2013-03-10 - Rich DeAngelis's Beta

Flight Log - 2013-03-10 - Rich DeAngelis's Beta

The Beta: I love this little gem, but I haven't been able to get T sized booster motors any more.

UPDATE: Estes is now making them again - I have some due to arrive shortly! Yea!!!!!

I think the small size of this rocket combined with its high-altitude capabilities is better off with a bright Mylar streamer instead of the 10" parachute. This makes it easier to spot in the air and on the ground, and reduces drifting in the wind. This rocket was recently given my "Iris" modification, which extends the body tube about 5 inches above the streamer/parachute bay, and allows for a payload with an Altimeter One to measure altitudes. The A-power booster and A-power sustainer really lift this Beta high, over 700 feet on just two A's! I'd say that's pretty good proof that multi-stage rockets are more efficient with propellant, as the same mass of propellant made into a single B-motor would have topped-out at about 500 feet.

After a flight where the second stage did not light for unknown reasons, the Beta was badly damaged. It was repaired with a new and shorter payload section, and the body tube was lengthened to fix the worn-down top of the tube. This rocket is now 19-7/8" long with both stages.

What's great about this kit is you can fly a two stage very economically, since T motors are cheaper than standard sizes. (Iris is named after the Greek god of the rainbow. She is a messenger of the gods, linking the gods with humanity.) This rocket has flown higher than the Revel Casino Towers in Atlantic City, and the Met-Life Tower in NY, and could very easily fly over the St. Louis Gateway Arch.

Flight Date:	2013-03-10
Rocket Name:	Beta
Kit Name:	Estes - Beta {Kit} (845) [1972-1984]
Flyer's Name:	Rich DeAngelis
Motors:	A10-0/1/2A3-4
Expected Altitude:	434.00 Feet
Wind Speed:	10.00 mph
Launch Site:	Penn Manor School Lancaster PA
Actual Altitude:	429.00 Feet

This model got a new 7.5” parachute to replace the lost Mylar streamer and is now a few grams lighter. The booster motor lit well and the rocket accelerated quickly, at 20.4 Gs, and averaged 4.7 Gs for the total flight. Ignition of the second stage and booster separation usually occurs at about 50 feet, but this flight appeared to stage much higher. The booster then tumbled down about 150 feet away. After the second stage burnout, it coasted up for another 4.9 seconds after reaching a top speed of 108 mph, thanks to a long delay time. At 425 feet the ejection fired, stopping the rocket 1/10 seconds later and four feet higher.

For this motor combination, this was the lowest and slowest flight I’ve recorded. The new parachute opened well and the model descended safely at 6 mph, landing far downwind about 500 feet. Both the other observer and I lost sight of it, and it was only spotted on the ground thanks to the bright orange plastic I used for the parachute. This was a very successful flight which lasted for 49.5 seconds – an all-time record duration for this model.

Stage	Motor(s)
1	Estes A10T-0
2	Estes 1/2A3T-4

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