Launch! Schoolyard, April 28, 2014

Yesterday was my last chance to sneak in a launch before working a cruise from May 3 - 15. I took the short walk to the soccer field a little after 7:00 a.m.

An old reliable, the ORANGE flew with a Quest A6-4 to about 200'.
Landing was a little close to the one lone tree so the launcher was moved to the south east.
Ejection was right after apogee. The parachute took a second to fully open.




I just can't seem to retire this one - 
The Quest AS-1 ESCORT was flown with an Estes A8-3.
It's 14th flight got up to 250'.
The Odd'l Rockets red and white 'chute brought it down easily.






I should have pressed the retaining tape ring around the engine before launching the FlisKits MMX CRAYON!
Altitude always seems higher on rockets this small, probably 100 feet.
The engine ejected and the crayon nosed in.
The small launch lug was gone and (strangely) one internal centering ring.



I was curious to fly the Estes TECH ROCKET.
On this stretch Alpha style model you roll your own body tube with gummed tape. The body tube is soft, it feels like you could crush it with two fingers.
Flight with an A8-3 got it to 200'.
Enlarge the inset picture to see the burn marks on the two closest fins.
The engine hook is centered between the burn marks, no burn mark is on the opposite fin.
This suggests the extended bend in the engine hook can deflect the flame. (Remember the too large mini-engine hooks?)


This was interesting!
I picked up a MPC B6-0 engine at a club launch.
It was a tight fit in the FlisKits FEORD X150.
(That should have been my first clue that the casing had swelled.)

Boost was only to 10 feet before the nozzle blew out! No damage to the Feord saucer.

My last launch was the textbook flight of the morning.
The sixth flight of the re-finished Estes DER RED MAX clone was to 325' with a B6-4.
Winds were just starting up so the middle of the old Centuri parachute got a wrap of tape. Reefing the 'chute kept it close.

Also flown:
Estes GYROC clone with an A8-3 engine.
Boost showed a spiral with a loud pop at ejection nearing 300'.
The engine casing came in fast with a high pitched whistle. It landed close with a thump and bounce.
I was reminded why 18mm engine eject models are no longer in fashion.

Seven flights in total - that's a lot for me in a single session.