Haha...
very funny Ray
I *do* remember AT's attempt at a "Kosdon Fast" style propellant, Warp Nine, at LDRS several years ago. I remember a couple of the manufacturer's "demos":
1. V2 on an I1000 -- Ed LaCroix talked it all up for about 5 minutes in true Ed style, then they counted down and the V2 CATOed spectacularly on the pad. The LCO goes, "It doesn't speak real well for that..." for one of the best moments of the launch.
2. Dr. Rocket Aluminum Rocket on an L3790 -- This was the 2-grain 98mm case in the Dr. Rocket All Metal rocket thing. Another huge buildup and then 5-4-3-2-1-BOOM parts went everywhere. I was standing next to Scott Bartel and after the payload section landed, he shouts out "HAHAHA THE ALTACC WORKED! HA HA HA HA..."; anyone who has ever met Scott knows the laugh I am talking about
The above can be viewed on the Point 39 Productions LDRS XVII video as well. After both demos, I recall Frank Kosdon walking up to the mic and saying "Well, I guess I won't see you in hyperspace then..."
3. LOC Syonic on an I1000 -- This was also at LDRS XVII. My friend Ken Finwall put it in his Syonic after keeping it in an ice chest all morning and then loading it on the pad really quickly in hopes of keeping the propellant from reacting too fast (the suspected problem -- Catocene is hot stuff). Once again, the wind up and the pitch -- WHAM into pieces. There's a great photo of this CATO in the HPR Crash 'n Burn issue of a couple years ago. I felt bad for Ken -- it was only the second flight of the Syonic (a new kit then). But he rebuilt it and flew it many times since.
I guess after that, Aerotech kinda gave up on Warp Nine...
