The Quest Striker AGM is a simulated military missile. My particular rocket was modified with a 3.5" payload that stretches it to over 30 inches long, and painted to an entirely different red-white-blue scheme featuring some gold trim lines. Another modification was started by the shipping company. The body tube was damaged in the center, so I wrapped it with a heavy paper shroud and then strengthened the body with eight basswood strakes that looks more like it was meant to be a design feature instead of a patch-job. To hide it in plain sight the strakes were painted gold. It looks like it was painted more for an air show and not like an AGM missile. I think with this model I have finally learned that models of this size and weight (30” and about 5 oz.) should have a 24mm mount. The 18mm motors that are affordable are just not powerful enough for satisfying altitudes. I can get about 300 feet on a C6-3 motor though, so it's high enough. This should be strong enough to fly with a composite D10 motor. This rocket has flown higher than the Washington National Cathedral and the US Capitol in Washington, DC.
| Flight Date: | 2012-04-01 |
| Rocket Name: | Striker AGM Iris |
| Kit Name: | Quest - Striker AGM {Kit} |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | C6-3 |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 259 Feet |
This is the first, virgin flight for this newly-built model. I had to cross my fingers that the erratic wind gusts wouldn't destroy her. It is a tall and heavy model, as much as a C6 can possibly handle. No question I would opt for a -3 instead of a -5 delay. This particular C6-3 burned for 2.1 seconds and peaked at a respectable 5.5 Gs of acceleration, averaging only 1.5 for the burn - nearly as low as can safely be done, since a slow liftoff is prone to tipping into the wind. There was no gust at liftoff and the slow liftoff was a thing of nervous beauty.
At about 50 feet a gust turned it slightly into the wind, maybe 10 or 15 degrees. The Striker reached a good speed of 70 mph and then coasted up for 2.9 seconds where the ejection charge fired at just the right time at 256 feet. It only gained another 3 feet after ejection.
It then descended under a good canopy at 10 mph to a soft, nearby landing in the grass. Successful, although the altitude was lower than I expected and leaves me with doubts about flying it with a B motor. A composite D10 would be very nice!
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes C6-3 |
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