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[MarkH]

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[Stefan_Jones]

Very cool!

I build a special "Oracle Carrier" to allow two-stage flights. So far I've only flown it single-stage, but Rocsim suggested pretty good performance.

Oracle movies come out best with really long boost and coast times. A D12-0 / E9-8 combo would be really purty.

 

[shreadvector]

Why do you think an E9 will make it go bye-bye?

Are you familiar with the actual performace of each of these motors? C11, D12, E9??

Look at the PDFs of the tested performance values on the NAR website.

Then explain your thinking.

I'll explain mine: D12-0 to C11-5 will give almost the exact same total impulse as a single E9 motor, it will simply have a higher initial thrust off the pad.

Originally posted by MarkH
Thought I'd post a few pics taken from my Oracle atop a CC Express. Launched on a D12-0 to C11-5. I was surprised at the altitude with the heavy Oracle nose cone. I built my CC to fly E9s but figured I start with a D12-0 to C11 just to be safe. I'd say it reached ~ 1100 feet. On a calm day I'll try D12/D12 combo, but am afraid the E9 will mean bye-bye Oracle.

Oh yeah, I used the transition and payload from my Warp II (same as Loadstar) to mount the Oracle to main body tube.

Anyway here are the pics - will try to link video later:

 

[dwmzmm]

Originally posted by MarkH
I'm familiar with engine capability. I've launched the stock Oracle on an E9 a couple of times. I'd say this combo went slightly higher. With a D12 to E9 my rough guess would be 2000 ft or more and I'm not sure I could keep it in the confines of my regular launch site.

I once launched my FSI Maverick, staged, with an Astrocam instead of the balsa nosecone, using the D12-0 to the E9-8.
After staging, we thought it was a goner...simply couldn't see
anything anymore (the E9's smoke delay was nonexistent) until
a few minutes later, spotted it decending downrange on the 12"
recovery chute (both the Astrocam & Maverick on the same chute).

 

[Vanel]

Excellent idea for a mod! Can you post a pic of the bird?

 

[shreadvector]

OK - D12 TO and E9, not just a single E9.
That's very different.
Nevermind....

Originally posted by MarkH
I'm familiar with engine capability. I've launched the stock Oracle on an E9 a couple of times. I'd say this combo went slightly higher. With a D12 to E9 my rough guess would be 2000 ft or more and I'm not sure I could keep it in the confines of my regular launch site.

 

[dwmzmm]

Originally posted by Vanel
Excellent idea for a mod! Can you post a pic of the bird?

Will provide some links for pics tomorrow morning...got to head
back to work now.

 

[Vanel]

Dave:

Looking forward to those pics!

Mark:

You got a pic of the rocket not in flight?

 

[GuyNoir]

Originally posted by MarkH
and just prior to ejection

You could do some nice photo interpertation to get the altitude at that point. . .

 

[gpoehlein]

I just had a thought - the Oracle fits on a BT-60 - why not use an Omega? (Don't know why, but I still think the Omega has one of the coolest paint schemes! - and Phred has the decals at Excelsior). I haven't bothered with the Oracle because of the price, but I might just have to reconsider!

Greg

 

[dwmzmm]

Originally posted by Vanel
Dave:

Looking forward to those pics!

Mark:

You got a pic of the rocket not in flight?

Ok, here's a pic of the Maverick single staged with the Astrocam
110 on top (this was at the 2004 Wacky Wockets/V-2 contest held
by the NHRC NAR Section # 365 at JSC):

https://nhrc.photosite.com/Album2/100B5302.html

This flight was the first for the Astrocam/Maverick combo using an
E9-6 for power; still went quite a ways up there. About an hour
later, the staged D12-0/E9-8 was flown, but Warren Benson (who
took the previous photo) did not get a pic of the staged flight.

I do, however, have the following that shows the FSI Maverick
flown staged without the Astrocam at a later launch with the
Challenger 498 NAR Section at Rushing Park, Katy, TX.

https://www.challenger498.org/gallery/01-09-05/FH000001

https://www.challenger498.org/gallery/01-09-05/FH000002

The liftoff:

https://www.challenger498.org/gallery/01-09-05/DSC03391

And recovery:

https://www.challenger498.org/gallery/01-09-05/FH000003

https://www.challenger498.org/gallery/01-09-05/FH000004