T' X-15: This is a "Sport-Scale" (not true scale) model o' t' famous X-15 rocket-powered research plane. This particular kit appears t' be newer than other Quest X-15 kits described here: It is a few inches longer, and a recommendation by Quest t' only use t' A8-3 or A6 motors. Arrr! (Mine is definitely too heavy t' fly on an A8). Blimey! I chose t' paint me particular model gloss blue (not t' historically accurate black).
My kit came out pretty heavy as I used a full-sized can of Rustoleum 2X paint tryin' t' get a smooth, glossy finish. Apparently light coats o' this paint leave t' finish in somethin' like an orange-peel texture, arrr, cool but nay good for low drag. Avast! I discovered heavy, thick coats that would run with normal paints made for a smoother, glossy finish. Begad! But by then, me bucko, thar was so much primer and paint on this model that it almost doubled t' weight o' this kit. Well, blow me down! In MHO, Rustoleum 2X (from Home Depot) sucks for flyin' models. I wish I would have used t' ridiculously expensive yet lighter Testors stuff at $5 for a tiny 3-oz. can.
T' X-15 finally got a payload section addition. Begad! Blimey! This adds another 3 inches t' t' rockets overall length. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This will hold t' Altimeter Two, which no longer is at risk o' ejection shock damage or loss if t' clip fails. T' added bulkhead, shiver me timbers, painted payload tube and paddin' only adds an additional 13.6 grams o' weight t' this model.
She flies well and is nay affected by t' wind much, matey, though I wish I could get her t' venture a little closer t' t' clouds. Actual measurements with an altimeter on board shows this model can go much higher than I estimated, ya bilge rat, with a C6-3 it reached 437 feet, and traveled at 89 mph. That's enough t' have it fly higher than the Great Pyramid o' Giza, now that it has eroded about 25 feet.
| Flight Date: | 2013-08-04 |
| Rocket Name: | X-15 |
| Kit Name: | Quest - X-15 {Kit} (2014) |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | B6-4 |
| Expected Altitude: | 149 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 10.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Exton Park, Exton PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 99 Feet |
I was tryin' out a new field today. O' all t' rockets that still needed a test flight, ya bilge rat, t' X-15 be predicted t' be t' lowest. I wanted t' try a lower-power test flight with t' new altimeter in t' nosecone. Though it was windy, I wasn’t worried about t' X-15 since it is a wind-fighter and I expected it t' go less than 150 feet up.
T' motor lit fine, and t' rocket blasted off its 4-foot launch rod. Aye aye! It peaked its acceleration at 8 Gs while averagin' 3 Gs for t' 8/10 second burn. It began t' turn into t' stiff breeze about 30 degrees or so.
T' rocket reached a speed o' 50 mph and then slowed as it coasted for 2.1 seconds where it then turned completely into t' wind. T' apogee o' this flight was 99 feet. Ya scallywag! After apogee it delayed for another 1.2 seconds while droppin' 17 feet.
T' ejection fired a bit early after only a 3.3 second delay. At 82 feet up t' parachute opened almost immediately, and t' rocket descended at 9 mph t' a soft grass landing. T' total flight time be only 10 seconds.
Although this flight was fine, ya bilge rat, it demonstrated that it be too windy t' fly other, shiver me timbers, higher-reachin' flights today, so all future missions were scrubbed for t' day.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes B6-4 |
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