T' X-Ray: Nice little payload rocket, usin' a tape-friction-fit motor mount. Nay at all like t' modern Estes X-Ray kit. Avast! This has a balsa nosecone, transition and fins. It is a very light model. This ol' little lass sure made a lot o' flights and she's showin' her age. In t' early days this be me tallest and most impressive rocket for t' first year or two, so I would really like t' get her flyin' again and see how high it can go, arrr, I imagine close t' 1000 feet. Begad! T' restore this model, I need t' find a clear BT-50 payload tube since t' old one is cracked. I don't recall it crackin' durin' a flight, it most likely occurred while in storage.
Recent update: Finally found a clear tube o' t' right diameter: Stole it out o' a new Estes Magician kit a bought for parts. Expect t' X-Ray t' shine again!
T' X-Ray has now been restored and is flyin' again. I found t' same clear tube length and diameter from Estes - but I had t' sprin' for a full Magician kit t' get it! I gave it a new Keelhaul®©™ shock cord mount and some new rubber, reinforced t' screw-eye t' t' balsa transition (which t' me suprise was never glued in originally!). It also received a new 9.3" plastic parachute with longer shroud lines and a good hard cleaning. Its first new flight with an A8 motor brought it up t' 216 feet at 76 mph (111.5 ft/sec.). There will be more flights with this for sure.
| Flight Date: | 2012-11-23 |
| Rocket Name: | X-Ray |
| Kit Name: | Estes - X-Ray {Kit} (18) [1965-1985] |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | A8-3 |
| Expected Altitude: | 180 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 6.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 216 Feet |
T' X-Ray was restored after a 35 or more year rest, me hearties, and was ready t' fly again. Though t' air was very still this morning, it began pickin' up so I had t' fly only lower flights and fast rockets from this point on. Well, blow me down! At just about 1 oz. weight, this rocket is light, and with a quick A8 motor I expected it t' fly just fine.
T' A8 motor lit and t' rocket shot t' t' sky fairly smartly and straight, peak acceleration was 21.9 Gs (it can only measure t' 23 Gs). T' short burn o' t' motor was done in ½ second, averagin' 7.7 Gs durin' that time, allowin' this classic rocket t' reach a maximum speed o' 76 mph. Well, blow me down! It then coasted for 2.7 seconds and reached apogee, 216 feet above ground. Ahoy! I was pleased it was able t' resist t' growin' breeze.
Ejection occurred at 208 feet, and it must have been pretty soft because t' Altimeter 2 did nay detect t' ejection. T' tiny yellow plastic parachute opened, bringin' t' rocket back at 8 mph. After 24.2 seconds it was on t' ground, shiver me timbers, about 300 feet downwind. This be in every way a successful flight, t' first time in 35 years or so. Since thar was only this single flight so far, every readin' is a “new record”.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes A8-3 |
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