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Rocket Airframes

We currently have more than half a dozen rockets that we use, although there are more being built - see Rockets in Build for details of these.

Double Trouble

Double Trouble hybrid clustered tetrahedronA peculiar rocket, this one. Two RATT I-80 hybrid motors in a foamboard tetrahedron, with two parachutes for recovery. Challenging to design, build and fly. Not one for Rocksim, either.

 

 

 

LOC Warlock

This rocket was built in the summer of 2007, to allow a rapid build of a Level 2 rocket with the very limited ceiling we have at local sites. However, as we wanted to fly it on our Pentamax J and Sky Ripper J hybrids it has a 54mm mount in place of the stock 38mm one and has been stretched by almost 24 inches, so it is much less dumpy. Now repaired after a deployment problem

Odin

OdinThis is a clone of the BSD Thor, and was used for Ray's Level 2 certifying flight. It first flew at K-LOB on 30th September 2006. Odin is capable of flying on 54mm motors such as the Pentamax J hybrid and Pro54 solids, and 38mm motors (Pro38 and Congreve solids). It has flown on the Pentamax J and K motors, and also on our Hypertek J-330. It has been repaired a couple of times after some interesting deployments, including a spectacular zipper, but remains a solid workhorse for some great flights.

 

Wot 4?

A similar rocket to the Loc IV, but with different fins, this rocket was built in the summer of 2008. An unfortunate first flight left it badly damaged but it is now repaired and ready to go again. New for the rebuild is an Intellicone - a plastic nose with a tube to house the altimeter - which means a separate payload section isn't required, and the rocket is quite short but still capable of taking 36-inch hybrids. Solid construction with through-wall fins and three centering rings make the aft end very sturdy, but it's still reasonably light, and capable of flying on the Ratt I-80 for instance.

 

Ariel

ArielRay Wilkinson's Level 1 qualifier rocket. It flew at EARS in March 2006, but landed heavily due to a problem with deployment of the chute (see launch report). After another disastrous attempt on 30 April at Spring Thing, it finally made four successful flights at Milson in May 2006 and numerous flights since. It has also been extended to take a RATT I-80 hybrid motor, and to allow dual-deploy for possible Level 2 flights. It has now been retired and will be used for display purposes.

 

Richter Recker

Richter Recker

A very long, lightweight rocket, which flies beautifully on a 3-motor cluster (D or E motors). This rocket uses 2 parachutes for recovery. Now being repaired after a hard landing following recovery failure.

The Slab

The SlabA tetrahedron, made from foam board. The light weight and high drag of this rocket make it ideal for demonstration flights on a G or H motor. It cost less than a fiver to build, and is a cinch to fly as it needs no parachute - it just flips over and descends quite slowly. The low altitude means that all the smoke and noise happen close by, and it's virtually oblivous to even strong breezes.

Little Ripper

A scratch-built rocket specifically for the Sky Ripper G63 hybrid motor, although it would also accommodate our Sky Ripper H hybrid. It's small and skinny.

Code Red

This was our first and smallest rocket, bought ready built just to gain experience. It has made around 20 flights, not all of which have been successful. Despite this, it remains undamaged. The only modification has been to put in a recovery upgrade with a Kevlar shock cord and a nylon streamer or parachute, depending on conditions. It will fly on an A (just), B or C motor. Lost in the autumn of 2007, last seen hanging from a power line.

Eliminator

This has been the workhorse of our initial rocketry activities. Built from a kit, it has since been extended after we lost the nose, and has also been modified into a 2-stage rocket. This extends the maximum altitude to an estimated 2500 feet, although we plan to measure it once we have an altimeter fitted. 2-stage flights are on a D booster over an E main stage. Many of our students have flown this rocket, and it has made more flights than any of our others. Sadly, the Estes E motors, which fly it beautifully, are no longer available.

Eliminator