Day after Thanksgiving Launch

[TheRadiator]

It was a beautiful day to launch in North Carolina today. About 50-55 degrees or so and a little wind, but not much! I've taken several photos I wanted to share, and I also took a low-quality video from my digital camera of my Spin Fin, but unfortunately I'm having trouble linking it into my website. Back to launching, I flew an Estes Ionizer, Astro Sat LSX, Hi-Flier, Firebird and Max Trax. From Quest I flew the Evader Cruise Missile and the aforementioned Spin Fin. I also flew a scratch built Arrow-C from old MRN Estes plans. This is a semi-crummy picture of my Ionizer on the pad with just a tuft of smoke. Don't worry, my lift-off pictures are better after this one!

 

[TheRadiator]

And here it is under the chute. Kept this one full-res so one can actually see the shroud lines. I took this one while it was a little too high.

 

[TheRadiator]

Next up was the Hi-Flier. I just did miss the NC in the photo, as this one gets great speed on an A8-3. One thing to note, this one twisted the shock cord something fierce on the way down. And that was just with the itty bitty 8-inch long orange tape that comes with the kit. I was thinking the twisting motion was due to the large fin area, anyone think a larger streamer will stall the twist in recovery?

 

[TheRadiator]

Also launched my Max Trax, but once again the "altimeter" failed to read altitude. It's a toy anyways. It flew great and the body landed a about fifteen feet from the pad.

 

[TheRadiator]

Here's the closest to the pad photo.

 

[TheRadiator]

My Evader Cruise Missile went on it's first flight. I used an A6-4, and it flew a lot higher than I thought it would because of all the fin area on this thing. I swapped out the "plastic grocery bag" parachute that came with the kit with one of Semroc's chutes.

 

[TheRadiator]

The third flight for my Estes Astro Sat LSX. It's an E2X that ejects two "satellites" on streamers. Unfortunatley, I used my tissue wadding in order to use it up. (I'm using dog barf wadding now) The tissue jammed up the satellites and one of them got a little burnt. The parachute sort of deployed. I used the Quest grocery bag chute which led to the decision to use a Semroc chute on the Evader. Tissue wadding? Never again!!!!

 

[TheRadiator]

Also took an Estes Firebird out for its first spin around the block. Another good flight, but I launched it on an 'A' to see how she behaved in the air. Needless to say it was a slow, low and smoky flight!

 

[TheRadiator]

The Firebird again, but under the chute.

 

[TheRadiator]

The scratch build Arrow-C was the last one for the day. I left my 3/16" launch rod at home, so my V-2 was grounded. Anyways, I'm guessing the Arrow-C took about 600 feet on a B6-4. The build is not 100% correct to the plans, as I used a spare Quest plastic NC instead of getting the BNC-20Y. Rather than spend money on one, I might as well use what I have, and the match is fairly close anyways. Party streamer works great for sport streamer.

 

[Lugnut]

Nice launch pics. I hoping the wind dies down here in NJ so I can go out tomorrow. I'm jonesing bad

 

[BobH48]

Looks like you had a great day for a launch.

Temps here were in the 30's so no launch for me.

 

[TheRadiator]

Originally posted by BobH48
Looks like you had a great day for a launch.

Temps here were in the 30's so no launch for me.

Not to rub it in, but that's the beauty of living down here!

J/K it all evens out in the end. In June, July & August, it's too stinkin' hot & humid to launch, although somedays I will risk the sunburn.

 

[TheRadiator]

Originally posted by Lugnut
Nice launch pics. I hoping the wind dies down here in NJ so I can go out tomorrow. I'm jonesing bad

Where at in Jersey do you launch?

 

[firemanup]

Great pics... thanks for sharing...