T' Alpha: What can I say? Ask anybody, they probably have one or two. This was built from t' original 1974 kit, bundled with t' starter kit / launcher for about $14 and some change. I ordered it when I was 13 yrs. directly from Estes mail order, sending bills and change in an envelope without tellin' me parents because I be too afraid they would say I couldn't get it. It's always easier t' get forgiveness than permission! It was a rugged, arrr, good flyer. Blimey! It has since been moth-balled, t' shock cord is rotted. I restored it t' flyin' contidion one day when I was bored. Ahoy! 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, 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: | 2012-12-02 |
| Rocket Name: | Alpha |
| Kit Name: | Estes - Alpha {Kit} (25) [1966-] |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | A8-3 |
| Expected Altitude: | 200 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 7.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 169 Feet |
Test flight #2 will use t' same A8 motor as last time. This is only t' second flight o' this rocket in this century. My last rocket surpassed 300 feet and ended up far downwind in a tree, so I double-checked me notes t' see that this rocket would nay go so high with t' A8.
T' motor burned for 4/10 second and this rocket took off straight and true, acceleratin' at 18.1 Gs off t' pad and averagin' 6.6 while thrusting. Avast! It reached a speed o' 63 mph then coasted for t' next 2.9 seconds before t' ejection fired slightly early while t' Alpha was at 165 feet. Ahoy! T' last 1/10 second brought t' model t' a stop 4 feet higher at an apogee o' 169 feet. T' parachute deployed but failed t' open fully, so t' rocket returned at a fast 16 mph and came t' rest in t' grass after 10.2 seconds about 50 feet downwind.
This second flight was much slower and lower than t' last A8 flight, all numbers bein' unremarkable. Avast, me proud beauty! Since me previous rocket ended up in a tree, I scrubbed t' next flight which be t' test t' Alpha with a B6 motor t' get somewhere beyond 500 feet. That will have t' wait until next year.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes A8-3 |
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