Boris Katan flights 2014 -> Clusters are Fun <-

[delta22]

This year I'll post all my projects and flights in one thread.
This makes is easier for me to post, and easier to follow for anyone who subscribes.
Also avoids having threads for some projects and not others.

First HP launch of 2014 will be with CMASS on 5/3/14 in Amesbury, MA.

I plan to fly several veteran rockets:
Spinning Saucer of the Apocalypse (3ft diameter, 7lbs, big orange saucer in pic)
Turbine Rocket Saucer (20in diameter, 1.5lb, LED lighted saucer)
VooDoo Daddy
plus some Applewhite saucers (29mm, 7in diameter saucer pictured)

TRF threads exist for the 3 projects named above, covering builds and past flights.

Collectively, these rockets have flown well over 100 flights.

 

[delta22]

Each of these rockets needed repairs.

An Estes D engine CATOed late last year, damaging a motor mount on Spinning Saucer of the Apocalypse.

> Epoxied split edges with West Systems 207 Epoxy
> Filled with thickened epoxy
> Final cover with 2x layers of 1.5oz glass
> Motors loaded

This rocket flies well on 2x G64 for lift and 8x D11/D12 for spin.
Only goes about 100ft up but generates a LOT of fire and smoke :grin:

 

[delta22]

The Turbine Rocket Saucer also suffered a D engine CATO late last year and required motor mount repair.

> CA'ed damaged motor tube edges together
> 3x epoxy buildups followed by sanding
> finally 2x layers of 1.5oz glass

Loaded with 6x D engines for launch.
Also only goes up about 100ft, but again LOTS and fire and smoke.

Seems to be a pattern going here...

 

[delta22]

VooDoo Daddy (red and black rocket) required a new recovery harness to body attachment point.
Went through the tube wall, used Kevlar and 3 small buildups of West epoxy, to achieve light and strong result.

This rocket will fly on 8x D12-5 engines.

On my 29mm, 7in Applewhite "World" saucer, finally added a 1/4" launch rod tube. Previously and by kit design, rod went through rocket without using tube.
After 40+ flights "launch rod" area was wearing out.

This rocket wants to go up again on an Estes F15.

 

[iter]

I love your rockets, and I love that you're going outside the box. Keep them coming!

Looking forward to upcoming flight pictures.

Ari.

 

[KennB]

Also only goes up about 100ft, but again LOTS and fire and smoke.

Seems to be a pattern going here...

Definitely a pattern. For those of us watching, we love this pattern.

I like the idea of one thread for the whole season. I hope to be the LCO voice in some of the videos that get posted.

 

[o1d_dude]

I love your rockets, and I love that you're going outside the box. Keep them coming!

Looking forward to upcoming flight pictures.

Ari.

What Ari said.

Keep pushing the envelope!

 

[delta22]

Thanks.

 

[delta22]

CMASS launch - 5/3/14 - Amesbury, MA

Saturday was a gorgeous, sunny day - much appreciated after the long cold winter.
Light to moderate winds with a high about 70F.

My first flight of the day was the Turbine Rocket Saucer on 6x D12 engines.

Its 45th flight was a good one, landing very close to my prep table.

 

[delta22]

Next up was the VooDoo Daddy lifting off with a muted hiss on a column of fire and smoke on 8x D12-5 engines.

Liftoff was great for its 15th flight.

At (4x motor) ejection, the nose cone separated, but chute did not deploy. Rocket came in flat and slowly enough that only minor fin repair is needed.

Believe this was due to a little too much bulk in the recovery system, packed too loosely, and not fully ejected by moderate engine ejection forces.

Next time will replace nylon harness with thinner Kevlar and pack recovery more tightly.

 

[delta22]

Then came the Spinning Saucer of the Apocalypse, looking, well...Apocalyptic!

Lifted off on 2x G64 + 8x D12 and landed still spinning fast as always.

First pic shows the intense energy of the Rocketflite igniters I use for all my clusters, and why they fire motors so reliably (99% the first time).

 

[delta22]

The morning of the launch, the weather prediction was for fairly light winds. So instead of prepping more saucers, went for a glider

Charged up my Edmunds ECee rocket glider, which had been modified for RC control.

Also removed the extra 24mm motor tube I had added and replaced it with a 29mm tube.
Previous flights had been powered by E9 + C11 to kick off the pad followed by a long sustaining burn.

Did three very nice glider flights fired by the new Estes F15 BP engine. This is an excellent motor for gliders and light saucers

The 3.5 second motor burn was perfect, getting very good altitude while keeping peak speeds moderate.

As I had the RC control in my hands, did not get pics or video from the flightline for these.

Did get some fun onboard video from an 808 camera.

Will post videos soon.

 

[KennB]

The morning of the launch, the weather prediction was for fairly light winds. So instead of prepping more saucers, went for a glider

Charged up my Edmunds ECee rocket glider, which had been modified for RC control.

I was on the buttons for at least two of the three glider flights and they were beautiful. I can't wait to see the on-board video; for all the camera work you do for others, you shouldn't have any trouble finding someone to record your RC flights. I was driving Bob's shuttle car when the VooDoo Daddy went up so I missed that; too bad, I love the sound of the big BP clusters.

 

[delta22]

Estes D11-P engines are now available through AMW.

So I prepped the Hellboy for another flight with 19 of them.

The Hellboy is a Polecat Rocketry Fat Man kit modified for clustering.
27" tall x 5.6" dia x 8lb typical flight weight.
See bpasa.com for more info.

 

[delta22]

CMASS and RIMRA did a joint launch on Father's Day, 6/15/14.

It was a beautiful sunny day with variable winds.

First up was the Turbine Rocket Saucer on 6x D11-P engines.
Nice flat flight with plenty of fire and smoke.

 

[delta22]

Then the Hellboy went up for another great flight on 19x D11-P engines.

The flashpan ignition created quite a fireball, seen in the first pic.

Then lifted off on many flame jets joining into a larger flame trail and a billowing cloud of smoke.

Makes me smile every time.

 

[delta22]

The Featherweight Raven altimeter provides lots of good data.

Peak:
speed 104 mph
altitude 605 ft
acceleration 8.5 Gs

As this was a low and slow flight, attached both chutes to NC for apogee deploy, and used second ejection charge as backup.

 

[delta22]

My last three flights of the day were the ECee Thunder glider modified for RC.

The new Estes F15 engines are great glider engines with their 3.5 second burn.

Fun flights with good glides and landings.

Will post video after doing some editing.

 

[AfterBurners]

Then the Hellboy went up for another great flight on 19x D11-P engines.

The flashpan ignition created quite a fireball, seen in the first pic.

Then lifted off on many flame jets joining into a larger flame trail and a billowing cloud of smoke.

Makes me smile every time.

Amazing!!!

 

[Daddyisabar]

Super cool clusters Dude!

 

[CRC]

very cool, awesome pics too!!!!

 

[iter]

Makes me smile every time.

Me too

Thank you for the photos.

Ari.

 

[BobH48]

Makes me smile every time.

Makes me smile because I get to watch them in person and I don't have to be the one buying all those motors.

 

[delta22]

CMASS launch - 8/9/14 - Amesbury, MA

British Electric Thunderbird lifted off on its standard cluster:
1x CTI F30-6
6x Estes E9-6
4x Estes D11-P
for a nice long slow liftoff and good recovery.

Gotta love those longer burning motors....

 

[delta22]

A nice stable flier.

Has fired all 11 motors for the last 12 flights.

 

[delta22]

Also sent the Turbine Rocket Saucer up for another fun flight on 6x D11-P engines.

My son Paul can be seen in the background doing RSO. The saucer almost landed on the RSO table forcing him to get up quickly.

Got the RC ECee up twice on Estes F15 longburn motors. As the RC controls were in my hands, no pictures of that one.

 

[delta22]

A very cool rocket - Claude Maina's - FlisKits Decaffinator.

Able to get a great flight on a single E9 engine.

 

[delta22]

CMASS launch - 8/23/14 - Acton, MA

There seemed to be more winds past 200-300ft altitude, as a lot of rockets were buffeted around.

As a result, my RC ECee went up for one flight on an F15, but struggled with the winds above ground level and went back in the car for safe keeping.

The yellow 4x 24mm Viper went up twice.

First on 4x D12-5....landing near the pad.

 

[delta22]

Then the Viper went up again, but this time on only 3x D12-5.
I suspect an igniter slipped out of place.

Three people in the background are covering their ears to the noise of the rocket.:wink:
I find it odd that folks would cover their ears to the sweet sound of a BP liftoff....?

So the rocket arced over and came down safely, further down the field.

 

[delta22]

Then switched to flying saucers

and prepped a couple F40 White Lightnings.

Here the Stealth (Applewhite 38mm kit) goes up with video cameras on it!