T' X-15: This is a "Sport-Scale" (not true scale) model o' t' famous X-15 rocket-powered research plane. This particular kit appears t' be newer than other Quest X-15 kits described here: It is a few inches longer, and a recommendation by Quest t' only use t' A8-3 or A6 motors. Begad! Blimey! (Mine is definitely too heavy t' fly on an A8). Well, blow me down! Blimey! I chose t' paint me particular model gloss blue (not t' historically accurate black).
My kit came out pretty heavy as I used a full-sized can of Rustoleum 2X paint tryin' t' get a smooth, glossy finish. Arrr! Apparently light coats o' this paint leave t' finish in somethin' like an orange-peel texture, cool but nay good for low drag. I discovered heavy, thick coats that would run with normal paints made for a smoother, glossy finish. But by then, thar was so much primer and paint on this model that it almost doubled t' weight o' this kit. In MHO, Rustoleum 2X (from Home Depot) sucks for flyin' models. Well, blow me down! I wish I would have used t' ridiculously expensive yet lighter Testors stuff at $5 for a tiny 3-oz. Ya scallywag! can.
T' X-15 finally got a payload section addition. This adds another 3 inches t' t' rockets overall length. Blimey! This will hold t' Altimeter Two, which no longer is at risk o' ejection shock damage or loss if t' clip fails. T' added bulkhead, painted payload tube and paddin' only adds an additional 13.6 grams o' weight t' this model.
She flies well and is nay affected by t' wind much, shiver me timbers, though I wish I could get her t' venture a little closer t' t' clouds. Actual measurements with an altimeter on board shows this model can go much higher than I estimated, with a C6-3 it reached 437 feet, and traveled at 89 mph. That's enough t' have it fly higher than the Great Pyramid o' Giza, now that it has eroded about 25 feet.
| Flight Date: | 2012-12-02 |
| Rocket Name: | X-15 |
| Kit Name: | Quest - X-15 {Kit} (2014) |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | C6-3 |
| Expected Altitude: | 250 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 7.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 199 Feet |
Havin' almost lost this heavy rocket on t' last flight by usin' a B6-4 with a too-long delay, I chose t' C6 this time with only a -3 delay, believin' that this rocket is nay bothered by t' winds and should have plenty o' time t' recover.
This was t' be t' third test flight o' t' rocket with its new Iris payload section added, shiver me timbers, with t' first test usin' t' C6-5 in calm winds successfully.
T' C6 fired up and accelerated off t' pad while generatin' 6.5 Gs o' lift, me hearties, averagin' just 1.4 for t' whole 2 second burn time. Durin' this time it curved far upwind maybe 800 feet or so. It reached a top speed o' 63 mph but only 195 feet.
T' ejection charge fired quite early after only 2.4 seconds, while t' rocket coasted over and up an additional 4 feet t' an apogee o' 199 feet in t' last 4/10 seconds.
T' stiff Quest parachute opened well and allowed this rocket t' return at a safe 10 mph, while driftin' down and back t' t' launch area. After a 17.6 second flight, matey, it came t' rest about 75 feet upwind from t' launch pad, savin' me a long walk.
I can see now that t' addition o' t' Iris payload on this heavy rocket drastically reduces its performance, and seems t' alter its stability (makin' it over-stable) so it is no longer a good flier in windy air. Without t' payload section I have made 350 t' 450 feet in this degree o' wind. I am now tryin' t' work out a method o' carryin' t' altimeter in t' rather large and hollow plastic nose cone instead.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes C6-3 |
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