Well, after much hand-wringing I finally got my Nike Smoke to the launch pad and successfully launched it with an Aerotech F26-6FJ engine. This was a milestone for me as it represented the first time I didn't use an Estes engine (1/4A through E sizes) since I began flying rockets back in the Johnson Administration.
It was an impressive display of black smoke and satisfying throaty roar at liftoff.
But, it was a windy day--too windy--and the Nike Smoke shuttlecocked into the wind, not gaining as much altitude as I expected. As a result, the rocket nosed over and was screaming back down as the parachute opened. That's where things went wrong.
The nose cone and parachute separated from the body and shock cord-----the former drifting over our heads leisurely and into a tree branch, the latter landing high up in the crown of a big oak tree where I thought it would stay permanently.
We could see the nose cone/parachute clearly even if we couldn't retrieve it and I could see the nose cone had been cracked. I initially thought it was caused by stress from the acceleration of the ascent. But now I think, given the late deployment of the 'chute, that maybe the nosecone slammed into one of the fins as the parachute opened, causing the gash in the nosecone.
Well, it turned out those stiff winds blew the rocket body out of the tree the next day and it was recovered. We had already left for home by then, so I haven't had a chance to examine the fins to see if maybe there might be evidence that my theory is correct about a fin/nose cone collision caused the nosecone's gash.
So, long story, short---partial success. Got two more F26 engines and another Nike Smoke kit to build as a replacement and will try again.
Meantime, does anyone have a suitable replacement or substitute nose cone for an Estes Nike Smoke??
It was an impressive display of black smoke and satisfying throaty roar at liftoff.
But, it was a windy day--too windy--and the Nike Smoke shuttlecocked into the wind, not gaining as much altitude as I expected. As a result, the rocket nosed over and was screaming back down as the parachute opened. That's where things went wrong.
The nose cone and parachute separated from the body and shock cord-----the former drifting over our heads leisurely and into a tree branch, the latter landing high up in the crown of a big oak tree where I thought it would stay permanently.
We could see the nose cone/parachute clearly even if we couldn't retrieve it and I could see the nose cone had been cracked. I initially thought it was caused by stress from the acceleration of the ascent. But now I think, given the late deployment of the 'chute, that maybe the nosecone slammed into one of the fins as the parachute opened, causing the gash in the nosecone.
Well, it turned out those stiff winds blew the rocket body out of the tree the next day and it was recovered. We had already left for home by then, so I haven't had a chance to examine the fins to see if maybe there might be evidence that my theory is correct about a fin/nose cone collision caused the nosecone's gash.
So, long story, short---partial success. Got two more F26 engines and another Nike Smoke kit to build as a replacement and will try again.
Meantime, does anyone have a suitable replacement or substitute nose cone for an Estes Nike Smoke??