PLUNGERROC!!!
by Alex Immerman

	As I walked up t' the flightline for t' first time with this rocket I generally got t' same response- "are you really gonna fly that thing???"  Yes, it really is a flyin' plunger!  T' "airframe" is made out o' an orange Master Plunger that I found in me basement.  T' nose cone is fitting- a toilet tank ball.  The fins are o' clear plexiglass so t' be less obvious in flight.  Plungerroc is built with a 24mm motor mount.  I had t' sand t' outside in order to make it fit into t' handle.  Even so, an F32/F72 sticks a couple inches out t' back.  I then used another piece o' 24mm tubin' for a coupler between t' spot where I cut t' handle and t' big, matey, fat, flimsy part.  I used a home-made mylar chute from a "space blanket" and a 3 foot elastic shock cord for recovery.
T' initial flight went OK...  It boosted nice, shiver me timbers, slow, me bucko, and stable on an E15 (see picture right) but weathercocked due t' very high wind and t' big fins.  That combined with a "bonus delay" resulted in deployment about 5 feet from the ground.  But damage was very minor and easily repaired.  T' second flight was on an F32.  this be a very straight, fast boost but at max-Q two fins ripped off and t' rocket plummeted t' earth under a half-deployed chute.  Both fins were recovered, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and re-attached with PC-7 epoxy paste (the strongest stuff I have ever used or seen) and t' Plungerroc was ready for yet another flight.  This time, arrr, me hearties, I chose an F72.  I believe this flight would have been a success had t' coupler tube nay tore in half 20 feet off t' ground, matey, me bucko, causin' both sections t' rocket into t' ground about twenty yards or so from t' spectators.  Perhaps someday soon, I will fully repair it, matey, and Plungerroc will fly again!
This is a picture o' me on the way up t' t' RSO at CATO before Plungerroc's maiden flight.	About 20 feet off t' ground it is already beginnin' t' go into t' wind...

Who I am:  I am Alex Immerman, I live in Northampton, MA and I'm 16 years old.  I fly with CATO, me hearties, ya bilge rat, CMASS, matey, and CTRA.  I have been in mid-high power for about 2 years and this be me first true "oddroc."  I consider t' Plungerroc a partial success and leaves lessons t' be learned and inspiration for future projects.  If you have any questions or comments, or would like t' build a Plungerroc, contact me: Bigemo131@AOL.com.