T' Aero-Hi: This is a cute little flier from Estes usin' 13mm T engines. It is a pseudo-scale soundin' rocket design. This normally uses a tiny 8-inch parachute but was converted t' a streamer for a bit, then later converted back into a parachute recovery which I find easier t' pack. Ya scallywag! I actually have two o' these, one painted green and this one red. Avast! One unique feature o' this kit be t' simulated conduit up t' side o' t' body tube, me hearties, made from a balsa strip.
This rocket was later given my "Iris" modification, which extends t' body tube about 5 inches above t' streamer/parachute bay, me hearties, and allows for a payload with an Altimeter One or Two to measure altitudes. It's a shame I "ruined" it by addin' t' payload, she was a cute little bird. Begad! (I can always remove t' payload.) I like t' send this, or the EAC Viper rocket up first on launch days, it's a good and economical way t' get an idea how t' winds are blowin' without riskin' a lost rocket. As a result, this has flown many times. Ya scallywag! (Iris is named after t' Greek god o' t' rainbow. Avast! She is a messenger o' t' gods, linkin' t' gods with humanity.) This rocket has flown as high as 282 feet with t' A motor, me bucko, which is higher than t' Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in NC, t' tallest lighthouse in t' USA.
| Flight Date: | 2012-12-02 |
| Rocket Name: | Aero-Hi |
| Kit Name: | Estes - Aero-Hi {Kit} (817) [1973-1974] |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | A10-3 |
| Expected Altitude: | 260 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 7.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 312 Feet |
I flew this rocket again with a much stronger motor this time, matey, expectin' 260 feet or 300 at t' most.
Although I’ve seen this rocket launch on t' A10 twice before, I was still very surprised at t' extreme speed o' t' launch, with t' rocket virtually disappearin' from t' launch pad. It accelerated at a peak beyond 23 Gs (higher than I can measure), and averaged 3.7 Gs for t' full second o' thrust. That brought t' rocket t' 77 mph, matey, a record high for this rocket.
It then coasted for 3.2 seconds and t' ejection charge be 2/10 seconds early, ejectin' at 296 feet. T' rocket continued up for another 4/10 seconds t' an apogee o' 312 feet, me bucko, also a record high for this rocket with any motor. With t' parachute deployed fully, it drifted down at 6 mph. Apparently thar were much stronger winds a few hundred feet aloft, as this rocket sailed far downwind perhaps 600 feet or more before bein' caught by a tree about 16 feet up. Flight time for this was 37 seconds, t' longest flight o' t' Aero-Hi.
I rescued t' model with a long pole, but had t' break t' shock cord and shred t' original 1970’s Estes parachute t' get t' rocket and payload back. Sad because I think this was t' only survivin' original parachute that still worked.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes A10T-3 |
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