CEG hold their first real launch. The weather in the morning was just great. Almost short sleeve weather with little to no wind. The temp was about 55 to 60 with a little wind that was chilly brought the temp down just enough to keep light coats on. There was about 10 core group guys with another ten to twenty spectators on and off though out the day. Dale even cooked some hotdogs and chili. All in all with four successful flight and a mishap with Steve's static test, it was a great rocket day.
There were four flight using My launch pad and launch controller and Steve Mashburn's new heavy duty rail and launch controller. After getting setup James loaded up his 54mm Wimpy Red L motor in his rocket while Ken loaded up his SATV1 (Swank Aerospace Test Vehicle 1) with his 54mm K AN motor.
Ken was away first with a beautiful slow build up and lift off. The rocket started to accelerate for a very nice flight to about 4300 feet. The winds up high where very strong as the chute came out we watched as the rocket start to just float away. It landed about 2 miles away but was recovered fully intact.
James's rocket was up next. We hit the button and the rocket started up and then jumped off the pad. With a brilliant red flame and even mach diamonds visible the rocket scorched through the air to a little over 11,000. He had added tracking smoke and made it easy to see the rocket and the high altitude and even with a streamer, the rocket still drifted a long ways away.
Next Steve loaded up his new scratch built rocket "The Assassin". This is a two stage rocket but we only flew the sustainer do to the upper winds. Steve was a little gun shy about the motor so at the last minute he cored out the nozzle and grains bigger to drop the Kn down a bit. The rocket was built with a 3 inch motor mount and he adapted it down to a 54mm to fly on his pink formula. The nice red rocket was loaded up on the pad and the button pushed. The rocket was a little underpowered and I think it would have been fine with out coring the nozzle and grains, but the chute came out on time and the made a successful landing.
The last rocket was Burt's new 4 inch diameter rocket. It to was loaded up with another "Wimpy Red" L motor. Just like James's rocket, it took off fast and mean to an estimated 11,000. As it came over it looked like it separated. The altimeter lost the battery for a bit because the battery was dislodged after it hit the ground. The main did come out and both pieces were found. the fin did do a core sample, but all was recovered.
The last item was Steve's static test of his slow fucia. After a couple of tries to get it lit (bad igniters) Steve pushed the button. The flame came out and then pop, the forward closure popped out and shot the case about 10 feet in the air. The nice thing was that my stand held up to his cato. Finally a Steve proof thrust stand. The hydrolytic system worked great in that I did not loose a load cell and still got some data.
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