Monday, July 1, 2019

Launch Date: 30 June, 2019


Today’s launch was another ‘Shoe Box’ session conducted at Founders Park in Castle Rock, Colorado. 
Perfect flying conditions prevailed for this session with wind speeds ranging from dead calm to maybe 3 mph tops.  Temperature at launch time was near 80 degrees and the field was in perfect condition.

The first launch went to the perennial Estes Hornet.  The model rose straight up on an A3-4T motor, reached apogee and ejected the parachute, which opened instantly.  There must have been a little thermal activity going on upstairs, because the model hung for a fairly long time under a 9 inch parachute equipped with a small spill hole.  At 42 seconds after launch, the model touched down softly on the turf a short distance away.  This was perhaps the best ever performance of the Hornet in its 46 year, 46 flight history!

 
 
The next flight went to the Estes Lynx.   After a perfect straight-up boost and coast to apogee, the parachute ejected, but failed to open.  Fortunately, the model balanced so that its descent was in a horizontal attitude, so no damage occurred on the harder-than-planned landing.  The parachute failure was a bit perplexing because it was well powdered just before the flight, and was properly packed into the airframe.  Nevertheless, it was still a fun and successful flight.

 
 



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