Flight Log - 2012-02-05 - Rich DeAngelis's Cyclone

The Cyclone: This is a modern Almost-Ready-to-Fly kit from Quest.  The length and weight of this model is on par with the Estes Alpha, but a slightly smaller diameter.  It has plastic fin assembly, stick-on body decal, streamer recovery. Uses 1/2A - C motors. Reasonably light model. I think this model could be called something else, but it came in a Quest starter kit and the other model was busted (I got a deal), so I used the "Cyclone" tube wrapper because it looked better, so now I just got used to calling it the Cyclone. It could just have well been called "Chain Reaction", the other decal. I modified the streamer bay with vent holes to install an Altimeter One. Notice also, to break up the monotony of the plain orange fins, I added the cheesy stripes to the fins using leftover sticker material from the body wrap.  This model doesn't get much respect from me though; I didn't build it, just some minor assembly work. Not only is it simple and colored ugly, the plastic fins means it is a toy. A real rocket has balsa or wood fins and paint. I must admit though, it flies fast and high and is pretty rugged.  This rocket has flown higher than NASA's VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) in Cape Kennedy Florida – and that was only with a B6-4!

Flight Date: 2012-02-05
Rocket Name: Cyclone
Flyer's Name: Rich DeAngelis
Motors: A8-3
Launch Site: Penn Manor School Lancaster PA
Actual Altitude: 216.00 Feet

This windy day was no good for high flights or precious rockets, so I sent this RTF model up with an altimeter on a small A8-3 motor to get some new data on it's flight abilities. The molded launch lug is a bit loose for a 1/8" rod, so it wobbled quite a bit after ignition while on the rail. It burned for 6/10 second, accelerated at 13 Gs and averaged 5.6 Gs for the burn. In that time it reached 68mph and 216 feet apogee. The supplied thick and short plastic streamer did not fully release or even leave the tube completely in the 40-degree weather so it came down fast. The wadding was still stuck in the tube - a bit too tight. Still, safe recovery and ready for more flying. Ejection was at 202 feet and it descended at 13 mph for a total flight of 13.1 seconds.

StageMotor(s)
1Estes A8-3

 

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