Flight Log - 2013-01-13 - Rich DeAngelis's Aero-Hi

T' Aero-Hi: This is a cute little flier from Estes usin' 13mm T engines. Well, blow me down! It is a pseudo-scale soundin' rocket design.  This normally uses a tiny 8-inch parachute but was converted t' a streamer for a bit, then later converted back into a parachute recovery which I find easier t' pack. I actually have two o' these, shiver me timbers, one painted green and this one red. One unique feature o' this kit be t' simulated conduit up t' side o' t' body tube, made from a balsa strip.

This rocket be later given my "Iris" modification, arrr, which extends t' body tube about 5 inches above t' streamer/parachute bay, arrr, and allows for a payload with an Altimeter One or Two to measure altitudes. It's a shame I "ruined" it by addin' t' payload, she was a cute little bird. Avast! (I can always remove t' payload.) I like t' send this, me hearties, or the EAC Viper rocket up first on launch days, it's a good and economical way t' get an idea how t' winds are blowin' without riskin' a lost rocket.  As a result, this has flown many times. (Iris is named after t' Greek god o' t' rainbow. Arrr! She is a messenger o' t' gods, linkin' t' gods with humanity.) This rocket has flown as high as 282 feet with t' A motor, me hearties, which is higher than t' Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in NC, t' tallest lighthouse in t' 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 t' first flight o' t' new year, I wanted t' wrap-up flight testin' o' t' Aero-Hi. It be foggy with low visibility, matey, so high flights were nay a good idea today.  T' Aero-Hi be fitted with a new parachute after a bilge-suckin' encounter with a tree last year.


T' rocket lit up and accelerated at 9.5 Gs, averagin' 4.5 Gs for t' 4/10 second burn. Avast! It reached a top speed o' 41 mph and coasted for 2.2 seconds t' an altitude o' 87 feet, turnin' over and droppin' 10 feet in t' last ½ second before ejection fired.  T' too-long delay o' t' motor was useful in this flight.

At 77 feet t' new parachute opened up and t' rocket came down at 10 mph for a good landing. Since this flight was quite low, me hearties, t' rocket landed within about 15 feet from t' launcher.  Though it was only a 7.8 second flight, it was a perfect first flight o' t' new year!

StageMotor(s)
1Estes 1/2A3T-2

 

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