Dart was an effort to
produce a D engined rocket of light weight that could be
expected to reach 1000' in altitude. Dart is constructed of a
lightweight paper tube 1.25"
in diameter. The fins (3) are a thin cardboard and are relatively
small. The nosecone is made of a piece of foam picked up at the local
hobby chain store and formed into a pleasant shape. Pores in the
foam were filled with glue and then covered over with tissue paper.
Sounds weird but it makes a very light nosecone. Recovery would be
by 9" parachute.
Launch:
The first flight of the Dart used the only
D motor available in this area, a D12-3. I found out rather quickly
that the delay is just not long enough. The rocket came off the pad
very quickly and flew nearly verticle. I lost sight of it shortly
after engine burn out. The ejection charge and the accompanying puff
of smoke showed me where it was. It also showed me that the parachute
had been torn off due to the high speed at ejection. The rocket actually
came down rather slowly due to its light weight and suffered only a bent
fin. Subsequent flights have used a long (12 foot) double streamer
made of surveyors tape. Neither is really satisfactory so I guess
I will have to suck it up and order some D12-5's. Oh, and by the
way, it did reach 1000', but just barely.
10 Sep 2001 - D12-5's work great. They
give the rocket time enough to reach maximum altitude and to settle down
some before the streamers come out. Interesting note: the rocket
has a sort of glide pattern on return. A slow circle about 300 feet
in diameter with tail first flight.
Length: 31"
Diameter: 1.25"
Weight: 3.75 oz
Recovery: 9" parachute or 12' double streamer
Engines: D12-3, D12-5
Max altitude: 1000'
Total Flights: 5 |
