Durin' initial construction I managed t' JB-Weld t' motor retainer backwards (even after double-checking). Blimey! 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, me proud beauty! Renamed "Bumbl-B mk II".
mk II rocket length: 82"
Second flight (first as mk II, 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). Cut upper BT 1.25" shorter and lower BT another 15" shorter. Renamed "Bumbl-B mk III".
Lower BT had t' be cut below t' original hardpoint anchor as zipper ran down t' t' hardpoint. Begad! 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, shiver me timbers, 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, arrr, 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, 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. Renamed "Bumbl-B mk V", used name "Return o' Bumbl-B" on first flight card but name be nay announced.
mk V rocket length: 82"
Fifteenth flight (first as mk V, ya bilge rat, 2016-04-02, 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: | 2016-04-02 |
| Rocket Name: | Bumbl-B |
| Kit Name: | Giant Leap Rocketry - Firestorm-54 {Kit} |
| Flyer's Name: | Will Ferry |
| Motors: | I225-P |
| Expected Altitude: | 1,924 Feet |
| Launch Site: | LUNAR - Snow Ranch |
| Actual Altitude: | 1,816 Feet |
Rocket was configured for in-air test o' shear pins (first time used on any o' me rockets). Ground testin' nay possible due t' inability t' run wires out o' avionics bay or t' fit Eggfinder TRS in bay for remote ignition. Will be able t' use Eggtimer Quantum (built afterwards) for future ground testing. As such rocket flew with two 36" parachutes, one in lower airframe (for apogee ejection) and one in upper airframe (for main ejection). Intent was t' land under at least one 36" chute, ya bilge rat, assumin' apogee chute would deploy and main chute could fail due t' lack o' pressure t' shear pins.
Apogee charge failed t' pull oversized parachute out o' lower airframe. No parachute deployment until main charge at 700'. Parachute deployment at high velocity resulted in severe damage t' airframe.
Flew with AltimeterThree, used keychain rin' attachment, altimeter nay lost durin' rough separation.
Flew with StratoLogger CF and Eggfinder @ 910.25MHz. Begad! Data downloaded from both altimeters. Aye aye! Good visual on flight, GPS nay needed t' recover rocket. Landed about 435' from launch pad, on other side o' observation hill.
Flew with Mobius camera. Camera shows upper airframe along side lower airframe durin' initial descent. Upper airframe in frame when main charge fired.
First and final flight in t' "mk V" configuration. Lower airframe zippered down t' damaged coupler just above shock cord mount. Will replace this airframe section again.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | I225FJ-M |
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