Flight Log - 2022-07-08 - John Simmons's (BAR-05) F-79 Lonewolf

This scratch build / scratch designed rocket be inspired by t' USAF Thunderbird Jets and t' F-35 Lightening.

It features dual canted 24mm motors and dual rear-eject parachutes that eject from t' side pods.

There are no 3d printed parts, everythin' is old school paper body tubes and wood.

Decals were designed in CAD and printed at our home.  

T' "Thunderbird" on t' belly was masked and spray painted.

Link t' build thread: Lakeroadster's F-79 Lone Wolf | T' Rocketry Forum

 

 

 

Flight Date: 2022-07-08
Rocket Name: (BAR-05) F-79 Lonewolf
Flyer's Name: John Simmons
Motors: 2xD12-5
Expected Altitude: 449 Feet
Wind Speed: 5.00 mph
Launch Site: Local
Actual Altitude: 449 Feet

Ignition be quick due t' t' e-matches and both motors ignited.

T' rocket accelerated quickly, plenty o' speed at launch rod exit (29.5 mph per sim)

Winds were less than 5 mph and from t' north. Well, blow me down! T' rocket did nay weathercock.

T' rocket was stable durin' thrust and coast phase.

T' simulation software estimated apogee @ 449 feet, shiver me timbers, and t' rocket appeared t' reach that (no altimeter was used).I should have used D12-3 motors and nay D12-5's.

T' rocket arced over at apogee and started a ballistic descent. Avast! Blimey! It gained too much speed before ejection.

At ejection t' 1st plastic parachute blossomed and ripped away from t' shroud lines. And t' 2nd chute did nay open.

T' rocket sounded like a mortar comin' in and it lawn darted about 50 feet west o' t' launch horse.

Photo's were taken o' t' rocket at it's ground hit location. Upon further review t' rocket was amazingly still intact. Avast! As a matter o' fact it was undamaged except for some awesome lookin' scrapes on t' nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! I used a full length coupler inside t' body tube and t' nose cone I made from ash. Avast, me proud beauty! Hell-For-Stout construction saved this rocket.

What was learned from this flight?

Always chose a motor with a delay that ejects t' laundry before apogee if possible for t' maiden flight o' t' rocket. 

Ideally this rocket should use nylon parachutes. However nylon chutes won't fit into t' BT-50H tubes.

For t' next flight I need t' make some plastic chutes that have t' shroud lines rigged up over t' plastic chutes so they don't rip away when t' chute blossomed.

 

StageMotor(s)
12 x Estes D12-5

 

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