Chris LaPanse

I suspect that for this kind of rocket, drag is a larger problem than a few ounces – you’d probably get higher with solid carbon fiber fins made out of layers of uni aligned in different directions than you would…   Read more»

That definitely sounds like the way to go, Adrian. A VK cone plus single thickness tubing would probably have a pretty significant gain compared to the double wall with a conical (though if I remember right, the conical does do…   Read more»

Honestly, I’d say CF should easily hold up if done right. I’m thinking of something like Jim Jarvis’s LDRS 25 rocket (4″ MD on an N4000), scaled down slightly. I’d be pretty surprised if you got too much beyond M3…   Read more»

We’ll gladly launch smaller rockets all day long, and it’s also fun to watch the bigger ones, even if you aren’t flying them. There isn’t any launch fee for low power as far as I know, and you should just…   Read more»

Actually, there are specific scheduled launch dates. You can see them in the launch schedule on the left side of the website. Our next launch is on July 11, and we typically have one every month (there isn’t a June…   Read more»

OK, using a very quick and dirty rocksim, I just got an estimated altitude of 6800 feet. Rocksim usually estimates on the high side, but either of those two altitudes still seems plausible.

I don’t know – 7400 feet sounds almost believable, off the top of my head here. You did have an L730 and 3 small Js powering your rocket. That’s 4700Ns total, near to a full L. My 4″ AIM-120C (34lbs…   Read more»

Heh.You can race ahead – I’m thinking K by the end of Mayhem (unless we have bad weather on one or two of the days). I’ll cover L and M over the summer, and N at Oktoberfest, assuming all goes…   Read more»

Winning Moter “O” “P” or “Q” 8OThis could get expensive. 8OCould come down to Bank Roll. I’m thinking that I’ll go to N.If someone wants to fly an O (Art?), they’re welcome to – that’s getting a bit too expensive…   Read more»

I’m still lurking in the back of the pack, and the real dark horse, Art, has yet to even start his schooling.

PS, schooling started and well on it’s way! ;)Art

Oh, you just wait 😀

What I’d really love is one of these to throw in my AMRAAM//www.megaupload.com/?d=WRELY1P0I may even have to get my L3 just for this motor 😀

I’ll definitely be there, though my L2 has been delayed due to excessive homework. It’s basically structurally complete, but recovery is still unfinished, as is paint. It’ll be ready for oktoberfest. I’ll bring the rocket to the launch anyways though…   Read more»

Oh, and with the balloon technique, you don’t even need mylar. The balloon releases just fine on its own.

Very nice 😀

Chris,Do you remember what the tube weighed? Did you wrap the carbon over cardboard, or a fully-removable mandrel?I did it using my 29/360 case as a mandrel (wrapped it in mylar, then CF, then more mylar, then heat shrink, then…   Read more»

Here’s the tube after it came out. I sanded it a bit and hit the middle part with some clear coat. It’s almost 13″ long, and 29 grams. It seems much stiffer and stronger than it needs to be. But…   Read more»

Sure. I’ll tell him to contact you.

Looking at some of my dad’s shots, it’s hard to tell, but it’s possible that it came off as a drag separation right after booster burnout. It looks like it gets shorter at that point, but it’s hard to tell…   Read more»

A Cirrus well built on a healthy I will do it.

I’m planning an 18″ PML chute (huge spill hole) on an I altitude attempt sometime this summer (You aren’t safe John ;))Let’s just say that my current sim puts me in excess of the current Tripoli record 😀