2007 Special Projects

 

 
Triple Threat

Adrian Carbine from Portland, Oregon
 

Project name: "Triple Threat"
Built by Adrian Carbine, TRA #5804, from Portland Oregon.

This is a 25-ft tall 3-stage minimum-diameter rocket, which will fly on N motors in the first and second stages and an M motor in the sustainer, for a total installed impulse of about 92% of full "O".

The rocket is built of carbon fiber and fiberglass, weighs 60 lbs without propellant, and double that at the pad.

The flight simulates to just under 100k ft at apogee, and Mach 2.5 at sustainer burnout. For electronics it has 6 altimeters, 3 timers, and 3 transmitters --- one of which is the new version BeelineGPS which transmits live sustainer flight status and GPS coordinates/altitude to anybody with a TNC-enabled HAM radio.

There are four Rousetech CO2 systems on-board: two for staging separation and two for drogue separation at apogee. Recovery for the 2nd and 3rd stages is under Rocketman drogue chutes at apogee, leading to Skyangle main chutes at ~1000 ft AGL. The first booster recovers undar only a single Skyangle main chute at apogee.

This is the same rocket I flew last year at XPRS, with some improvements and minor changes. Last year the 3rd stage motor didn't ignite due to an electronics problem, but that bug is fixed and so I'm trying again this year. I plan to fly the rocket on Friday morning Sept 17, if wind and weather cooperate.

Hopefully this flight will get me some video of the curvature of the earth!

 

 

 
XPRSo Love 2007

 
Ken Biba - AeroPAC
 
  • To fly on an CTI N1100
  • Incremental improvements to existing N single motor TRA altitude record holder from 2006.
  • Reduced drag via custom nosecone for the Mach 1-3 region
  • 3 fins vs 4
  • improved avionics (dual GPS, dual 433/900 MHz telemetry, high altitude capable baro sensors, 3x accelerometers, HD cam)
  • monolithic airframe.
  • White/black color scheme.
  • Fiberglass construction with vacuum bagged carbon fin can.
  • 88.5" Diameter (inches) 4.02"
  • 10.6# Weight with all motor(s) (lb) 36#
  • Drogue - Rocketman Ballistic Drogue - Kevlar harness
  • Main - Rogue Aerospace
  • Deployment - Apogee: CD3 CO2+Potted BP, LowAlt: Dual BP
  • Triple avionics: Primary RDA, backup PerfectFlite HiAlt, PerfectFlite timer
    RDAS GPS+Telemetry (900 MHz), Beeline GPS telemetery (433 MHz)

     
 
ARLISS Love 2007
 
Ken Biba - AeroPAC
 
  • New ARLISS unlimited CanSat payload carrier based on existing N single motor TRA altitude record holder from 2006.
  • New 6" CanSat payload bay on 4" core airframe.
  • Existing avionics suite, fins, recovery system.
  • White/black color scheme.
  • Fiberglass upper airframe construction with vacuum bagged carbon motor mount and fin can.
  • Height (feet/inches) 133" Diameter (inches) 6.16"
  • Weight without motor (lb) 10.6# Weight with motor (lb) 37#
  • Main parachutes - Rocketman
  • Deployment method & charge Apogee: CD3 CO2+Potted BP
  • Electronics (if > one device, list brand and model of each) Triple avionics: Primary GWiz MC, backup GWiz MC2, PerfectFlite timer Beeline GPS telemetry (433 MHz), Beeline Beacon (433 MHz)
     
 
Space Mouse (ver 3.5)
 
Kurt Gugisberg - ROC
 

 

 

Once again I am bringing my minimum diameter three stage Space Mouse (ver 3.5). This time the configuration is be a

  • L1120 on the first stage,

  • K250 on the second stage,

  • and a K250 in the sustainer. 

  • In the nose cone, Allen Farrington will have his Big Red Bee GPS tracking unit. 

  • I have hopes of reaching between 50K and 60K feet. 

This will be my third attempt at the M altitude record.  As everyone knows, the third time is always a charm.  So with that in mind, I am expecting a perfect flight.

 

 
Wherediditgo *

Tony Alcocer - AeroPAC
 
  • 3" Min Diameter

  • 61" Long

  • 5 pounds w/o motor

  • Dual Deployment

  • G-Wiz and ARTS

  • Walston tracker

  • Neanderthal Charges

  • Aerotech M650
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Actually the rocket doesn't have a name so Jamie made one up.

 
The Red Robin
 
Peter Clay - AeroPAC
 

 


My wife (Robin) asked if the next time I design a rocket if I would name it after her, and I was more than happy to oblige. I wanted to come up with something a little different than your usual rocket fare. I had all these Estes parts lying around so I built her a nice, albeit a little unusual looking, red rocket. Once she saw it fly of course she wanted more...make it bigger she said. Well, here is it!

People keep asking me why all those fins? And those canards, what is their purpose? Do they make it spin? Fly straighter? What??

My answer to each of these questions is......cause they look cool!

This will be my second M class rocket. It is 6" in diameter and a little over 7' tall. If I can get it finished in time it will fly on an M1550 Redline. This will be a single piece air frame with dual deploy (my first time trying that) and should reach an altitude of around 8k.

But the best thing about this rocket - it was made for love for my new bride.
 

 

 

 
"The Luci Goose"

Robin Cla
y - AeroPAC
 

Robin Clay's Level 1 certification attempt 

I won this rocket in the raffle at Mudrock, and shortly after that asked my husband 'Would this rocket be capable of getting me my level 1 certification?'

His immediate and enthusiast answer was "With a little beefing up, absolutely!"

We added a nice aero pack motor retainer and Peter walked me through building it to be a little stronger than stock. I plan to fly it on an H123 (that is the same motor that Peter did his level 1 on) for my level 1 at XPRS.  

When it is totally finished it will be pink and maybe have a picture of my dog, Luci on it. It will carry a small porcelain poodle in the payload section.


 

 

 

 
Rumpty Dumpy

RUMP Aerospace Team
 

RUMP Aerospace Team - Jim Russell, Art Upton, Scott Miller, Mark Palmer

4 inch, minimum diameter, 2 stage, all composite rocket.  The airframe is 152 inches in length. The airframe dry weight (prepped for flight less engine weight) will be approximately 17 pounds.

This will be its maiden flight.

The Booster will contain a CTI N2500. The Sustainer will contain an N1100.

Projected apogee is 92000 AGL (96000 MSL). Projected flight parameters are as follows:

  • Max Altitude:                        91,385 feet AGL (95,253 MSL)

  • Max Velocity:                       1774 MPH (970 Booster)

  • Time to Apogee:                  81 seconds

  • 1st stage burn out:               6,000 AGL (10,000 MSL) - Booster separation

  • Coast Time:                         8 Seconds

  • 2nd stage Ignition:                18,000 ft AGL (22,000 feet AGL) at 500 MPH

  • Burnout:                               42,000 ft AGL (46,000 feet MSL) at 25.7 seconds 1700 mph

  • Speed > 1500mph:              10 seconds (Launch +20 to +30), 24,000 to 48,000 AGL

  • Speed > 1000mph:              23.5 seconds (Launch +17.5 to +40), 17,000 - 62,500 AGL

On board, we have a suite of electronics including

  • Rdas Tiny's

  • ARTS altimeters

  • perfect flight timers

  • Big Red Bee Beacons

  • Rocket Hunter Beacons

  • a custom Garmin/Maxstream GPS with Telemetry

  • a customized Big Red Bee GPS unit with telemetry

We are also using a custom Co2 recovery system and a Co2 piston system (for stage separation) from Halo Aerospace.

 

 
Black Jack

RUMP Aerospace Team
 

RUMP Aerospace Team - Jim Russell, Art Upton, Scott Miller, Mark Palmer

 

  • 3 inch, minimum diameter
  • 2 stage, all composite
  • flew last year at XPRS to 52,000 feet AGL.

We are planning to re-fly this project using the same motor configuration as last year (Loki M1882 in the booster and an Ellis M1000 in the sustainer).

This year we have added a Big Red Bee GPS unit to assure we receive accurate apogee data.

Last year we flew beyond the capabilities of our Altimeters Baro sensor. This project will reach Mach 1.98 and attain an apogee of around 52,000 feet AGL.

 

 

 
StarFire

Vern Knowles - Tripoli Idaho
 

This will be the 15th flight of Starfire!

  • Diameter: 7.7 inches
  • Length: 12.5 feet
  • Weight: 80 lbs (w/ motors)
  • Motors: AMW M2200 Skidmark
  • Apogee at 4,500
  • Payload: Digital camcorder + two digital still cameras
  • Avionics: Two MissileWorks RRC2 altimeters and two MissileWorks PET2 timers.

 

For more with more photos of Starfire and lots of other stuff visit Vern's web site :

 
WildFire
Click here to view Wildfire construction and project notes
Vern Knowles - Tripoli Idaho
 
Length: 9 feet, 3 inches
Diameter: 5.5 inches
Weight: 45 pounds with M1315 motor and video payload
Motor: M 1315
Altimeters: 2 each, Missile Works RRC2
Locator: Walston radio transmitter
Payload: CCD video camera, 1.3 GHz transmitter, GPS info overlay
Parachute: Rocketman R14 on rocket, Rocketman R12 on payload module
 
AngelFire

Vern Knowles -
Tripoli Idaho
 
Length: 11 feet, 0.25 inches  
Diameter: 5.15 inches
Weight: 33.5  lbs without motors 
Motor: M1939
Altimeters: ARTS recording altimeter plus a MissileWorks RRCaltimeter.
Locator: Walston radio transmitter
Est Altitude 15,000'
Parachute: SkyAngle 24" drogue plus SkyAngle Cert-3 XL main parachute.

 

 

Conner Kuhns - AeroPAC
 
  • 29mm minimum diameter rocket
  • with electronics it weighs 6.5 oz.
  • 22" long
  • flight schedule is to test fly it on Friday with a D12 then E9 if that all goes well then it will fly on a G64 late Friday or on Saturday it Sims out to 7124' and 716MPH on the G64 some time in the weekend it will fly on a Ellis G35 also a possible flight on a G75 to 8325' and 820MPH
  • if there is time i might enter the H motor altitude contest, either a
    H128 if I can find one a old Aerotech H55, the H55 Sims to 9459' and 922MPH
  • Electronics are a PerfectFlite MAWD and a tracker

 

 
Mach Turtle

Conner Kuhns - AeroPAC
 
  • 20" long
  • 3" in diameter
  • weighs 22 oz. unloaded
  • Its a modified Estes big daddy with 2 layers of fiberglass on the inside of the body tube.
  • Has Leonardo the ninja turtle as the pilot
  • Will fly on either a I300 or a I357
     

 

 
Mr Pointy

Scott Berfield
 

L3 Certification Project

  • Diameter: 6"
  • Length: 11' 3"
  • Weight: 27 lbs (empty)
  • Motor: AT M1419
  • Sims to: 12,000'
     

 

 
Say Bye-Bye

Scott Berfield
 
  • Diameter: 2"

  • Length: 49"

  • Weight: 2 lbs 8 oz (empty)

  • Motor: K185

  • Sims to: 15,000'

  • Contest rocket for a 5-way last man down drag race.
     


 

 

 
Stubby

Scott Berfield
 
  • Diameter: 6"
  • Length: 6'
  • Weight: 20 lbs (empty)
  • Motors: CTI K570 Ground Start, 4 @ CTI I350SS Air starts
  • Sims to: 9,000'
     

 

 
Mercury Joe SEASON V

Jamie Clay - AeroPAC
 

If all goes well Mercury Joe will be doing two flights at XPRS, one with Hamlet the Woot.com monkey and the second flight may be a talking Jesus. (we'll see)

For more information on Mercury Joe, visit MercuryJoe.com

 

 
Gumby flying Little Joey I

Jamie Clay - AeroPAC
 
  • Benefiting from experience collected with the Mercury Joe project, Gumby makes his triumphant return to XPRS with his new high powered ride, the Little Joey I.
  • Little Joey flies on a cluster of 4 F-40s with one central J.
  • Like Mercury Joe, LJ1 recovers in three components - booster, capsule and tower.
  • Avionics: Perfectflite MAWD
  • Octave Multi-Pod Camera on the tower.


 

 

Night Owl

Jamie Clay - AeroPAC

 
  •  NIGHT FLIER
  • Two Radio Shack personal Strobes
  • Two Super LED flashing wands
  • Super LED light nose cone
  • H180 
  • Jamie's L1 certification rocket - and his most flown HP bird.