Flight Log - 2023-09-03 - David Deavours's Punisher 4

Wildman Punisher 4

Blue Tube

 

Flight Date: 2023-09-03
Rocket Name: Punisher 4
Flyer's Name: David Deavours
Motors: M1297
Expected Altitude: 15,500.00 Feet
Launch Site: Kloudbusters
Wind Speed: 10.00 mph
Wind Direction: From the N
Temperature: 95 F
StageMotor(s)
1Aerotech M1297W

 

No, I'm not nervous.

My L3 flight at Airfest 29. I don't know what to say! It was nerve-wracking but also the most exciting and fun thing I've done ever. The firs time I took the rocket to the pad there was an issue with one of the switches (screw switch) and I couldn't power up my secondary RRC3. So, down it came and I went back to re-work my AV bay in the field. Fortunately, it's not too hard to run a twist-and-tape switch so that's exactly what I did. That, and I tested the AV bay like crazy to be sure it was going to work on the pad this time!! And it did.


It was hot. The wind was hot, the sun was hot and the heat was hot. The rocket went up on pad 66, a short 1010 rail with the help of the Kloudbusters and friends. The ride back from the 60's pad was nerve wracking and the wait at the LCO table was even more\!! But the rocket lept off the pad under thrust, and soon the GPS was i MACH lock-out until 13,000' where it picked up again and gave me a readout all the way to apogee.


The GPS apogee was 17,226, the RRC3 reported 16,120'. Either way this was my personal altitude record!! Velocity was 1.89 MACH which is also a speed record for me, but just over the 1.7MACH the L2200G got me with my shakedown flight in March.


Recover was relatively easy as we aimed the rocket about 4 degrees into the wind and away from the bean field. The Rocket was in great condition, if not scratched up from transport and mounting on the rail (twice!). But no damage and the motor was tightly retained. Recovery under main was 27fps, just perfect for the windy Kansas prairie.

Actual Altitude: 16,120.00 Feet
On the way up!
RRC3 readout
Recovery, whew!
GPS Plot to 17,290'

Static test of big amateur rocket motor using KNO3-Isomalt propellant. Class O-11000,grains 8pcs uninhibited.


   
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