Chris LaPanse

I always go on the long side for mach delay. I always set it to at least the length of the motor burn, plus a couple more seconds on a slow rocket. On a fast (near-mach) rocket, I’ll usually set…   Read more»

Looks like AT is certifying some nice sparkies soon – they don’t look like Skidmarks/Spitfires either. From the videos I’ve seen, they look more like the old Silver Streaks.

as you get visuals that look cool.The greenies have me really interested.I do not think any — except for the sparkies fire hazard — are really detrimental to the environment.I’m still eying a L2 Cert. Some of the L class…   Read more»

Don’t get me wrong, I like Skidmarks, I just don’t like them where we fly for the aforementioned reasons of fire danger. Unless the ground is snow covered or it is actively raining, I just don’t trust them. I have…   Read more»

While we’re at it – I need a CTI 4 grain 98mm case for MHM… preferably before so I can pre-assemble the motor. Anyone?WarrenI have one, but I’ll be using it (for my L3) Saturday morning. You can borrow it…   Read more»

The loaner case I know about is the 75/6400 – already loaned to Bill Mott and Chris you requested it for LDRS, as I recall. I don’t think I had another but I’ll check again.I know Tim had a 5120…   Read more»

Just a wimpy little M1297?;)(I’m pretty sure that a loaner case exists – I borrowed it from Tim a couple of times for flying my AMRAAM on Ls)

The flight looked good – it had an incredible amount of wing flex though. Looks like it was cut short (to just over 3 hours) due to weather, but other than that, everything appears to have gone fine. I’m looking…   Read more»

If I remember right, it should be less than a year. It’s certainly an impressive aircraft. The version that they’re currently testing has a max takeoff weight of just under 500,000 pounds, and should seat around 250 people (max). Here’s…   Read more»

I tend to use a drogue, and I also tend on the big side for my mains. The exception is my AMRAAM, but I have the largest chute I can fit in there already and it still comes down at…   Read more»

That igniter looked huge. I have to wonder if that is what caused the failure. Looking at the video, it doesn’t look like it overpressurized, since the forward closure blew before significant thrust.Hell of a cato, that’s for sure.

It must be an extremely high speed video – watch how quickly it ignites on the main video to compare. I do wonder whether the darkening is more a product of the igniter burning out, or whether it is simply…   Read more»

4 grain is the standard Shuttle load – the full load for Ares will be a 5 grain. Here’s a video of a static test of the 5 grain//www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3cPKgFKe0Y&feature=relatedAnd some high-speed video up the core showing the igniter firing//www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGImLZpQDwY&feature=related

If you consider the alphabet to wrap around (I.E. x..y..z..aa..ab..ac..), the SRBs would be a 1.24*10^9 AD 10 million using CTI notation (1.24*10^9 newton second AD10000000). Assuming I did the math right of course…

Very nice.

I’d be interested in a group project, though I probably wouldn’t be able to make it to BALLS.

The 1080i HD version of the video is up on the NASA website now.http://anon.nasa-global.edgesuite.net/qt.nasa-global/ksc/ksc_102909_aresIx_launch_1080.movThis picture’s pretty awesome too//www.nasa.gov/images/content/397589main_launch%203_full.jpg

I have the handheld – you’re welcome to borrow it if you just get the transmitter (~$150 for a brand new DC-30, less for a DC-20 or a used unit).

Agreed – on my 17k flight for example, my two baro altimeters (not the same model though) were 1200 feet off of each other (one read 17,002, one read 15,800). The GPS on board (Garmin Astro) showed 17250 feet as…   Read more»

What about GPS altitude for the higher ones?