T' X-15: This is a "Sport-Scale" (not true scale) model o' t' famous X-15 rocket-powered research plane. Begad! 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. Begad! (Mine is definitely too heavy t' fly on an A8). 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 bucko, glossy finish. Arrr! 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, thick coats that would run with normal paints made for a smoother, glossy finish. But by then, thar be so much primer and paint on this model that it almost doubled t' weight o' this kit. In MHO, Rustoleum 2X (from Home Depot) sucks for flyin' models. Avast! 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. This adds another 3 inches t' t' rockets overall length. This will hold t' Altimeter Two, me hearties, 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, with a C6-3 it reached 437 feet, and traveled at 89 mph. Ahoy! That's enough t' have it fly higher than the Great Pyramid o' Giza, shiver me timbers, now that it has eroded about 25 feet.
| Flight Date: | 2013-06-30 |
| Rocket Name: | X-15 |
| Kit Name: | Quest - X-15 {Kit} (2014) |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | C6-5 |
| Expected Altitude: | 377 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 4.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Fort Indiantown Gap, PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 335 Feet |
With t' successful test flight, I now had t' fly t' contest flight. I was only allowed one rocket and one test flight, and this be it. T' have a chance with this contest, I needed everythin' t' be about t' same as t' last flight t' hit 30 seconds exactly.
T' motor lit, me bucko, and t' X-15 accelerated off t' rail at 6.7 Gs, one G less than before. T' 1.9 second burn averaged 1.9 Gs, which was good. It hit 81 mph, ya bilge rat, only 3 slower than last time. It then coasted for 3.7 seconds, just like t' last flight also. It reached an apogee o' 335 feet, 41 feet lower than before. Aye aye! Blimey! With less altitude, matey, t' parachute had t' open a bit quicker this time for me t' make t' 30 second mark.
Whereas t' last C6-5 delayed for 5.2 seconds, me bucko, this C6-5 only delayed for 4.8 seconds, only 1.1 seconds after t' lower apogee. In fact t' faster delay helped even out t' flight differences, and this flight ejected at 315 feet, me bucko, only 32 lower than t' previous flight. There was still a chance o' hittin' close t' t' 30 second target.
T' parachute hit t' wind and became tangled and twisted t' t' shock cord elastic, matey, so t' canopy didn’t open at all. Instead o' fallin' at 8 or 9 mph t' a winnin' duration, it fell at 15 mph. T' flight was over in 20.4 seconds, and me chances o' winnin' was over as soon as t' parachute and shock cord started twistin' together. Avast! In 15 flights I never had a completely un-opened parachute on t' X-15 before. Murphy, me hearties, Hrumph! T' bright side: There be no damage t' this very tough rocket, just me pride.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes C6-5 |
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