The Alpha: What can I say? Ask anybody, they probably have one or two. This was built from the original 1974 kit, bundled with the starter kit / launcher for about $14 and some change. I ordered it when I was 13 yrs. directly from Estes mail order, sending bills and change in an envelope without telling my parents because I was too afraid they would say I couldn't get it. It's always easier to get forgiveness than permission! It was a rugged, good flyer. It has since been moth-balled, the shock cord is rotted. I restored it to flying contidion one day when I was bored. It received a new Kevlar shock cord mount and a better plastic parachute with longer shroud lines. I also added a small payload section to the top, making this rocket 2-1/4" taller and 5 grams (0.176 oz) heavier. I flew it with an A8 on a windy day, and I was suprised how straight it flew, reaching 210 feet apogee and going up to 71 mph (104 ft/sec.). Can't wait to try this on a B or C this weekend!
| Flight Date: | 2012-12-02 |
| Rocket Name: | Alpha |
| Kit Name: | Estes - Alpha {Kit} (25) [1966-] |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | A8-3 |
| Expected Altitude: | 200.00 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 7.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 169.00 Feet |
Test flight #2 will use the same A8 motor as last time. This is only the second flight of this rocket in this century. My last rocket surpassed 300 feet and ended up far downwind in a tree, so I double-checked my notes to see that this rocket would not go so high with the A8.
The motor burned for 4/10 second and this rocket took off straight and true, accelerating at 18.1 Gs off the pad and averaging 6.6 while thrusting. It reached a speed of 63 mph then coasted for the next 2.9 seconds before the ejection fired slightly early while the Alpha was at 165 feet. The last 1/10 second brought the model to a stop 4 feet higher at an apogee of 169 feet. The parachute deployed but failed to open fully, so the rocket returned at a fast 16 mph and came to rest in the grass after 10.2 seconds about 50 feet downwind.
This second flight was much slower and lower than the last A8 flight, all numbers being unremarkable. Since my previous rocket ended up in a tree, I scrubbed the next flight which was to test the Alpha with a B6 motor to get somewhere beyond 500 feet. That will have to wait until next year.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes A8-3 |
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