.: September 2023

(BAR-21) Ring Wing Lockheed Airliner

A Scratch Build / Scratch Design of a concept from Lockheed. Rear Eject Spool powered by an offset mounted 24mm motor.

First Flight: Pending

Launch Report: Ring Wing Airliner

Date: 2025-05-08

Background

This is a single stage scratch design / built rocket. It is a model of the Lockheed Airliner.

This is a rear eject rocket that utilizes a spool.

This rocket ahs Altimeter Two stowage

On Site Preparations

For a parachute I used a 18” Nylon chute.

The altimeter was installed and turned on.

An igniter was installed in the motor and secured via a rubber band.

The rocket was slid onto the 5/16" launch rod and the controller wires were attached to the igniter leads.

The site was clear and no outside observers were present.

Launch

Wind was out of the West / Southwest and was about 4 mph.

The Aerotech E30-4 motor ignited and the rocket leaped off the pad.

It flew stable off the rod to about 200 feet.

At ejection the chute deployed and the chute blossomed.

The rocket landed 0.10 mile from the launch pad, to the North-Northwest. It was laying right in the middle of a driveway.

Condition of rocket after the flight

The rocket was undamaged.

The spool forward tube collapsed at the forward centering ring.

The Altimeter Two was removed. No data was recorded. I had neglected to set it for Flight #1. Rookie mistake.

Conclusions

The rocket was stable.

What I learned

This was a spectacular flight.

The photos and launch video reflected this flight accurately.

Video of the Maiden Flight Of The Ring Wing

(BAR-20) TWA SST

2025-05-17

Spent some time looking at the TWA SST in Open Rocket. In the "Flight #1" configuration the rocket had a Stability of 1.37 cal / 7.01%.

By adding offset front nose weight / pod those numbers increase to a Stability of 2.26 cal / 11.6%.

Being offset, hanging below C/L, also helps to correct the rockets CG, pulling it down closer to the C/L.

What the heck, I'll go ahead and add the nose weight / pod and see how she flies.

Nose Cone Weight Pod

Turned the front nose weight pod from some 1" dia. poplar, bored it out to accept some 1/2" steel threaded rod, and then modified the nose cone to accept the pod.

2025-05-14 And... with the help of a Gorilla.... she's all back together again.

I was going to repaint the repairs... but hey, flight scars are cool.

Launch Report: TWA SST

Date: 2025-05-08

Background

This is a single stage scratch design / built rocket. It is similar in shape to the World Air Force Supersonic Transport.

This rocket is a standard front eject parachute style.

This rocket has Altimeter Two stowage.

On Site Preparations

For a parachute I used a 24” Nylon chute.

The Altimeter was set to Flight #2 and then installed in it’s POD.

An igniter was installed in the motor and secured via a rubber band.

The rocket was slid onto the 5/16" launch rod and the controller wires were attached to the igniter leads.

The site was clear and no outside observers were present.

Launch

Wind was out of the West / Southwest and was about 4 mph.

The Aerotech G74-4 motor ignited and the rocket leaped off the pad.

It flew stable off the rod to about 206 feet and then weathercocked severely to a near horizontal trajectory. When the thrust stopped and the coast started it fell from the sky.

It ground hit (12.9 g’s) on its flat belly and broke into 4 pieces.

While on the ground ejection occurred and the chute deployed.

The rocket landed 162 feet from the launch pad, to the Southwest.

Condition of rocket after the flight

All four breaks were in the four plywood “ring fin” pieces. The pieces can easily be wood glued back together.

Altimeter Readings

Altitude: 206 feet, Top Speed: 254 mph, Thrust: 1.42 sec, Peak Acceleration: 12.9 g’s

Average Accel: 8.1 g's, Coasts to Apogee: -0.4 sec, Apogee to Eject: 0 sec Ejection Altitude: 206 feet,

Descent Rate: 46 mph, Duration: 4 sec.

Conclusions

The rocket was stable, but experienced severe weather-cocking due to its design.

What I learned

This was a spectacular flight.

The Altimeter Two is one durable little device.

The photos and launch video reflected this flight accurately.

Flight Video: Maiden Flight Of The TWA SST

This Scratch Build / Scratch Design started out as a World Air Force SST, but morphed into a TWA Supersonic Transport. Single 29mm Motor, with an option of (3) 24mm motors just for giggles.

First Flight: Pending