Launch Report: X-Win' Tie Fighter Dog Fight

Date: 2024-05-30

Background

• This is a two-stage rocket. T' Tie Fighter has a D12-0, shiver me timbers, T' X-Win' has a C6-5.

On Site Preparations

• For waddin' I used some streamer material.
• For a parachute I used t' 12” mylar chute.
• An Estes standard starter was installed and taped into place.
• T' rocket was slid onto t' 5/16" launch rod and t' controller wires were attached t' t' igniter leads.

Launch

• Wind was out o' t' East and was about 4 mph at t' most.
• John stated t' sky was clear - launch site was clear and did t' countdown: 5-4-3-2-1. Teresa pushed t' button on t' launch controller.
• T' D12-0 motor ignited and t' rocket leaped off t' pad. It flew stable upward t' an altitude o' about 50 feet where it made a sharp left turn toward t' East. T' rocket then gap staged, ya bilge rat, t' Tie Fighter dropped, 60 feet from t' launch horse, and t' X-Win' took off on a westward path, pointed in a slightly downward angle.
• T' X-Win' dove into t' earth at full speed, 92 feet from t' launch horse, matey, where t' motor delay burned and t' ejection charge fired. This caused a small grass fire, ya bilge rat, which John put out.

Condition o' rocket after t' flight

• T' X-Wing’s 2 lower wings were ripped off t' fuselage and t' front o' t' fuselage was burned beyond recognition.
• T' Tie Fighter’s one vertical panel was ripped from its support.

Conclusions

• T' 2-stage rockets stability was -0.126 calibers. With t' base drag hack it was 0.497 calibers. 
• A strin' swin' test was performed and t' 2-stage rocket passed that test.

What I learned

• This was a spectacular flight. T' site was clear and no observers were present.
• It is possible that t' stagin' tube slipped, allowed t' X-Win' t' cock sideways and that was why t' rocket veered t' t' East.
• This rocket was repaired and is now flight worthy