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. (Mine is definitely too heavy t' fly on an A8). Begad! 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, me hearties, glossy finish. Apparently light coats o' this paint leave t' finish in somethin' like an orange-peel texture, cool but nay good for low drag. I discovered heavy, arrr, thick coats that would run with normal paints made for a smoother, glossy finish. Ahoy! But by then, 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. Ahoy! This adds another 3 inches t' t' rockets overall length. 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, 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, 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, me hearties, 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: | 2013-03-10 |
| Rocket Name: | X-15 |
| Kit Name: | Quest - X-15 {Kit} (2014) |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | B6-2 |
| Expected Altitude: | 110 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 10.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 95 Feet |
T' last time I flew this model with a B6-4 was a traumatic experience. T' delay time was so long that it core-sampled t' mud, so I have only flown it with a C6 since. Arrr! This time I was goin' t' try t' B6 again, but with a 2 second delay which I thought would work much better.
It ignited and took off fine, matey, acceleratin' at 5.6 Gs off t' pad and averaged 2.1Gs acceleration for t' 9/10 second thrust burn. Arrr! This was t' lowest acceleration for any B6 motor so far. With that burn, it reached a top speed o' 42 mph, a record slow flight for any motor so far. Ahoy! After a slightly long delay o' 2.4 seconds, t' ejection fired at 89 feet. T' X-15 Iris had enough energy t' continue climbin' for another ½ second, comin' t' a stop at 95 feet apogee, matey, also a record low. While t' parachute deployed early, it be certainly preferable t' t' other B6-4 flight that deployed about 5 feet before impact.
As usual for this rocket, ya bilge rat, t' rather strong winds didn’t affect t' flight too much, matey, and t' parachute filled fully and brought t' model back at 10 mph. Flight time was only 9.8 seconds. Begad! It landed within 50 feet o' t' launch pad.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes B6-2 |
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