marcusSRG
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2012
- Messages
- 893
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I waited too long to do my December launch report so I am including it along with my New Year's report!
ROCC had a great day of flying on Saturday, 12/21. I was fitting the launch in between errands with the fiancée and work, so I hadn't prepped more than my cable cutter... Certainly not my most prepared launch, but I got a couple flights off and I came back with everything I left with!
First up was my Big Brute on a Pro38 3G H100 I-max, a propellant I haven't flown before. My goal for this flight was successful dual deployment with the Archetype cable cutter and RRC2+. I also added a 12" drogue to elevate the nosecone. It's first flight last month suffered a main tangle when the booster fell through the main after successful cable cutter deployment. Also ripped off a rail guide.
Boost on the H100 was perfect, angling into the wind just right. Great flame and funky brown/white smoke! Then came apogee...and the main chute?!? D'oh!!! In my rushing I mixed up my altimeter connections!! That thing drifted from the left side of the field, all the way over the right field, over the next property, over the road, over the next tree line and finally landed in a small field surrounded by trees... L-U-C-K-Y. I finally found it after driving around and traversing some barbed wire, beeping away 1780'. Whew... Retry next launch.
Video: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10100991797766418&set=vb.29705070&type=3
After the unexpected hike, my time was waning so I pulled out the Ulimate, (2) G53FJs and got a DMS G80T from Ken. I dipped 3 Q2s in Quickdip, drilled the G80 to 8 secs, packed a 36" chute for motor deploy and installed plugs in the open motor tubes. My pyrogen heads wouldn't fit in the G53s so I pulled the closures off, shorted the leads, inserted them into the grain directly and notified the RSO of what I was doing.
Video: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10100991801853228&set=vb.29705070&type=3
The G53s lit instantly, getting the Ultimate moving quickly. The G80 finally kicked in after a second and shifted the bird into overdrive, flying right out of the black smoke trail from the G53s. She angled into the wind a good bit and deployed well past apogee, which caused a small zipper. In my haste I failed to attach the payload section to my electronics bay, so the payload section/cone shook loose and free fell, landing undamaged. Altimeter deploy next time for sure!
I may move away from Quickdip for clusters. I've had two late ignitions using it. Back to Magnelite.
Overall it was a great launch, but I need to work on paying attention to every detail when field prepping. Advance prep is always ideal because errors can be avoided!
ROCC had a great day of flying on Saturday, 12/21. I was fitting the launch in between errands with the fiancée and work, so I hadn't prepped more than my cable cutter... Certainly not my most prepared launch, but I got a couple flights off and I came back with everything I left with!
First up was my Big Brute on a Pro38 3G H100 I-max, a propellant I haven't flown before. My goal for this flight was successful dual deployment with the Archetype cable cutter and RRC2+. I also added a 12" drogue to elevate the nosecone. It's first flight last month suffered a main tangle when the booster fell through the main after successful cable cutter deployment. Also ripped off a rail guide.
Boost on the H100 was perfect, angling into the wind just right. Great flame and funky brown/white smoke! Then came apogee...and the main chute?!? D'oh!!! In my rushing I mixed up my altimeter connections!! That thing drifted from the left side of the field, all the way over the right field, over the next property, over the road, over the next tree line and finally landed in a small field surrounded by trees... L-U-C-K-Y. I finally found it after driving around and traversing some barbed wire, beeping away 1780'. Whew... Retry next launch.
Video: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10100991797766418&set=vb.29705070&type=3
After the unexpected hike, my time was waning so I pulled out the Ulimate, (2) G53FJs and got a DMS G80T from Ken. I dipped 3 Q2s in Quickdip, drilled the G80 to 8 secs, packed a 36" chute for motor deploy and installed plugs in the open motor tubes. My pyrogen heads wouldn't fit in the G53s so I pulled the closures off, shorted the leads, inserted them into the grain directly and notified the RSO of what I was doing.
Video: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10100991801853228&set=vb.29705070&type=3
The G53s lit instantly, getting the Ultimate moving quickly. The G80 finally kicked in after a second and shifted the bird into overdrive, flying right out of the black smoke trail from the G53s. She angled into the wind a good bit and deployed well past apogee, which caused a small zipper. In my haste I failed to attach the payload section to my electronics bay, so the payload section/cone shook loose and free fell, landing undamaged. Altimeter deploy next time for sure!
I may move away from Quickdip for clusters. I've had two late ignitions using it. Back to Magnelite.
Overall it was a great launch, but I need to work on paying attention to every detail when field prepping. Advance prep is always ideal because errors can be avoided!
Thank goodness the mains made it out. What was I thinking?? I need think *everything* through! No more big flights on the Phoenix...it needs to be flown on smaller, faster burning clusters. I also may extend it to help with weather cocking and stability. That should help, right?
I enjoy taking the time!
