Ray Dunakin
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Sept/Oct Desert Launch Report
I've managed to do quite a bit of flying in the past few weeks, and have just finished scanning and posting the pics. You can see them here:
https://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=3009006&a=30098271&f=0
Or use this: https://tinyurl.com/3edx
In late August, I launched a 2.6" diameter booster carrying two small parasite rockets. The booster was powered by an Aerotech I284, one of my favorite motors. One of the parasites contained a 35mm sequence camera and was loaded with an H180; the other was powered by a G80 and had a BoosterVision video system transmitting live video and sound to a receiver on the ground. This flight went pretty well, though the rocket with the sequence camera angled over a bit at separation and was lost in the rugged terrain. I still haven't found it.
The video worked well, though the rocket spun pretty fast after separating from the booster. The spin was likely caused by an imperfection in the camera fairing. Also, the video rocket ignited a bit too soon, while the booster was still thrusting. A later, slower separation from the booster would have performed better.
Next, I launched a 2.6" rocket with a 35mm camera controlled by an electronic timer. It was powered by a Pro38 three grain I205 Smokey Sam and was a successful flight.
A couple weeks later I went back out to do some more flying and also to look for the lost rocket. I set up another piggyback booster with two parasites again, same as before. One with video, one with a sequence camera. Had another small rocket set up to launch ahead of the bigger one and hopefully get some overhead shots of the big one in flight. Started setting up the video recording equipment, which runs off a power inverter. Since I didn't have a regular launch system at this time, I was using an old, simple set up that clips to my car's battery. I also had to clip the power inverter to the battery. Accidently touched the inverter's clips to the wrong posts, and instantly fried the power inverter. Doh! That was an expensive lesson.
Since I was no unable to record video, I had to swap out the video payload for a 35mm payload. Finally got everything ready to go. The smaller rocket next to it took off instantly, but the big booster's I284 took a second or so to get up to pressure before roaring into the sky. One of the parasite rockets staged perfectly. The other went late, and augered into the side of a hill. Ouch. Afterwards I spent several hours searching (unsuccessfully) for the rocket that had been lost two weeks earlier. The high temp that day was 115. Ugh.
Went out again about a week later, with a new power inverter and a brand new customized launch controller from Pratt Hobbies. Started the day with a successful video flight using a small rocket powered by a G80 and four D12-0's in strap-on boosters. On the video, you can see the boosters dropping off -- really cool!
Next I tried a dual launch. Rocket #1 was a 2.6" diameter bird with a 35mm camera payload, powered by a Pro38 I205. Rocket #2 was big 4" diameter booster loaded with an Aerotech K695 Redline and carrying two parasite rockets: one video, one 35mm. On the first attempt, the K failed to ignite. Rocket #1 took off right away, followed a couple seconds later by the two parasite rockets which were ignited by timed Thermalite. All three flew successfully and were quickly recovered.
I loaded the parasite rockets up again, and put them back on the booster for another attempt. This time the K lit and the rocket climbed into the sky on a pillar of red flame and smoke. Although this configuration has flown successfully on the larger Pro54 K570's, the K695 proved to be too much peak thrust for this configuration. Several hundred feet up, the mounting hardware failed and the two parasite rockets broke loose. The one with the 35mm camera came apart, the camera free-falling onto a hillside resulting in relatively minor damage. The rest of that rocket crashed some distance away, and could not be found that day.
The big booster rocket continued unabated, deployed successfully, and landed about a half mile away.
Meanwhile, the second parasite rocket containing the video system went off at a shallow angle after breaking loose from the booster. It landed at least a mile away. Fortunately I had borrowed a Rocket Hunter tracking system for this flight. The rocket and camera were found safe and sound, having deployed the chutes in time to prevent impact. The Rocket Hunter transmitter had its antenna pulled out after becoming tangled in the shock cord, but I was still able to track the weakened signal once I got closer to the landing site.
After recovering the damaged 35mm payload, I spent the rest of the day searching for the rocket that had carried it. No luck, and no time left to look for the previously lost rocket either.
October came, and the launch everyone's been waiting for: PlasterBlaster! Since I now had three rockets and two cameras missing in the badlands, I camped there on Friday night and spent some time searching for them. The reflective vinyl I put on all my rockets makes it possible to search even after dark. Even a small bit of reflective vinyl can be seen at a distance with aid of a powerful flashlight.
Saturday morning I headed over to the Plaster City site, arriving in time for the Thumper drag race. Twenty big 10" diameter rockets lined up for simultaneous launch, each one loaded with an M-class motor. Most had Aerotech solid motors thanks to AT's generous sponsorship for the launch. A few used hybrid motors. At T minus zero, ten rockets took off, and ten misfired (These were launched later).
At noon, I made what turned out to be my only flight at PlasterBlaster. I loaded up another Pro38 I205 into a 2.6" rocket and launched it alongside Tom Miller's "Black Magic". Tom's carbon and fiberglass rocket was powered by an Aerotech L952 and outfitted with some pretty sophisticated electronics, including telemetry and GPS tracking. It was slow to light, and my rocket was halfway to apogee before Tom's left the ground. I wasn't able to get any aerial shots of Tom's rocket in flight, and the Plaster City site is so featureless that none of the pics were very interesting.
Later that afternoon, I watched the spectactular mass launch of 90 Estes "Cherokee" three-stage rockets, two of which I had built myself. After the launch, all the kids ran out onto the range to recover the rockets and boosters. Prizes were awarded to the kids for every part they recovered.
Late Saturday I headed back out to the badlands. There I attempted a two-stage flight with an Aerotech H123 in the booster and an Ellis H48 in the second stage. The second stage failed to light, and crashed on a rocky hillside. Both camera and rocket were destroyed. The H48 was found to have broken in half -- whether this occurred on impact or was the result of a cato, has not been determined.
That evening I found the rocket that had been lost a few days previous. Still no luck finding the rocket or camera that were lost at the end of August.
Sunday morning I planned to make a couple quick flights, then return to PlasterBlaster in time to watch the 1/7th scale Vostok launch. I launched a pair of two-stage birds, one medium and one small. The small one carried the BoosterVision video camera and produced some nice video footage. It was powered by a G80 in each stage. The medium rocket carried a 35mm camera with electronic timer, and was powered by an I284 staging to an I211. Unfortunately the I211 failed to light, and the rocket crashed. I spent the rest of the day looking for it, without success, and never made it back to the PlasterBlaster launch. While recovering the video rocket, I set my binoculars down so I could roll up the parachutes. Didn't realize until after I'd headed home, that my binoculars were still setting out in the desert -- doh!
Went back out to the desert Monday night and found the crashed rocket right away, just 50 feet from where the booster had landed. Somehow I'd missed it in all my searching on Sunday. I also recovered my binoculars.
Tuesday morning, another dual launch. One rocket was a small one powered by a G80 and four D12-0's in strap-on boosters, for a perfect flight. Coming up behind it was an I284-powered booster with two parasites; one video and one 35mm. All flew perfectly and were quickly recovered.
Finally, I loaded up the small one again, this time with a 29mm diameter Ellis I69 and two D12-0's in strap-on boosters. At ignition, BOOM! The I69 catoed, blowing up the aft end of the motor and rocket. I'm not having much luck with these Ellis motors so far.
After that, I spent the rest of the day searching for the rocket and camera which were lost in late August. Still no luck, but I'm bound to find it eventually as I keep narrowing down the search area.
I've managed to do quite a bit of flying in the past few weeks, and have just finished scanning and posting the pics. You can see them here:
https://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=3009006&a=30098271&f=0
Or use this: https://tinyurl.com/3edx
In late August, I launched a 2.6" diameter booster carrying two small parasite rockets. The booster was powered by an Aerotech I284, one of my favorite motors. One of the parasites contained a 35mm sequence camera and was loaded with an H180; the other was powered by a G80 and had a BoosterVision video system transmitting live video and sound to a receiver on the ground. This flight went pretty well, though the rocket with the sequence camera angled over a bit at separation and was lost in the rugged terrain. I still haven't found it.
The video worked well, though the rocket spun pretty fast after separating from the booster. The spin was likely caused by an imperfection in the camera fairing. Also, the video rocket ignited a bit too soon, while the booster was still thrusting. A later, slower separation from the booster would have performed better.
Next, I launched a 2.6" rocket with a 35mm camera controlled by an electronic timer. It was powered by a Pro38 three grain I205 Smokey Sam and was a successful flight.
A couple weeks later I went back out to do some more flying and also to look for the lost rocket. I set up another piggyback booster with two parasites again, same as before. One with video, one with a sequence camera. Had another small rocket set up to launch ahead of the bigger one and hopefully get some overhead shots of the big one in flight. Started setting up the video recording equipment, which runs off a power inverter. Since I didn't have a regular launch system at this time, I was using an old, simple set up that clips to my car's battery. I also had to clip the power inverter to the battery. Accidently touched the inverter's clips to the wrong posts, and instantly fried the power inverter. Doh! That was an expensive lesson.
Since I was no unable to record video, I had to swap out the video payload for a 35mm payload. Finally got everything ready to go. The smaller rocket next to it took off instantly, but the big booster's I284 took a second or so to get up to pressure before roaring into the sky. One of the parasite rockets staged perfectly. The other went late, and augered into the side of a hill. Ouch. Afterwards I spent several hours searching (unsuccessfully) for the rocket that had been lost two weeks earlier. The high temp that day was 115. Ugh.
Went out again about a week later, with a new power inverter and a brand new customized launch controller from Pratt Hobbies. Started the day with a successful video flight using a small rocket powered by a G80 and four D12-0's in strap-on boosters. On the video, you can see the boosters dropping off -- really cool!
Next I tried a dual launch. Rocket #1 was a 2.6" diameter bird with a 35mm camera payload, powered by a Pro38 I205. Rocket #2 was big 4" diameter booster loaded with an Aerotech K695 Redline and carrying two parasite rockets: one video, one 35mm. On the first attempt, the K failed to ignite. Rocket #1 took off right away, followed a couple seconds later by the two parasite rockets which were ignited by timed Thermalite. All three flew successfully and were quickly recovered.
I loaded the parasite rockets up again, and put them back on the booster for another attempt. This time the K lit and the rocket climbed into the sky on a pillar of red flame and smoke. Although this configuration has flown successfully on the larger Pro54 K570's, the K695 proved to be too much peak thrust for this configuration. Several hundred feet up, the mounting hardware failed and the two parasite rockets broke loose. The one with the 35mm camera came apart, the camera free-falling onto a hillside resulting in relatively minor damage. The rest of that rocket crashed some distance away, and could not be found that day.
The big booster rocket continued unabated, deployed successfully, and landed about a half mile away.
Meanwhile, the second parasite rocket containing the video system went off at a shallow angle after breaking loose from the booster. It landed at least a mile away. Fortunately I had borrowed a Rocket Hunter tracking system for this flight. The rocket and camera were found safe and sound, having deployed the chutes in time to prevent impact. The Rocket Hunter transmitter had its antenna pulled out after becoming tangled in the shock cord, but I was still able to track the weakened signal once I got closer to the landing site.
After recovering the damaged 35mm payload, I spent the rest of the day searching for the rocket that had carried it. No luck, and no time left to look for the previously lost rocket either.
October came, and the launch everyone's been waiting for: PlasterBlaster! Since I now had three rockets and two cameras missing in the badlands, I camped there on Friday night and spent some time searching for them. The reflective vinyl I put on all my rockets makes it possible to search even after dark. Even a small bit of reflective vinyl can be seen at a distance with aid of a powerful flashlight.
Saturday morning I headed over to the Plaster City site, arriving in time for the Thumper drag race. Twenty big 10" diameter rockets lined up for simultaneous launch, each one loaded with an M-class motor. Most had Aerotech solid motors thanks to AT's generous sponsorship for the launch. A few used hybrid motors. At T minus zero, ten rockets took off, and ten misfired (These were launched later).
At noon, I made what turned out to be my only flight at PlasterBlaster. I loaded up another Pro38 I205 into a 2.6" rocket and launched it alongside Tom Miller's "Black Magic". Tom's carbon and fiberglass rocket was powered by an Aerotech L952 and outfitted with some pretty sophisticated electronics, including telemetry and GPS tracking. It was slow to light, and my rocket was halfway to apogee before Tom's left the ground. I wasn't able to get any aerial shots of Tom's rocket in flight, and the Plaster City site is so featureless that none of the pics were very interesting.
Later that afternoon, I watched the spectactular mass launch of 90 Estes "Cherokee" three-stage rockets, two of which I had built myself. After the launch, all the kids ran out onto the range to recover the rockets and boosters. Prizes were awarded to the kids for every part they recovered.
Late Saturday I headed back out to the badlands. There I attempted a two-stage flight with an Aerotech H123 in the booster and an Ellis H48 in the second stage. The second stage failed to light, and crashed on a rocky hillside. Both camera and rocket were destroyed. The H48 was found to have broken in half -- whether this occurred on impact or was the result of a cato, has not been determined.
That evening I found the rocket that had been lost a few days previous. Still no luck finding the rocket or camera that were lost at the end of August.
Sunday morning I planned to make a couple quick flights, then return to PlasterBlaster in time to watch the 1/7th scale Vostok launch. I launched a pair of two-stage birds, one medium and one small. The small one carried the BoosterVision video camera and produced some nice video footage. It was powered by a G80 in each stage. The medium rocket carried a 35mm camera with electronic timer, and was powered by an I284 staging to an I211. Unfortunately the I211 failed to light, and the rocket crashed. I spent the rest of the day looking for it, without success, and never made it back to the PlasterBlaster launch. While recovering the video rocket, I set my binoculars down so I could roll up the parachutes. Didn't realize until after I'd headed home, that my binoculars were still setting out in the desert -- doh!
Went back out to the desert Monday night and found the crashed rocket right away, just 50 feet from where the booster had landed. Somehow I'd missed it in all my searching on Sunday. I also recovered my binoculars.
Tuesday morning, another dual launch. One rocket was a small one powered by a G80 and four D12-0's in strap-on boosters, for a perfect flight. Coming up behind it was an I284-powered booster with two parasites; one video and one 35mm. All flew perfectly and were quickly recovered.
Finally, I loaded up the small one again, this time with a 29mm diameter Ellis I69 and two D12-0's in strap-on boosters. At ignition, BOOM! The I69 catoed, blowing up the aft end of the motor and rocket. I'm not having much luck with these Ellis motors so far.
After that, I spent the rest of the day searching for the rocket and camera which were lost in late August. Still no luck, but I'm bound to find it eventually as I keep narrowing down the search area.
