Blackbird

[StefanJ]

Several years back I started out to build a big relatively light-duty mid-power demo model.

I actually made two of the same model. One I painted black with "51" on the fins. It doesn't have an actual name decal but it is called the Blackbird. It is meant to commemorate the launch of a major project at work by the same name.

It's based on the BT-80HD. Big balsa cones from BMS. Epoxy-coated cardstock boattail. Lightly fiberglassed balsa fins made of several parts.

The upper and lower sections recover on seperate parachutes. I may join them in the future.

Here it is pre-decals:

First flight was at the Tilamook air museum field. It was a great flight, but the upper section parachute detached. The section was undamaged; very light and "drifty."

Flight video 1

Flight video 2

Here it is post-decal and stencil work. I launched it on a E28-4. The flight went well but the lower section parachute didn't deploy. The coupler was crunched but there was no other damage.

 

[El Cheapo]

Looks like it means business. Save yourself some trouble and go with one chute.

 

[StefanJ]

I went for seperate sections after the "other" blackbird had a torn-chute rough recovery. Rocksim work showed that there were few "sweet spots" using available delays.

I may just put in a REALLY long shock cord and hope that is enough to deal with ascending or descending ejections.

 

[JPVegh]

Other than the paint job this rocket looks exactly like my very first 24mm cluster that I built more than 20 years ago. Mine was painted gloss white with black roll pattern. Cool!