Flight Log - 2011-03-12 - K Sonesen's Estes Super Neon XL (Tube Fin)

Tube fin rockets, what are you gonna do with them?  They're ugly and draggy but man, do they fly straight!

I resisted the urge to buy the Super Neon XL as long as I could but when the local hobby shop had a sale, my resolve faded.

BTW, tube fin rockets have no need for conventional mini-fins tacked on to the tubes. More drag...what were they thinking? My SNXL has none and I like it like that.  I used Testors Metallic Lime and Metallic Purple to basically follow the paint scheme on the kit cardboard.  The parachute has been upgraded to a fluorescent green Top Flight 24" chute and I added a 6"x6" flame-resistant blanket to protect my chute investment.  In typical tube fin fashion, this rocket flies straight up and even tail slides a bit after apogee until the chute deploys.

The kit instructions concerning how to mount the tube fins to the airframe are best disregarded.  Just lay the body tube down on a FLAT surface and attach the two opposite tube fins to the airframe.  Next glue the two tubes in the "valleys" created by the first two fins and the airframe. When the glue has dried, turn the assembly over and repeat the previous step with the remaining two tubes. This self-jigging assembly method should produce a well aligned rocket.

Flight Date: 2011-03-12
Rocket Name: Estes Super Neon XL (Tube Fin)
Kit Name: Estes - Super Neon XL {Kit} (002425) [?-2013]
Flyer's Name: K Sonesen
Motors: E20-7
Expected Altitude: 1,000.00 Feet
Wind Speed: 7.00 mph
Launch Site: SARG - Amoruso Field

The E20 single use motor is a great choice for the Estes Super Neon XL.  It produces a good straight boost and leaves the pad with authority.

I had an igniter issue with a bad batch of First Fire jrs included in the motor two-pack.  By the time I got back in line, got a pad, and boosted, the Altimeter One had reached the 60 minute power down stage.  Totally my fault as I should have power cycled the unit when I replaced the igniter. Estimated altitude reached was about 1000'.

StageMotor(s)
1Aerotech E20-7

 

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