace Club launch this coming Saturday the 4th. Hope to see you all there!

Washington Aerospace Club - Launches

Washington Aerospace Club - National Association of Rocketry Section 578, Puget Sound, Washington State. Sponsor of Fire In The Sky launches, the premier Pacific Northwest rocket launch, Memorial Day Weekend

www.washingtonaerospace.org

 

[DirkTheDaring]

A far too long video of a couple of flights on Sunday include onboard video and too much slo mo.


More video to follow

 

[Dotini]

I plan to make a few launches tomorrow morning, Thursday the 2nd, beginning at about 8:30 AM. Mainly experiments in Horizontal Spin Recovery,

 

[DirkTheDaring]

I plan to make a few launches tomorrow morning, Thursday the 2nd, beginning at about 8:30 AM. Mainly experiments in Horizontal Spin Recovery,

darn, didn't see this in time, I don't do 8:30 anythings and I'm not feeling well, I hope it went well. I hope I'm feeling better for the WAC launch on Saturday.

 

[BEC]

WAC launch is scrubbed. Looking at the forecast, I’m not really surprised.

 

[DerRedMax]

Looks like lots of rain in the forecast.

 

[Dotini]

darn, didn't see this in time, I don't do 8:30 anythings and I'm not feeling well, I hope it went well. I hope I'm feeling better for the WAC launch on Saturday.

Unfortunately, I didn't make the launch either as my launch partner came down with a cold. Shame, as the weather was so nice. But soon as he's well and the weather is good, we'll be ready. Morning is a good time to launch as we almost always have the entire field to ourselves.

 

[DirkTheDaring]

Looks like lots of rain in the forecast.

I'm under the weather myself, so I probably wouldn't have made it anyway.

 

[Joel Shepherd]

If the weather holds, I’m going to try to get out to 60 Acres later this Saturday morning (Feb. 11). Have the usual assortment of things to launch, plus a first attempt at a dual deployment. Winds currently look reasonable and no precipitation.

 

[boatgeek]

If the weather holds, I should be out Sunday late morning. Several TARC flights, and I'll bring a few of my own.

 

[BABAR]

I'm worried that won't be enough - but the solution is a longer shock cord packed carefully so that it does not tangle.. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07FN2Q9B5?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1&psc=1

the crochet hook daisy chain works well, a bit tedious and best performed at home listening to good music or an audio book.

 

[DirkTheDaring]

If the weather holds, I’m going to try to get out to 60 Acres later this Saturday morning (Feb. 11). Have the usual assortment of things to launch, plus a first attempt at a dual deployment. Winds currently look reasonable and no precipitation.

hoping to be there as well.

 

[DirkTheDaring]

If the weather holds, I should be out Sunday late morning. Several TARC flights, and I'll bring a few of my own.

looking like Saturday for me, but can't do Sunday.

 

[DirkTheDaring]

Yup - gonna be at 60 Acres tomorrow, Saturday the 11th around 11 AM. Hope to see you there!

 

[nict]

I'm considering a launch this Friday, 2/17.

 

[DirkTheDaring]

I'm considering a launch this Friday, 2/17.

If it doesn’t rain I’ll be there. But light rain forecasted on and off thru the day.

Please post if you’re going that’ll motivated me to go.

 

[nict]

If it doesn’t rain I’ll be there. But light rain forecasted on and off thru the day.

Please post if you’re going that’ll motivated me to go.

Scrubbed because of weather. Stupid rain.