| Model |
Flt
# |
Recovery Type |
Motor |
Comments |
|
Spyglass 1
|
8
|
Rocket Glider
|
Estes 1/2A3-2T
|
This was my flight for the Predicted Duration event at the first SeaNAR
Sectional Contest. The rules for Predicted Duration require that
it be both the first flight of that model for the day, and the first timed
flight of the flier for the day. In compliance, I made a confident
prediction of 35 seconds based on past performance of Spyglass 1.
Unfortunately, the boom only partly deployed (this has been a recurring
problem with this model, apparently due to ejection crud that collects
in the tube and adds friction to the system). None the less, the
model did glide, after a fashion, and the flight was ruled qualified --
but with an actual time of 11 seconds, my score in this event was much
too high to be competitive (in fact, I came in last of seven entrants in
this event). Ah, well, on to D Egg Dur. |
|
Betty-X
|
7
|
Dual 24" nylon parasheets
|
Estes D12-5
|
With a new parachute folding technique (folding the two parachutes
together to reduce the likelihood of a single opening -- which made it
tricky to fit the two parachutes in the Quest T-40 tube), and some masking
tape on the motor mount to (hopefully) prevent ejection, I selected an
egg from those that had been screened to meet NAR standards, prepped the
rocket and motor, filled out the flight card, showed my motor to the Contest
Director to confirm it was contest certified, and I was ready to go.
I put the rocket on the pad, wrapped tape on the rod to stop the pop lug
at the top (thus pulling it off the rocket, and removing its drag), and
when it was my turn, launched! The ascent was perfect, with deployment
exactly at apogee, and both parachutes opened quickly -- but the resulting
time, 52 seconds, wasn't anything like good enough to place. Ah well,
back to the judging table, open the capsule, show the egg intact, and then
off to prep again. |
|
Betty-X
|
8
|
Dual 24" nylon parasheets
|
Estes D12-5
|
It took me several tries to get the parachutes folded together again
small enough that they'd stuff into the T-40 tube, but once I'd managed
it, it was off to the judge table again to verify the motor, and back to
the pad. Once more, the boost was good -- there was some wobble which
I think was due to upset from the pop lug not separating cleanly -- and
ejection close to apogee, but the time was even shorter. The boost
wobble must have cost me altitude, as the flight time on the second flight
was only 48 seconds. Meanwhile, a fourteen year old girl, Amanda
Larson, had posted a time of nearly a minute and a half to win the contest
(after moving up a division due to insufficient competitors in her age
group) and set a new national B Division record into the bargain, and the
second place flier, Michael Park (yes, the same one who owns Seattle Rocket
Works) had take second place and the C Division record. Of course,
one reason we chose this event was because the C Division record was vacant
(and it turned out B Division was as well), but times of over a minute
and a quarter are reasonably good for the first time flying the event for
all participants. Next, time, watch out for me, the Egg Cone, and
the super-chute... B) |
|
Spike (2)
|
18
|
18" nylon parasheet
|
North Coast F62-6 Dark Star
|
Contest over, there was time for one sport flight before the range
needed to be taken down and the primary sponsor headed for home -- I prepped
the Spike with an F62 (takes less than five minutes from decision until
ready to fly), and carefully aligned the rod to vertical. When the
button was pushed, the rocket roared off the rod without a trace of arc,
ejecting precisely at apogee for a perfect flight. |