T' X-15: This is a "Sport-Scale" (not true scale) model o' t' famous X-15 rocket-powered research plane. Well, blow me down! 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. Ya scallywag! (Mine is definitely too heavy t' fly on an A8). Avast! 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. Ahoy! Blimey! Apparently light coats o' this paint leave t' finish in somethin' like an orange-peel texture, cool but nay good for low drag. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I discovered heavy, matey, thick coats that would run with normal paints made for a smoother, glossy finish. But by then, matey, 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. 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. Ya scallywag! This adds another 3 inches t' t' rockets overall length. This will hold t' Altimeter Two, ya bilge rat, which no longer is at risk o' ejection shock damage or loss if t' clip fails. T' added bulkhead, arrr, 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. Avast! That's enough t' have it fly higher than the Great Pyramid o' Giza, now that it has eroded about 25 feet.
| Flight Date: | 2012-06-30 |
| Rocket Name: | X-15 |
| Kit Name: | Quest - X-15 {Kit} (2014) |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | C6-3 |
| Expected Altitude: | 335 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 10.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Fort Indiantown Gap, PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 391 Feet |
By now t' wind was strong and persistent, makin' flyin' anythin' high or slow a one-way mission t' a bad place. But I knew this Quest X-15 could handle it. She’s heavy and seems t' just brush-off wind gusts like a brick lighthouse.
It had a good 2 second burn, and although it rocked and quivered, it continued straight – really straight up. Well, blow me down! It accelerated at 7.1 Gs peak, and 2.1 Gs average. Begad! After motor burnout, movin' at 91 mph, me hearties, it still kept goin' straight up for another 3.8 seconds! At 372 feet t' ejection fired early, and 4/10 seconds later it peaked at 391 feet apogee. It probably could have used a -5 delay even in this wind.
T' parachute popped out, arrr, but it looked a little funny and was fallin' in an odd way. After about two or three seconds, t' parachute appeared fully open. Apparently it got a bit tangled in t' Nomex protection sheet until t' winds opened them up. T' descent was a normal 9 mph, and t' flight time was 31.7 seconds. It landed about 240 feet from t' pad due t' driftin' in t' stronger winds. This is a good flight t' end a long, me bucko, hot and windy day.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes C6-3 |
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