The Aero-Hi: This is a cute little flier from Estes using 13mm T engines. It is a pseudo-scale sounding rocket design. This normally uses a tiny 8-inch parachute but was converted to a streamer for a bit, then later converted back into a parachute recovery which I find easier to pack. I actually have two of these, one painted green and this one red. One unique feature of this kit is the simulated conduit up the side of the body tube, made from a balsa strip.
This rocket was later given my "Iris" modification, which extends the body tube about 5 inches above the streamer/parachute bay, and allows for a payload with an Altimeter One or Two to measure altitudes. It's a shame I "ruined" it by adding the payload, she was a cute little bird. (I can always remove the payload.) I like to send this, or the EAC Viper rocket up first on launch days, it's a good and economical way to get an idea how the winds are blowing without risking a lost rocket. As a result, this has flown many times. (Iris is named after the Greek god of the rainbow. She is a messenger of the gods, linking the gods with humanity.) This rocket has flown as high as 282 feet with the A motor, which is higher than the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in NC, the tallest lighthouse in the USA.
| Flight Date: | 2013-01-13 |
| Rocket Name: | Aero-Hi |
| Kit Name: | Estes - Aero-Hi {Kit} (817) [1973-1974] |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | 1/2A3-2 |
| Expected Altitude: | 96 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 5.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 87 Feet |
For the first flight of the new year, I wanted to wrap-up flight testing of the Aero-Hi. It was foggy with low visibility, so high flights were not a good idea today. The Aero-Hi was fitted with a new parachute after a bad encounter with a tree last year.
The rocket lit up and accelerated at 9.5 Gs, averaging 4.5 Gs for the 4/10 second burn. It reached a top speed of 41 mph and coasted for 2.2 seconds to an altitude of 87 feet, turning over and dropping 10 feet in the last ½ second before ejection fired. The too-long delay of the motor was useful in this flight.
At 77 feet the new parachute opened up and the rocket came down at 10 mph for a good landing. Since this flight was quite low, the rocket landed within about 15 feet from the launcher. Though it was only a 7.8 second flight, it was a perfect first flight of the new year!
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes 1/2A3T-2 |
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