Flight Log - 2012-06-30 - Rich DeAngelis's Black Diamond

The Black Diamond: This model is extremely fast and light, uses 1/2A to C motors, although I'm a bit afraid to try a C in this little gem. I imagine it could easily reach 1200 feet.  It features streamer recovery. Added a lot of nose weight to balance this model, but now it flies very straight and true even in windy conditions. I was a bit concerned about cardboard fins, but they are very stiff and seem to work well (I just hope they don't get bent!) This rocket was later given my "Iris" modification, which extends the body tube about 5 inches above the streamer/parachute bay, and allows for a payload with an Altimeter One to measure altitudes. With the added weight, I needed a longer, 4-foot long, 2-inch wide streamer to slow it down some.  Not so easy to squeeze into a BT-20 body.  I had to lengthen the shock cord also, but it is still getting quite beat-up by its own recoil force. (Iris is named after the Greek god of the rainbow. She is a messenger of the gods, linking the gods with humanity.) If I were to build another one, I would split the launch lug and glue half of it further toward the nose. As it is, it wobbles on liftoff some while on the rod. I have only once tried this on a C motor, this rocket has flown higher than the Aon Center and the John Hancock Tower in Chicago, and the NY Times Building in NY, NY.

Flight Date: 2012-06-30
Rocket Name: Black Diamond
Kit Name: Estes - Black Diamond {Kit}
Flyer's Name: Rich DeAngelis
Motors: B6-6
Expected Altitude: 500 Feet
Wind Speed: 8.00 mph
Launch Site: Fort Indiantown Gap, PA
Actual Altitude: 450 Feet

I was expecting a very hot and calm morning, but it was very breezy and gusty. All my planned high flights had to be scrubbed. The small, light Black Diamond with a streamer was ideal, able to get up in a hurry despite the winds and it recovers quickly. This rocket is less than 60 grams fully loaded, and with a B6 it accelerates fast but does not go too high.

Today it peaked at 15.3 Gs and averaged 5.6 Gs for a 9/10 second burn. It reached a top speed of 115 mph. It then coasted for 4.9 seconds to 450 feet. It then fell 11 feet in the next 6/10 seconds and released its streamer. It then came back at a fast 16 mph to reach the ground only about 100 feet away after 24.6 seconds of flight. All was well.

 

StageMotor(s)
1Estes B6-6

 

comment Post a Comment