From 83fcd39dce79be90434fd15dad073f1052d543f7 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Bdale Garbee Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:15:36 -0600 Subject: [PATCH] create a page for Robert's Lil Nuke --- rockets/airframes/LilNuke/index.mdwn | 80 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ rockets/airframes/Maverick/index.mdwn | 17 ++++++ 2 files changed, 97 insertions(+) create mode 100644 rockets/airframes/LilNuke/index.mdwn diff --git a/rockets/airframes/LilNuke/index.mdwn b/rockets/airframes/LilNuke/index.mdwn new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b6929e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/rockets/airframes/LilNuke/index.mdwn @@ -0,0 +1,80 @@ +# Lil Nuke + +This was Robert's first high-power-capable rocket. + +## Motivation + +After Bdale got his high power certification in May of 2007, it seemed +appropriate for Robert to build a rocket capable of flying on larger motors, +too. This was +the first airframe that Robert used epoxy on, for example, and the first time +he built something using Kaplow-style motor retaining clips. + +Because we bought the optional payload bay kit, this airframe was capable of +carrying electronics. Even though it always flew with motor-based ejection, +one of the earliest [Altus Metrum](http:/altusmetrum.org) +[TeleMetrum](http://altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum) v0.1 prototypes flew many +times in this airframe, making Robert undeniably our chief test pilot! + +## Design Details + +* LOC Precision [PK-4 Lil' Nuke](http://shop.locprecision.com/product.sc?productId=114) kit +* LOC Precision [2.14" Payload Section](http://shop.locprecision.com/product.sc?productId=159) kit +* 6-32 t-nuts in aft ring for use with mirror clips in a Kaplow-style motor + retention setup + +## Build + +We ordered the kits from [Discount Rocketry](http://discountrocketry.com/) +in early August of 2007, and construction took place during the last week of +the month. We painted it in Rustoleum Red, which gave it a very cool, +"wet-looking" color. On 31 August, in the parking lot of the Marriott Pyramid +in Albuquerque, we completed the build by coating the aft centering ring and +the bulkhead at the rear of the payload bay with 30 minute hobby-store epoxy. + +## Publicity + +[Photos](http://gallery.gag.com/rockets/LilNuke) of this airframe. + +## Flights + +First flown at the [Albuquerque Rocket Society](http://www.arsabq.org/) +Thrust in the Dust launch over Labor Day weekend in 2007. + +The "funny story" about that launch is that when we arrived at the site, one +of the organizers of the launch (maybe the club president?) signed us in and +handed Robert a snap-together plastic model kit, suggesting he put it together +then come get a motor for it so he could fly a rocket too. As we walked back +to the car, Robert asked me if he really had to put the kit together... I told +him no, he didn't, but maybe one of our friends coming later in the day would +enjoy it. When the range opened, Robert was first in line at the RSO with +the Lil Nuke flight-prepped and ready to go on an Aerotech G54W-M motor. When +he handed it over to the same guy to check out, the guy looked at me +questioningly, and I told him "don't look at me, it's his rocket!"... the +facial expression that resulted was just priceless. It was a perfect flight. + +Later that same day, Robert flew again on an Aerotech G104T-M, and it was +another perfect flight other than gnarling one of the fins a bit on landing. + +This airframe flew many, many times on E, F, and G motors. Early on, two of +the fins popped off on different flights and had to be re-epoxied. + +On Friday afternoon, 5 October 2007 at [NCR's](http://www.ncrocketry.org/) +Oktoberfest launch, Robert flew this airframe on an Aerotech G77R-M, which +for a long time was his favorite motor. The elastic shock cord separated +on the booster side of the swivel at apogee. Amazingly, thanks largely to +the short grass around the launch site, we were able to locate and recover +both pieces in undamaged condition! We replaced the elastic with about 15 +feet of black parachute cord, which worked brilliantly. + +After many dozens of flights, the cardboard tube began to come apart slightly. +Robert decided to "retire" the airframe until his 14th birthday, when he would +be old enough to attempt a [NAR](http://nar.org) Junior L1 high power cert. +Sure enough, on 19 January 2013, the Lil Nuke was taken out of retirement, +fitted with a brand-new [TeleMetrum](http://altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum) version +1.2b board, and flown at Hudson Ranch on an Aerotech H165R-M provided by +Joe Hinton, the [Giant Leap](http://giantleaprocketry.com/) motor guy, for +a successful certification flight! + +This airframe is now permanently retired to "hanger queen" status. + diff --git a/rockets/airframes/Maverick/index.mdwn b/rockets/airframes/Maverick/index.mdwn index 0dc43a2..3cfc9ec 100644 --- a/rockets/airframes/Maverick/index.mdwn +++ b/rockets/airframes/Maverick/index.mdwn @@ -41,5 +41,22 @@ a 38mm motor mount. ## Flights +The first three flights of the Maverick were at the +[Tripoli Colorado](http://www.tripolicolorado.org/) 2012 Fall Frenzy launch. +It has flown several times since at Hudson Ranch. + +On 2 March 2013 flew it on a Cesaroni I345 at Hudson Ranch, and it was a +beautiful flight until it hit the ground. The airframe was swingly wildly +and managed to break one of the aft fins and pop off the strake fin on the +same side when it hit the ground. It's fixable, but how frustrating! + +A collection of photos](http://gallery.gag.com/rockets/Maverick/) are online. + ## Conclusions +This is a pretty cool airframe. Putting a +[TeleMini](http://altusmetrum.org/TeleMini) in the nose cone was a great idea, +both because apogee electronic deployment allows Robert to fly "random" motors +without having to worry about ejection delays, and because one flight at +Hudson Ranch brought the airframe down in the canyon where we never would have +found it without the ability to do radio direction finding after landing! -- 2.30.2