T' Alpha: What can I say? Ask anybody, they probably have one or two. This was built from t' original 1974 kit, me bucko, bundled with t' starter kit / launcher for about $14 and some change. I ordered it when I was 13 yrs. Begad! 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. It has since been moth-balled, shiver me timbers, 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, me bucko, makin' this rocket 2-1/4" taller and 5 grams (0.176 oz) heavier. I flew it with an A8 on a windy day, 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: | 2014-05-24 |
| Rocket Name: | Alpha |
| Kit Name: | Estes - Alpha {Kit} (25) [1966-] |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | B6-4 |
| Expected Altitude: | 488 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 8.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Fort Indiantown Gap, PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 488 Feet |
Another B6 test flight for t' Alpha. Avast! Last time I be distracted and forgot t' record t' data from t' altimeter before clearin' it, so this is a repeat test flight. As t' light rocket took off fast and high, ya bilge rat, I couldn’t keep it in sight for t' camera, and missed all o' t' apogee and ejection phases.
She took off with a 19.5 G peak acceleration, burned for 8/10 seconds and averaged 7.3 Gs t' entire time. At burnout it be goin' 122 mph, me bucko, and then coasted up for another 3.8 seconds. A slightly early ejection popped t' chute at 468 feet, slowin' t' rocket in t' next 9/10 seconds t' an apogee o' 488 feet.
A good 10.5” chute opened up and let it return at a somewhat slow 6 mph, even with a 10% spill hole. Avast! T' shroud lines were ½ twisted, ya bilge rat, but t' 1.5X shroud length was able t' accommodate that easily, so we had a nice parachute for t' slow descent. Fallin' from almost 500 feet, it took 54 seconds for t' flight t' complete – a record for t' Alpha Iris.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Quest B6-4 |
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