A 4" rocket, it is 29mm powered with a rear eject spool scratch design / scratch build. It's made to look like it was built from modified salvage yard parts from the Mercury / Saturn Era.
First Launch: Pending
Friday, October 21, 2022
Friday, September 2, 2022
(BAR-12) P-40 Warhawk
2022-09-02 P-40 Warhawk
A BT-300 based oddroc built as an homage to the WWII P-40 Warhawk. It's a scratch build, scratch design rocket with a 24mm rear eject spool.
First Launch: Pending
Launch Report, Photos and Video
Launch Report: P-40 Warhawk Model Rocket
Date: 2024-05-30
Background
This is the maiden launch of this rocket
On Site Preparations
I used a Nomex chute protector for this rear eject spool design.
For a parachute I used a 28” Nylon chute.
This launch used a E20-4W Composite motor. This is Aerotech’s “White Lightning” propellant.
The supplied Aerotech igniter was used.
The rocket was slid onto the 5/16" launch rod and the controller wires were attached to the igniter leads.
Launch
Wind was out of the East and was about 4 mph at the most.
John stated the sky was clear - launch site was clear and did the countdown: 5-4-3-2-1. Teresa pushed the button on the launch controller.
The motor ignited and the rocket leaped off the pad. It flew stable, deployed the chute, and was recovered 329 feet West of the lunch horse.
Condition of rocket after the flight
The rocket was uninjured and in-flight ready condition.
Conclusions
This rocket has a calculated stability of 0.002 calibers. With the base drag hack it has a calculated stability of 1.04.
A string swing test was performed and the rocket passed that test.
What I learned
This was an awesome flight. Straight as an arrow up, and a nice gentle recovery.
Monday, August 29, 2022
Flutter-By... an upscale to BT-60
I originally did an upscale to this Estes Designed Rocket in Open Rocket back in August of 2022.
Revisiting it now and messing with the design. This one will have an
Air-2 Genie style inspired oversized nosecone and 1/4" plywood fins.
It's a two-piece design that disassembles at ejection... and the pieces tumble recover... in this upscaled version the top half weighs 9.4 ounces... the bottom half weighs 5.26 ounces.
2024-11-30 Drawing Set For The Flutter-By BT-60, Rev 02
Thursday, April 7, 2022
(BAR-11) TIE Fighter Booster
2022-04-07
The Luke and Vader Dog Fight Rocket - A Scratch Design/Build: My X-Wing Alpha Utilizing Tie Fighter As A Booster.
The clear plastic disc is removable and only used during flight. It creates base drag and makes the booster stable.
2024-05-30 Launch Report, Photos and Video
First Launch: Pending
Launch Report: X-Wing Tie Fighter Dog Fight
Date: 2024-05-30
Background
This is a two-stage rocket. The Tie Fighter has a D12-0, The X-Wing has a C6-5.
On Site Preparations
For wadding I used some streamer material.
For a parachute I used my 12” home made Mylar chute.
An Estes standard starter was installed and taped into place.
The rocket was slid onto the 5/16" launch rod and the controller wires were attached to the igniter leads.
Launch
Wind was out of the East and was about 4 mph at the most.
John stated the sky was clear - launch site was clear and did the countdown: 5-4-3-2-1. Teresa pushed the button on the launch controller.
The D12-0 motor ignited and the rocket leaped off the pad. It flew stable upward to an altitude of about 50 feet where it made a sharp left turn toward the East. The rocket then gap staged, the Tie Fighter dropped, 60 feet from the launch horse, and the X-Wing took off on a westward path, pointed in a slightly downward angle.
The X-Wing dove into the earth at full speed, 92 feet from the launch horse, where the motor delay burned and the ejection charge fired. This caused a small grass fire, which John put out.
Condition of rocket after the flight
The X-Wing’s 2 lower wings were ripped off the fuselage and the front of the fuselage was burned beyond recognition.
The Tie Fighter’s one vertical panel was ripped from its support.
Conclusions
The rockets stability was -0.126 calibers. With the base drag hack it was 0.497 calibers.
A string swing test was performed and the rocket passed that test.
This rocket, in the 2 stage configuration, was not stable.
What I learned
This was a spectacular flight. The site was clear and no observers were present.
Don’t push the calculated stability calibers on an odd roc to such extents.
Don’t put so much confidence in the swing test. It's good, but it's not a guarantee.
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