This Thanksgiving weekend was marked by a spell of wonderfully warm and calm Colorado weather, so what better time to get out and launch a few model rockets?
Friday night, my 7 year old grand son put the finishing touches on his Generic E2X model, and we planned to launch the next morning. I was also anxious to get out and launch the newly- built Griffin-2 booster and Firefly parasite glider.
Saturday morning, we stopped by the hobby store to pick up a couple needed packages of engines, then headed for Dove Valley Park. Arriving around 11a.m. we found the field deserted except for a large flock of geese. Temperature was 55 degrees and wind hovered around 5mph.
The first bird off the pad was the Hornet on an A3-4T engine. Another perfect flight, with the newly
installed internal engine retainer performing wonderfully.
Next up was the maiden flight of the grandsons' Generic E2X. The model boosted nicely on an A8-3 engine, deployed its parachute and landed fairly close to the launch pad. The young lad was quite elated, and gleefully set out on recovery.
After a short session of hand launch glide trimming of the Estes Firefly, I had it on the pad attached to the Griffin-2 boost vehicle. Flying on a B4-2 engine, the tandem boosted nicely, albeit in a somewhat wide spiraling trajectory, but reaching a respectable altitude. At ejection, the Firefly separated and seconds later the Griffin's parachute popped open.
The Firefly immediately settled into an interesting glide pattern, staying perfectly nose-into-the-wind during its entire descent. There was absolutely no turning, stalling, or diving whatsoever. The wind actually pushed it slowly and consistently downrange, so that it appeared that the glider was flying backward. I got the impression of watching the flight of a hovercraft rather than a glider!
I watched the bird as it appeared to fly over the nearby street and into a parking lot area on the other side, but lost sight of it before it landed. My grandson and I set out on recovery. Thinking that this would be a tricky recovery, we walked toward where I had last seen the glider.
"Grandpa, there it is!!", exclaimed the keen-eyed young man. To my surprise, there was indeed a red object lying in the grass within the borders of the flying field. The model had made a soft landing on the turf still pointed into the direction of the wind.
Looking later at the cel phone launch video of the flight, 59 seconds had elapsed from liftoff until my comment that I had lost sight of it. The glider was probably still aloft for another 5 to 10 seconds after that. 60+ seconds is not a bad flight duration for a delta-wing parasite glider on B impulse.
On the way back to the pad area, I happened to find this on the ground...
Not sure if it's a rocket fin or the tail rudder of a small model airplane.
The Griffin-2 booster rocket was successfully recovered as well, thanks to the efforts of the enthusiastic grand-kiddo.
Following that, we put the Generic E2X up for its second flight, again on
an A8-3. The flight went just as well as the first with the bird landing within 50 feet of the launch pad.
I had brought along the Estes Lynx and the Mini-Maggot glider, but chickened out on flying either one because of the steady 5 mph wind.
Instead, I stuck another A3 in the Hornet and sent it aloft for its 37th flight. Another perfect launch and recovery.
It was really great having my grandson along for this flight session. Not only was he the 'recovery crew', but he served as Launch Control Officer as well, counting down and pushing the button for all five of today's flights. He even remembered to announce control system continuity, check for low-flying aircraft, and pull the safety key after each launch. A splendid new rocketeer in the making!
