Sport and High Power Rocketry
It was a windy day when the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4283 rocket launched. The launch location was Tripoli Tampa’s home field just north of Plant City, Florida. Despite the wind, we had a good turn-out for the launch and I think that everyone enjoyed themselves.
Altitude Attained – 3951 feet
Next month I am going to launch a rocket on behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars(VFW) Post 4283 which is based in Dade City, Florida. They are always looking for ways to raise money to cover their operating expenses and to make capital improvements. They also like to gamble a little bit…. So I thought that I would build a rocket and let people buy predictions on how high it will fly. The winner will get one half of the prize pool and the Post will get the other half.
The rocket launch is scheduled for the January launch ( January 19, 2019 ) on Tripoli Tampa’s field near Plant City, Florida. Some of the Post members have said that they will be attending the launch. If you are interested in attending this launch, check out the Tripoli Tampa website for information on attending a launch or contact me.
Continue reading “VFW Post 4283 Launch”My son was coming down to Tampa in November for the Tampa Tripoli monthly launch. I had my MAC Performance Scorpion that I could launch. I also had some smaller rockets that I was going to launch from the low-power pads. Being interested in scale models, I have built quite a few low-power, scale model rockets. I wanted to build something a little bigger, so I went online and ordered the LOC Precision 4-inch V-2 rocket kit.
The Callahan’s Express rocket was launched and lost at Tripoli Tampa’s Buccaneer’s Blast last month. Here is the report on that launch. Like the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Ryan Callahan, this rocket took a beating. Unlike the hockey player who has bounced back from numerous injuries and surgeries (and scored a goal last night), the Callahan’s Express has seen its last launch.
One of the events in the Bronze level of the NAR’s National Association of Rocketry Training Rocketeers for Experience and Knowledge (NARTREK) is parachute duration. I have completed the other three events: streamer duration, multi-staged rocket, and large engine rocket. My attempts at parachute duration has come up short. I used an A-impulse rocket, Apogee Component’s International Thermal Sailor. I used it to get my streamer duration time (36 seconds). Using the large parachute with the kit, I got 46 seconds in the air. I needed 60 seconds.
So, I decided to get a B-impulse rocket (18mm motor). I did not have to look far to find my rocket. Aerospace Specialty Products is right down the road from me in Florida. And the kit I chose was their Hang Time Rocket.
Continue reading “Aerospace Specialty Products Hang Time Rocket”
I am interested in earning the NAR’s National Association of Rocketry Training Rocketeers for Experience and Knowledge (NARTREK) achievements. One of the tasks for the Silver achievement is the construction and flight of a boosted glider. Apogee Components has suggested kits for completing each level of the program. The Sky Condor Boost Glider is a recommended kit for the Silver level.
This summer’s weather in Tampa has kept the Tripoli Tampa’s launch pasture closed due to excessive water on the field. Finally, the winter pattern started, and the daily thunderstorms have ended. This past weekend was the Buccaneer Blast hosted by Tripoli Tampa and I was able to launch the Callahan’s Express. I planned on launching the rocket on Saturday. After seeing a couple of rockets break apart in flight and watching another one burn up on the launchpad, I decided to put my launch on hold. Not to worry, I did launch it on Sunday. So, read on to see more (including a video).
When I was at the AIRFest 24 launch last Labor Day weekend I met the folks at MAC Performance Rocketry. This company uses canvas phenolic airframes to build very strong rockets that are Mach capable out of the box. I liked what I saw, so I purchased their 54mm scorpion rocket kit with the 38mm motor mount. So, here is the MAC Performance Scorpion.
One of the rockets in my arsenal is the LOC Precision Minnie Magg. Produced by LOC Precision up in Wisconsin, it was my Tripoli Level 1 Certification rocket. I call it the “stubby rocket” and I really have enjoyed building it and launching it on numerous occasions including AIRFest 24.
This post will discuss the completion of the BOTC84 launch and recovery subsystems. It covers items such as launch rails, shear pins, body connections, parachute deployment tests, and rigging.