Flight Log - 2012-05-06 - Rich DeAngelis's Striker AGM Iris

The Quest Striker AGM is a simulated military missile. My particular rocket was modified with a 3.5" payload that stretches it to over 30 inches long, and painted to an entirely different red-white-blue scheme featuring some gold trim lines. Another modification was started by the shipping company. The body tube was damaged in the center, so I wrapped it with a heavy paper shroud and then strengthened the body with eight basswood strakes that looks more like it was meant to be a design feature instead of a patch-job. To hide it in plain sight the strakes were painted gold. It looks like it was painted more for an air show and not like an AGM missile. I think with this model I have finally learned that models of this size and weight (30” and about 5 oz.) should have a 24mm mount. The 18mm motors that are affordable are just not powerful enough for satisfying altitudes. I can get about 300 feet on a C6-3 motor though, so it's high enough. This should be strong enough to fly with a composite D10 motor. This rocket has flown higher than the Washington National Cathedral and the US Capitol in Washington, DC.

Flight Date: 2012-05-06
Rocket Name: Striker AGM Iris
Kit Name: Quest - Striker AGM {Kit}
Flyer's Name: Rich DeAngelis
Motors: C6-5
Expected Altitude: 260.00 Feet
Wind Speed: 3.00 mph
Launch Site: Penn Manor School Lancaster PA
Actual Altitude: 253.00 Feet

Previously on its maiden voyage, I sent this model up in gusty winds using a C6-3. For its second flight with the wind calm I thought I could get some extra altitude using a C6-5 with its 2 additional seconds of coasting. The actual delay for this motor was 6.2 seconds, much too much for this heavy model. The liftoff was fine, peaking at 5Gs, and the 2.1 second burn averaged 1.4Gs. At burnout it was traveling at 63 mph and coasted for 2.4 seconds to an apogee of 253 feet. The long delay of 6.2 seconds allowed the model to drop 160 feet in 3.8 seconds before ejection, so at an altitude of only 93 feet the parachute deployed correctly and the Striker drifted to the ground at 10 mph. It landed only about 150 feet from the launch pad after a 13.8 second flight. Inspection revealed about 3/4" of zipper damage from the Kevlar cord while deploying at a high speed (probably about 60 mph). Lessons: 1) This model is restricted to C6-3 flights only. 2) Make the Kevlar cord shorter than that supplied by Quest.

StageMotor(s)
1C6-5

 

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