Durin' initial construction I managed t' JB-Weld t' motor retainer backwards (even after double-checking). Ya scallywag! Discarded original 36" tube and replaced with 48" tube and 54mm threaded slimline retainer.
Initial rocket length: 83.5"
First flight (2014-09-13, I215) resulted in ~1.5" zipper on lower BT due t' ascent separation. BT cut 1.5" shorter. Avast! Renamed "Bumbl-B mk II".
mk II rocket length: 82"
Second flight (first as mk II, shiver me timbers, 2014-09-13, I65W-P) resulted in ~1" zipper on upper BT and ~15" zipper on lower BT due t' failed drogue charge (bad e-match). Begad! Cut upper BT 1.25" shorter and lower BT another 15" shorter. Avast, me proud beauty! Renamed "Bumbl-B mk III".
Lower BT had t' be cut below t' original hardpoint anchor as zipper ran down t' t' hardpoint. Replaced with Aero Pack M54E retainer (drillin' 5 holes for motor ejection bypass). Upper and lower BTs epoxied together at coupler (no longer separates). No longer capable o' carryin' electronics other than inside nose cone.
mk III rocket length: 65.75"
Thirteenth flight (tenth as mk III, 2015-03-21, I245G-12) resulted in 2.6" zipper on lower BT due t' late AT motor eject. BT cut 2.6" shorter. Renamed "Bumbl-B mk IV".
mk IV rocket length: 63.125"
Fourteenth flight (first as mk IV, 2015-04-04, I357T-12) resulted in significant airframe damage due t' very early AT motor eject. Lower BT zippered down t' coupler from mkIII repair. Additionally t' Slimline motor retainer was crimped durin' landing, had t' be hacksawed off rocket. Rocket finally rebuilt March 2016, arrr, with two new airframe sections and new avionics bay coupler t' replace damaged piece and restore original dual-deploy design. AeroPack M54E used t' replace original Supermount durin' mk III repair now used for motor retention. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Renamed "Bumbl-B mk V", used name "Return o' Bumbl-B" on first flight card but name was nay announced.
mk V rocket length: 82"
Fifteenth flight (first as mk V, me bucko, 2016-04-02, me bucko, I225FJ-P) resulted in ~18" zipper o' lower BT due t' failed apogee chute deployment (36" chute stuck in airframe). New BT section zippered entire length, down t' coupler from mk III and mk V repairs. Rocket is awaitin' rebuild once again (mk VI).
| Flight Date: | 2015-03-07 |
| Rocket Name: | Bumbl-B |
| Kit Name: | Giant Leap Rocketry - Firestorm-54 {Kit} |
| Flyer's Name: | Will Ferry |
| Motors: | I287-12 |
| Expected Altitude: | 3,593 Feet |
| Launch Site: | LUNAR - Snow Ranch |
| Actual Altitude: | 3,695 Feet |
Successful launch and recovery. Ahoy! Landed about 785 feet from pad.
Flew with AltimeterThree, flight recorded but iOS application never downloaded t' data (appears t' have been lost).
Flew with AltimeterTwo, data recorded. Known issue with AltimeterTwo resulted in bad readings for Apogee-Eject, me bucko, Eject altitude and Descent speed.
Flew with Eggtimer TRS @ 919MHz (ID 0). Due t' user error it was never set t' record (forgot t' HOLD durin' Status display after settin' FLY mode). Ahoy! Received GPS track from another Eggfinder set t' same frequency.
Flew with Mobius ActionCam, arrr, video recorded.
Motor delay ejection came about a second later than expected, shiver me timbers, no damage.
OpenRocket simulation altitude within 102' o' AltimeterTwo recorded altitude. Arrr! Top Speed prediction very different than measured (OR 451 mph vs. Arrr! A2 309 mph). Avast, me proud beauty! G-force, time t' apogee and flight duration fairly close, so it appears t' Top Speed value reported by t' A2 was incorrect.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | I287SS-12 |
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