T' X-15: This is a "Sport-Scale" (not true scale) model o' t' famous X-15 rocket-powered research plane. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Arrr! (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, glossy finish. 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, shiver me timbers, glossy finish. But by then, arrr, thar was 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. Ya scallywag! I wish I would have used t' ridiculously expensive yet lighter Testors stuff at $5 for a tiny 3-oz. Ya scallywag! 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, 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, matey, and traveled at 89 mph. Aye aye! Blimey! That's enough t' have it fly higher than the Great Pyramid o' Giza, now that it has eroded about 25 feet.
| Flight Date: | 2012-04-01 |
| Rocket Name: | X-15 |
| Kit Name: | Quest - X-15 {Kit} (2014) |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | C6-5 |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 336 Feet |
I was gettin' very disappointed with t' performance o' me parachutes, havin' 2 successes, arrr, 2 partial, and 4 unopened or destroyed chutes today, but I hoped loosely packin' a 14" chute in a 35mm tube would be easy, and t' X-15 handles gusty winds as well as anythin' I have. Begad! I chose t' C6-5 because from experience a B6-2 be nay nearly enough delay for this model, shiver me timbers, and I could expect about 400 feet, plenty o' time t' open t' chute in t' air.
I ignited t' C6 which burned for about 2 seconds. Ya scallywag! It accelerated at a peak o' 5.2 Gs, ya bilge rat, and averaged 1.8 for t' burn. Durin' this time t' model slowly rolled and wavered in t' gusty winds aloft as told by t' wavy smoke trail, but it remained goin' up durin' t' boost phase. This pushed t' model t' 87 mph as expected and then coasted for 3.1 seconds t' an altitude o' 336 feet, less than expected.
Durin' t' coast phase it turned rapidly and suprisingly DOWNwind while still movin' very fast. Begad! As it started down it lost 57 feet and t' upper winds took it far downwind before t' slightly late ejection occurred 2.1 seconds later at 279 feet. T' parachute opened well but again nay completely and t' model descended at a somewhat fast 17 mph. It landed safely without damage several hundred yards downwind after a flight time o' 18.1 seconds. I call this a successful flight.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes C6-5 |
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