During a shake-down flight this morning for my new 29mm F record attempt rocket, I accidentally exceeded the club record for E, using a 24mm E15-7. The shock cord broke and the Parrot altimeter I'm using isn't certified yet, so it definitely wasn't a record. But the flight confirmed my suspicion that as soon as people start flying Parrots in record-attempt rockets, the club records are going to get re-written in a hurry. On the one hand, I couldn't be happier about that, since this was how I was hoping my Parrot altimeter development project would turn out. On the other hand, I definitely don't want anyone in the club to feel like buying a Parrot altimeter is a new de-facto entry fee for setting a low or medium power club record.
So I have a couple of proposals:
1. Any NCR club member who wants to use a Parrot for a record attempt flight can borrow one from me. (borrowed motor casing rules)
2. I'm sponsoring a prize of a free Parrot for any NCR club member who uses a Parrot to set a club or world altitude record.
The only catch is that as soon as the NCR range opens up on the first flying day after the Parrots are certified, I'm planning to launch a fleet of little rockets with the goal of setting new records in A through F. So far I've flown an A rocket to about 700 feet, (vs. club record 300 ft) and a sub-optimal E rocket to 4360 (vs club record 4130). That E rocket was designed for the F record and simmed in the high 8000's AGL with an F10-8. On the E15-7, it slightly exceeded the rocksim prediction of 4100, so if you're designing for an F record, aim for 9000 feet. 😀 (The Tripoli F record is currently 6785 feet 8O). If anyone wants to race me to it by getting a Parrot-compatible rocket ready ahead of time, feel free. As John Wilke said to me, "Come on in, the water's fine." The dimensions of the board are such that it friction-fits into an Estes BT-20 nosecone with about 1/2" sticking past the end of the shoulder. The Parrot weighs about 8-9 grams with the included battery.
When I get more time, I'll post more details in this thread. So far I have a skeleton of a website (www.featherweightaltimeters.com), but I hope soon to have a lot more information in there.
-Adrian
Let me be the first to borrow one Adrian as I hold the current E record and have a new bird I've been holding on to to set the new E and F records as well as a bird to take Wilke's G record that I've been sitting on until he moved away. (Gee I'm devious). Let's call it for Oktoberfest, but I'd like to have access to the altimeter well before that to ensure that my payload bay can fit it.
What can we do to cross paths so I can either borrow it or get explicit measurements so I can make a size mockup to fit it in place?
Warren (who lives in Longmont)
Sounds exciting. I'm glad there is some enthusiasm about altitude again. That was a tremendous boost, Adrian -- well done.
One thing I would say is that both my F and G rockets were under optimal mass. I dumped a *significant* amount of lead into my G rocket on my TRA record boost -- something like 2 or 3 oz. My F rocket was also under optimal mass, but I got to the range and didn't have my lead with me, so I flew it without being up to optimal mass.
There is a meaningful reward for my G rocket, which was lost at the "farewell" launch. For a variety of sentimental reasons, I really want to recover that rocket. My hunch is that it core sampled, given the fact that I lost signal at about t-plus sixty seconds. That said, I have not given up hope that someone may find it intact. If the rocket IS intact, it may well have a new TRA record stored on the altimeter, as my boost was very, very straight. When I was at Hartsel, I did not have a straight boost. See my diatribe on the ills of c-slot motors on other posts............
Bottom line, if someone finds my G rocket and it is intact, it is worth $100 in reward (as noted, there is a very sentimental reason I want the rocket back). If it had a hard landing and is not intact, I'll work out a (still) meaningful reward, depending on condition...
What can we do to cross paths so I can either borrow it or get explicit measurements so I can make a size mockup to fit it in place?
Sometime today I'll post a dimensioned drawing. I also have a a couple of non-functional altimeters from the previous board rev that could be used for a fit check. The previous rev is just slightly longer, and the mounting holes are smaller. I could mail one of those to you if you want. I live in Highlands Ranch, so the only time I go north of Hampden is on my way to the North site.
Here is some more detail on the Parrot prizes:
- *I think that launch order within a weekend event shouldn't be a factor. So whoever has the record at the end of any NCR (North site?) event qualifies for the prize. So assuming I can get the production Parrots built, calibrated and certified by the September launch, Bob and I (and whoever else) will have fun duking it out at that event. If Bob has the record at the end of the September launch weekend, Bob gets a Parrot. Then if John beats Bob's record at Oktoberfest, he gets a Parrot also.
*One Parrot prize per record-setter.
*If you buy a Parrot and then set a record, I'll refund your purchase price.
Attached is a 1:1 scale drawing of the board
I know I'll be going for the I record at some point, though probably not until next year 🙂
An early look at the Parrots:
I'm still more or less on track to get these done for Oktoberfest. Once I've tested and verified my calibration procedures, I'll send another email to Mr. Rouse regarding certification.
Looks great Adrian. Look forward to seeing them and I hope to borrow one at Oktoberfest to up the standards on the E record and take John Wilke's F and G records.
Warren
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