T' Aero-Hi: This is a cute little flier from Estes usin' 13mm T engines. Arrr! 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. Well, blow me down! I actually have two o' these, one painted green and this one red. Begad! One unique feature o' this kit be t' simulated conduit up t' side o' t' body tube, 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, ya bilge rat, and allows for a payload with an Altimeter One or Two to measure altitudes. Aye aye! It's a shame I "ruined" it by addin' t' payload, she be a cute little bird. (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. Ahoy! (Iris is named after t' Greek god o' t' rainbow. 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, which is higher than t' Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in NC, t' tallest lighthouse in t' USA.
| Flight Date: | 2012-11-23 |
| Rocket Name: | Aero-Hi |
| Kit Name: | Estes - Aero-Hi {Kit} (817) [1973-1974] |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | A3-4 |
| Expected Altitude: | 265 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 9.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 221 Feet |
It was gettin' very windy, me hearties, but t' Aero-Hi Iris is nay bothered too much by wind and doesn’t go too high, so I chose this rocket t' end t' day o' flying. Again I was goin' t' compare t' A3 and A10 motors t' measure t' difference. Well, blow me down! For these flights, t' streamer was changed out for a 10” parachute. Note that this be t' original parachute supplied with t' Estes kit, one o' t' few survivors over t' years.
I fired up t' A3 first, matey, and it burned for 8/10 seconds, acceleratin' off t' pad at 13.8 Gs and averagin' 4 Gs durin' t' boost. Begad! It reached a speed o' 68 mph, turnin' just a moderate amount into t' wind before coastin' for t' next 3.1 seconds. At 221 feet it reached its apogee and started back for another 6/10 seconds, fallin' 7 feet. Begad! At 214 feet t' parachute ejected after a 3.7 second delay, and t' rocket descended at 9 mph, landin' in t' grass a good 300 feet downwind in 19.7 seconds. A successful flight, arrr, but a long walk with t' wind.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes A3T-4 |
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