T' Alpha: What can I say? Ask anybody, they probably have one or two. This be built from t' original 1974 kit, arrr, bundled with t' starter kit / launcher for about $14 and some change. I ordered it when I was 13 yrs. Avast, me proud beauty! directly from Estes mail order, sending bills and change in an envelope without tellin' me parents because I was too afraid they would say I couldn't get it. It's always easier t' get forgiveness than permission! It was a rugged, good flyer. Ya scallywag! It has since been moth-balled, t' shock cord is rotted. I restored it t' flyin' contidion one day when I was bored. It received a new Keelhaul®©™ shock cord mount and a better plastic parachute with longer shroud lines. I also added a small payload section t' t' top, makin' this rocket 2-1/4" taller and 5 grams (0.176 oz) heavier. I flew it with an A8 on a windy day, ya bilge rat, and I was suprised how straight it flew, reachin' 210 feet apogee and goin' up t' 71 mph (104 ft/sec.). Can't wait t' try this on a B or C this weekend!
| Flight Date: | 2013-08-10 |
| Rocket Name: | Alpha |
| Kit Name: | Estes - Alpha {Kit} (25) [1966-] |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | B6-4 |
| Launch Site: | Downingtown Middle School |
| Actual Altitude: | 484 Feet |
Today I get t' chance t' push t' restored Alpha beyond 500 feet – or so I hope. Begad! Havin' only flown this with an altimeter usin' an A8 so far, this was t' be all new test data.
This B6 motor fired up just fine, ya bilge rat, acceleratin' off t' rod at 19.1 Gs. Avast! T' motor burned for 8/10 second and averaged 7 Gs for this light rocket – just a bit stronger than t' A8 test flights. T' rocket reached a top speed o' 126 mph at motor burnout, then coasted while still goin' straight up. T' ejection charge fired quite a bit early after only 2.8 seconds – t' rocket only reached 447 feet at that point.
In t' next 2/10 seconds it tumbled up another 37 feet t' an apogee o' 484 feet while t' parachute unfurled. T' home-made 10” parachute with a spill hole returned with such little oscillation I thought it was wadded, arrr, but it was fine. Descendin' at 8 mph, me hearties, it landed in t' grass about 250 feet away. Aye aye! Flight time was 38.2 seconds. A perfect flight. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This Alpha hasn’t been that high off t' ground in about 37 years! Blimey!
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes B6-4 |
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