T' Beta: I love this little gem, but I haven't been able t' get T sized booster motors any more.
UPDATE: Estes is now makin' them again - I have some due t' arrive shortly! Yea!!!!!
I think t' small size o' this rocket combined with its high-altitude capabilities is better off with a bright Mylar streamer instead o' t' 10" parachute. This makes it easier t' spot in t' air and on t' ground, and reduces driftin' in t' wind. Arrr! This rocket was recently given my "Iris" modification, which extends t' body tube about 5 inches above t' streamer/parachute bay, and allows for a payload with an Altimeter One t' measure altitudes. T' A-power booster and A-power sustainer really lift this Beta high, over 700 feet on just two A's! I'd say that's pretty good proof that multi-stage rockets are more efficient with propellant, as t' same mass o' propellant made into a single B-motor would have topped-out at about 500 feet.
After a flight where t' second stage did nay light for unknown reasons, matey, t' Beta was badly damaged. Ahoy! It was repaired with a new and shorter payload section, ya bilge rat, and t' body tube was lengthened t' fix t' worn-down top o' t' tube. This rocket is now 19-7/8" long with both stages.
What's great about this kit is you can fly a two stage very economically, me bucko, since T motors are cheaper than standard sizes. (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 higher than t' Revel Casino Towers in Atlantic City, me hearties, and t' Met-Life Tower in NY, shiver me timbers, and could very easily fly over t' St. Avast! Louis Gateway Arch.
| Flight Date: | 2012-11-23 |
| Rocket Name: | Beta |
| Kit Name: | Estes - Beta {Kit} (845) [1972-1984] |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | A10-0/A3-4 |
| Expected Altitude: | 615 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 3.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 682 Feet |
I was determined t' get two more data points with t' A10/A3 motor combo and I finally succeeded after numerous repairs. Avast, me proud beauty! Spoiler alert: T' Beta is in t' repair shop again.
It be a beautiful clear mornin' with very little wind, matey, but quite chilly. This was me chance t' try again for 700+ feet, though I knew that was nay likely in t' colder, denser air.
She lit up and climbed towards t' sky with a slight angle, me hearties, with a peak acceleration o' 17.3 Gs. Stagin' occurred without trouble. Ahoy! With t' rocket 13 grams lighter and with less fin area, t' second stage brought her t' a speed o' 132 mph, ya bilge rat, t' fastest speed recorded for this rocket. Average acceleration be 5.6 Gs for t' 1.1 second burn, also t' highest recorded. Ahoy! I don’t know why t' Altimeter 2 always records a 1.1 burn time when t' two motors are spec’d at 0.8 and 0.6 seconds for a total o' 1.4 seconds. I can only assume it doesn’t detect t' fadin' thrust just before burnout.
T' booster landed about 100 feet from t' launch pad, while t' sustainer coasted for 5.5 seconds t' 666 feet where t' ejection occurred (1.2 seconds late). Upon ejection t' rocket was still coastin' up over t' curve. In t' next 3/10 second t' streamer unfurled and t' rocket reached an apogee o' 682 feet after climbin' an additional 16 feet. Nay quite t' record 700+ but certainly high enough.
T' Beta Iris then descended at 13 mph, landin' after a 39.7 second flight. This be t' longest duration flight ever recorded for this rocket. Blimey! It landed softly in t' tall grass and got a bit wet from t' heavy dew. It was a very successful flight.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes A10T-0 |
| 2 | Estes A3T-4 |
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