downhill_D
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2018
- Messages
- 341
- Reaction score
- 113
So I managed to get my Level 1 finally...wanted it 20 years ago and just never finished.
I used a loc precision graduator with an H97-10 and it was a fantastic flight. I will be waiting to go level 2 as I feel I have more to learn and want to bask in the joy of flying high with H and I motors for a bit! I used a few old techniques in my build of the graduator, including making a second forward centering ring and adding two part foam inside the fin can. I used all 30 min bsi and added tubular nylon for a little extra room for expansion on the shock cord at apogee.
The inspection and flight went really, really well and the president of my club asked very good questions that required me to know A LOT about my rocket (very appreciative of this!) BUT as I watched the flight the drogue had gotten just enough heat from behind the Nomex blanket that it stuck to itself the entire fall. Luckily, I had been practicing with the JLCR and the 48" chute main hit at about 254 ft!!!...I had set it to 500. It slowed to a nice 6mph just in time. Yep...I was holding my breath the whole time. I got lucky and the drogue chute was actually okay but literally just enough to stop it from unfolding.
So, I learned:
-I should make a baffle and/or use a stuff of dog barf to prevent hot gasses, if even a little, gets through the Nomex burrito folds...it could be disastrous.
-using a low impulse H motor (baby H) so I could see almost my whole flight was the way to go! Highly recommend this motor for this rocket.
-if you wait all day to load the casing and sunset is coming you might have waited too long...that said I got an amazing picture from a photographer, right at sunset, right before it was too late. I unfortunately got no video but the pictures are worth a thousand words to me.
-the graduator is an excellent Level 1 rocket (only) with good building techniques and a great track record!
-using a simulation program is very key to my success. you can use any of the free ones or Rocksim (I purchased it) and it helped me understand every change I made and its effect.
-if anything, I really appreciate everyone here and their advice. I sometimes read through here for hours (apogee website too). This hobby REQUIRES you to learn from others if your going to do well. Don't be afraid to ask questions...especially for a certification...I am glad I never stopped asking questions. You all on rocketry forum helped make this possible too-so thank you! Now to go fly some H and I motors...there goes the wallet...about a mile up
Will attach photos once uploaded.
I used a loc precision graduator with an H97-10 and it was a fantastic flight. I will be waiting to go level 2 as I feel I have more to learn and want to bask in the joy of flying high with H and I motors for a bit! I used a few old techniques in my build of the graduator, including making a second forward centering ring and adding two part foam inside the fin can. I used all 30 min bsi and added tubular nylon for a little extra room for expansion on the shock cord at apogee.
The inspection and flight went really, really well and the president of my club asked very good questions that required me to know A LOT about my rocket (very appreciative of this!) BUT as I watched the flight the drogue had gotten just enough heat from behind the Nomex blanket that it stuck to itself the entire fall. Luckily, I had been practicing with the JLCR and the 48" chute main hit at about 254 ft!!!...I had set it to 500. It slowed to a nice 6mph just in time. Yep...I was holding my breath the whole time. I got lucky and the drogue chute was actually okay but literally just enough to stop it from unfolding.
So, I learned:
-I should make a baffle and/or use a stuff of dog barf to prevent hot gasses, if even a little, gets through the Nomex burrito folds...it could be disastrous.
-using a low impulse H motor (baby H) so I could see almost my whole flight was the way to go! Highly recommend this motor for this rocket.
-if you wait all day to load the casing and sunset is coming you might have waited too long...that said I got an amazing picture from a photographer, right at sunset, right before it was too late. I unfortunately got no video but the pictures are worth a thousand words to me.
-the graduator is an excellent Level 1 rocket (only) with good building techniques and a great track record!
-using a simulation program is very key to my success. you can use any of the free ones or Rocksim (I purchased it) and it helped me understand every change I made and its effect.
-if anything, I really appreciate everyone here and their advice. I sometimes read through here for hours (apogee website too). This hobby REQUIRES you to learn from others if your going to do well. Don't be afraid to ask questions...especially for a certification...I am glad I never stopped asking questions. You all on rocketry forum helped make this possible too-so thank you! Now to go fly some H and I motors...there goes the wallet...about a mile up
Will attach photos once uploaded.
