As the title suggests this is what is left of the 3 rockets that I launched today.
Let me say that it was an absolutely beautiful day at Rabbit Dry Lake. The ground was actually soft, but not muddy, but it didn't help much saving the rockets when they hit the ground. We got there about 8:30 and the temps were chilly at best. We ended up leaving just after noon.
First up was my scratch BT-80 24mm. The launch was on a D12-5. Probably 500 feet and late deployed ended up zippering the body tube. The second launch it CATO on the pad E9-4. I could probably still rebuild it, but more than likely I'll save the nose cone and build another one. Not sure yet?
Below are the two videos. Second video is the CATO
[video=youtube;dF9poZQJmU0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF9poZQJmU0&feature=youtu.be[/video]
Here is the CATO with an E9-4. It just back fired / exploded on the pad.
[video=youtube;cdS1UVPjnwI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdS1UVPjnwI&feature=youtu.be[/video]
Next up was my FATBOY 3x24. The first flight only one motor ignited and it did a bunch of flips. The next two videos are successful flights on D12-5's, estimated apogee at 977’ The last flight however burned a hole in the 18" Top Flight parachute. I love the neon green parachutes. They are really easy to spot even against a blue sky.
Enjoy
[video=youtube;X4BBfIvZ0G4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4BBfIvZ0G4[/video]
Next up was the rocket I built for my girlfriend. She actually got to launch this one, which explains why you hear in the background some instructions I’m giving her on how to use the launch controller. This was a beautiful flight. I loaded (4) D12-7’s and it shot straight as an arrow, estimated apogee at 1800’. When it landed there slight fin damage, but I didn’t think it was bad enough to fly again.
[video=youtube;KASMqEP80oI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KASMqEP80oI[/video]
The next flight was a different story. I sent it up on (4) E12-8’s and left the pad like it was on steroids! As it was close to Apogee about 2500 feet it went squirrely and from what I could tell broke apart. Pieces came down in smoke. The chute brought down the nose cone and the Nomex blanket just floated down by itself next to the chute. Unfortunately all that was left was a destroyed fin can. I drove around looking for the rest of the rocket, but it had disintegrated into ash. My girlfriend later found the key chain camera with tape attached to it; unbelievable that she found it on a lake bed so big. Her new nick name is “Blood Hound” See why in next video below.
[video=youtube;5amVSFIN7ag]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5amVSFIN7ag&feature=youtu.be[/video]
As I was going through the video’s I forgot about the very last video and deleted the one before it, which was the actual flight of it exploding. So unfortunately I don’t have the footage. Believe I wish I did!! It would have been something to see. I must say this that those key chain cameras can really take a beating! Mine still works after all the abuse it went through today and for $30 it was a great investment.
This was my day at the desert launching. I apologize for lack of pictures, but my girlfriend was in charge of my camera phone and it was pretty cold. Her fingers were numb fingers so she didn’t take many. I was just happy to get the ones I got, but still wish I had the video of the exploding rocket.
Let me say that it was an absolutely beautiful day at Rabbit Dry Lake. The ground was actually soft, but not muddy, but it didn't help much saving the rockets when they hit the ground. We got there about 8:30 and the temps were chilly at best. We ended up leaving just after noon.
First up was my scratch BT-80 24mm. The launch was on a D12-5. Probably 500 feet and late deployed ended up zippering the body tube. The second launch it CATO on the pad E9-4. I could probably still rebuild it, but more than likely I'll save the nose cone and build another one. Not sure yet?
Below are the two videos. Second video is the CATO
[video=youtube;dF9poZQJmU0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF9poZQJmU0&feature=youtu.be[/video]
Here is the CATO with an E9-4. It just back fired / exploded on the pad.
[video=youtube;cdS1UVPjnwI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdS1UVPjnwI&feature=youtu.be[/video]
Next up was my FATBOY 3x24. The first flight only one motor ignited and it did a bunch of flips. The next two videos are successful flights on D12-5's, estimated apogee at 977’ The last flight however burned a hole in the 18" Top Flight parachute. I love the neon green parachutes. They are really easy to spot even against a blue sky.
Enjoy
[video=youtube;X4BBfIvZ0G4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4BBfIvZ0G4[/video]
Next up was the rocket I built for my girlfriend. She actually got to launch this one, which explains why you hear in the background some instructions I’m giving her on how to use the launch controller. This was a beautiful flight. I loaded (4) D12-7’s and it shot straight as an arrow, estimated apogee at 1800’. When it landed there slight fin damage, but I didn’t think it was bad enough to fly again.
[video=youtube;KASMqEP80oI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KASMqEP80oI[/video]
The next flight was a different story. I sent it up on (4) E12-8’s and left the pad like it was on steroids! As it was close to Apogee about 2500 feet it went squirrely and from what I could tell broke apart. Pieces came down in smoke. The chute brought down the nose cone and the Nomex blanket just floated down by itself next to the chute. Unfortunately all that was left was a destroyed fin can. I drove around looking for the rest of the rocket, but it had disintegrated into ash. My girlfriend later found the key chain camera with tape attached to it; unbelievable that she found it on a lake bed so big. Her new nick name is “Blood Hound” See why in next video below.
[video=youtube;5amVSFIN7ag]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5amVSFIN7ag&feature=youtu.be[/video]
As I was going through the video’s I forgot about the very last video and deleted the one before it, which was the actual flight of it exploding. So unfortunately I don’t have the footage. Believe I wish I did!! It would have been something to see. I must say this that those key chain cameras can really take a beating! Mine still works after all the abuse it went through today and for $30 it was a great investment.
This was my day at the desert launching. I apologize for lack of pictures, but my girlfriend was in charge of my camera phone and it was pretty cold. Her fingers were numb fingers so she didn’t take many. I was just happy to get the ones I got, but still wish I had the video of the exploding rocket.
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