T' Black Diamond: This model is extremely fast and light, uses 1/2A t' C motors, although I'm a bit afraid t' try a C in this little gem. I imagine it could easily reach 1200 feet. It features streamer recovery. Blimey! Added a lot o' nose weight t' balance this model, shiver me timbers, but now it flies very straight and true even in windy conditions. I be a bit concerned about cardboard fins, but they are very stiff and seem t' work well (I just hope they don't get bent!) This rocket was later given my "Iris" modification, shiver me timbers, which extends t' body tube about 5 inches above t' streamer/parachute bay, and allows for a payload with an Altimeter One t' measure altitudes. With t' added weight, me hearties, I needed a longer, 4-foot long, 2-inch wide streamer t' slow it down some. Nay so easy t' squeeze into a BT-20 body. I had t' lengthen t' shock cord also, but it is still gettin' quite beat-up by its own recoil force. Arrr! (Iris is named after t' Greek god o' t' rainbow. She is a messenger o' t' gods, linkin' t' gods with humanity.) If I were t' build another one, I would split t' launch lug and glue half o' it further toward t' nose. As it is, it wobbles on liftoff some while on t' rod. I have only once tried this on a C motor, this rocket has flown higher than t' Aon Center and t' John Hancock Tower in Chicago, and t' NY Times Buildin' in NY, NY.
| Flight Date: | 2011-11-25 |
| Rocket Name: | Black Diamond |
| Kit Name: | Estes - Black Diamond {Kit} |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | B6-4 |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 504 Feet |
First flight o' t' day, clear blue sky above. I wanted t' send this bird up as far as she could fly with a C6-7 but t' wind seemed a little stronger than forecast. I opted for a B6 instead, even though it comes down pretty fast on a streamer. An Altimeter 2 be onboard. T' motor fired-up and she burned for almost a full second, speedin' t' Diamond up t' 123 mph. Begad! Blimey! Rapidly accelerating, matey, it reached 17.5 Gs before burnout. Avast! Blimey! T' Diamond continued straight up despite t' winds while it coasted for another 5 seconds t' 489 feet when t' ejection fired. While t' long, mylar streamer was unfurling, she topped-out at 504 feet one second later. She then returned smartly t' t' ground at 18 mph, endin' up in wet mud within 10 seconds. Blimey! Blimey! So far, this be t' fastest rocket speed I ever recorded.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes B6-4 |
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