Chris LaPanse

Chris,1. Yes the possibility is very high in the steam condensing or cooling off before its exits the system. So testing will have to be done to make sure we do get the water hot enough so it keeps above…   Read more»

This seems like a really interesting idea, but I do see a couple of problems.1) You’ll need to get the water EXTREMELY hot, since when it flashes to steam, it also cools substantially (energy is absorbed by the phase transition)….   Read more»

Wow!Congratulations Troy!

Not if what Chad said was correct. I would interpret his statement as saying that each fin must measure at least 2.75 inches from the center of the body tube, not the surface.

I’d tend to go with 3 wraps as well. Most commercial composite tubes are thicker than 3 wraps, but honestly, 3 wraps should be more than enough, and it should give you a good, strong, durable tube without it becoming…   Read more»

I’ll take the H180 and an I284.

Wow – impressive build, and I hadn’t realized that you had that much fabric on the fins. I should drag race you sometime 😀

12 grams may seem excessive on a 6″ airframe, but it depends on the length of the bay and as I recall Conway’s bird was a bit long. The UprOar project, a 7.5″ project with an inner airframe of 6″”…   Read more»

I use 2+ grams for a 3″ airframe, depending on the volume, so 2.8 g on a 4″ PR kit seems a little low. Ever since Conway used 12 grams on his secondary charge on his 14′, 6″ L3, I…   Read more»

Well, if you can contain the black powder, it works pretty well at nearly any altitude. I’ve had good success with surgical rubber tubing and zip ties for a number of 12000-19000 foot flights (including my L3), and I’m planning…   Read more»

And these are the areas were I think the “how hard should you push it on a cert flight” comes into play. While pushing the envlope is certainly part of the fun in our hobby, how far can you push…   Read more»

Crap. Something new to worry about ;-)Per Wilke: “or a nosecone ablating to where a hole forms”Uh, this is something I have not worried about. I’ve had polystyrene over Mach 1 with no obvious damage. I am going to try…   Read more»

Cones are always best, IMHO and testing and literature, for Mach+, but how long will your rocket fly over Mach?

Not really…Von Karman is quite a bit better.

I flew a minimum diameter, 98mm rocket (“Higher Calling”) on an M1939 a few years ago… it was not optimized for altitude. I’ve learned so much since then. I did recover cleanly, and it was a cool boost.Warren, I think…   Read more»

I decided to abandon the KISS philosophy and go with what I was excited to build, attempt and fly…. and am nevertheless still working on the L3 cert. 2 attempts, a complete loss and a second purchase/ build of a…   Read more»

Check with whomever will be certifying you. You have to land within an area cylinder to cert successfully, for some, or most, or all. I don’t remember. I think it may depend on whether you’re going NAR or TRA, only…   Read more»

😯 now if there was a Pro 120 full ‘N’ motor around, things might be interesting! Pro120?Why bother when there’s a perfectly good full N in pro98?(I have one in my basement 😯 😀 )

PS: Didn’t mean to single you out here Batman…No worries Warren, I actually thought about editing out the political parts, but then I thought that that would actually be imposing my own views as far as what I felt should…   Read more»

With that particular rocket, I would personally use 1.5-2g, and I would tend to ground test. It will almost definitely separate with less, but I like to be sure. On a paper or phenolic rocket, I would be a little…   Read more»

If Art wants to retain his “biggest motor” title, he’d better get to work!!! :PI thought I already took that one from Art this summer…http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/Rocketsat%20VI%20launch/IMG_3744.jpg(That's only an S to an S though, so the minuteman definitely has it beat)Oh, and…   Read more»