Scott231
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2011
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- 174
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Got an invitation to bring my cub scout pack to a rocket launch at the local R/C airplane field and decided to bring a large selection of rockets (for me and the scouts)
These are the eight flights I prepped -
First flight, I help a scout prepare his rocket put it on the pad, he pushes the button and THE LAUNCH ROD stays attached to the rocket (ripped right out of the launch stand) and does several figure-8 maneuvers before landing in soft grass to fly again.
Second scout doesn't have a rocket so I let him fly my Xarconian Cruiser. Turns out the B6 motor doesn't put it high enough in the air and the parachute ejects about 10 feet above ground level and never inflates. Lawn Dart onto asphalt. Rocket is now spare parts.
Third rocket is my son's new D-Region Tomahawk. We notice a loose fin. My son says "don't worry dad, it might stay on, if not, we'll find it." Perfect flight and recovery...except it now only has 3 fins instead of 4. The fourth fin is later found.
Fourth rocket is a Super Neon XL that I let a scout launch with an Aerotech E207W. Awesome flight (first hybrid motor of the day) but the ejection charge shreds 4 of the six shroud lines and we have an above average speed descent. Surprisingly no damage as the rocket lands tail first into the grass. Chute did not melt at all but the lines just snapped and turned the chute into a streamer.
Fifth rocket is my new Argent on a G53, black smoke motor. Beautiful flight up to 1600 feet. Parachute comes out but immediately twists itself round and round so much so that the chute barely does anything. Upper body tube gets impaled on a corn stalk.
Sixth flight - I let a Wolf scout use a USAF Bullpup rocket. Wonderful flight and recovery.
Seventh flight - A two-stager. Takes me way too long to prep rocket but then I realize it has no parachute when I go to put wadding in. The Xarconian Cruiser rocket makes its first parts loan. Rocket lands out in the corn field and the kid is too afraid to walk through the corn field to retrieve it!
Eighth flight - My recently rebuilt Photon Disruptor gets a G76 Green motor. After an hour delay (due to the R/C planes flying) the rocket leaps off the pad to its highest flight ever. After a four-second delay the ejection charge goes off and we can see the nose cone dangling at the end of the shock cord...but no parachute! Lawn dart number two hits the grass hard and accordions the new body tube, shoves the motor mount assembly about four inches up into the body tube and 6 of the 9 nine fins get sheared off from the impact. An autopsy only showed that the Nomex blanket was not attached to the shock cord. I am not sure why that would matter but it was the only thing left inside the body tube other than the shock cord.:sad:
These are the eight flights I prepped -
First flight, I help a scout prepare his rocket put it on the pad, he pushes the button and THE LAUNCH ROD stays attached to the rocket (ripped right out of the launch stand) and does several figure-8 maneuvers before landing in soft grass to fly again.
Second scout doesn't have a rocket so I let him fly my Xarconian Cruiser. Turns out the B6 motor doesn't put it high enough in the air and the parachute ejects about 10 feet above ground level and never inflates. Lawn Dart onto asphalt. Rocket is now spare parts.
Third rocket is my son's new D-Region Tomahawk. We notice a loose fin. My son says "don't worry dad, it might stay on, if not, we'll find it." Perfect flight and recovery...except it now only has 3 fins instead of 4. The fourth fin is later found.
Fourth rocket is a Super Neon XL that I let a scout launch with an Aerotech E207W. Awesome flight (first hybrid motor of the day) but the ejection charge shreds 4 of the six shroud lines and we have an above average speed descent. Surprisingly no damage as the rocket lands tail first into the grass. Chute did not melt at all but the lines just snapped and turned the chute into a streamer.
Fifth rocket is my new Argent on a G53, black smoke motor. Beautiful flight up to 1600 feet. Parachute comes out but immediately twists itself round and round so much so that the chute barely does anything. Upper body tube gets impaled on a corn stalk.
Sixth flight - I let a Wolf scout use a USAF Bullpup rocket. Wonderful flight and recovery.
Seventh flight - A two-stager. Takes me way too long to prep rocket but then I realize it has no parachute when I go to put wadding in. The Xarconian Cruiser rocket makes its first parts loan. Rocket lands out in the corn field and the kid is too afraid to walk through the corn field to retrieve it!
Eighth flight - My recently rebuilt Photon Disruptor gets a G76 Green motor. After an hour delay (due to the R/C planes flying) the rocket leaps off the pad to its highest flight ever. After a four-second delay the ejection charge goes off and we can see the nose cone dangling at the end of the shock cord...but no parachute! Lawn dart number two hits the grass hard and accordions the new body tube, shoves the motor mount assembly about four inches up into the body tube and 6 of the 9 nine fins get sheared off from the impact. An autopsy only showed that the Nomex blanket was not attached to the shock cord. I am not sure why that would matter but it was the only thing left inside the body tube other than the shock cord.:sad:
