I can certainly co-miserate(sp) with you on those kinds of over powered flight loses. I've done similar out of sight flights on C and D powered models where we heard the pop at ejection but never saw a chute or streamer, and the models were never to be seen again. More recently I've been doing this with Micro models as well which has been even more distressing as everyone on the field KNOWS it couldn't have gone all that high. I've tried to explain to other modelers that Out of sight, is out of sight; be it 300, 3000 or 30,000feet, Once its gone it's generally not coming back unless someone stumbles over your model while out looking for another.
I think the only reason we even discuss such minor part influence has more to do with air stream flow management or searching for that elusive optium mass, throw weight, max coast time or whatever we want to call it then anything else. Makes us feel good thinking we're actually doing something positive to aid in the performance of our flying models.
Very true, John. I just wanted to get two points across. The first: in sport launching, we often fly rocket designs that have serious sub-optimum aerodynamics anyway. Many of the futuristic designs, as well as others, that we love so dearly are like that. But that's OK, because rocketry would not be nearly as much fun without those fantastic designs. But a focus on the drag caused by the lugs, when the rest of the rocket has so many other streamlining issues, seems a tad misplaced. If we are so willing to accept so many other aerodynamic compromises in many of our rockets for the sake of aesthetics, etc., which most of us are (and why not?), then the drag issue with the lugs shouldn't be all that big of a deal.
An additional point: this discussion is still enormously useful and valuable for people who are, say, building a TARC project. All of the information that was previously presented is extremely relevant to them. And anyone else who is seeking to
optimize a rocket's design in order to maximize its performance needs to pay close attention to such things. After all, that's what real rocket scientists do.
That's all I wanted to say.
MarkII
P.S.: OK, one more thing. Even though I have been trying to minimize the issue in my posts here, the information that other people have posted has given me some things to think about as I build my rockets. It has also given me more things to notice and watch for when I observe them in flight. In the end, that may make me a better rocketeer. More knowledge is better than less. Thanks.