TOMACH - SIXTH FLIGHT

Note to self - remove motor delay Charge / Or adjust apo time +2 !!!Rocket lined up for next Bunnell flight to around 5 K. With streamer again.

Update 01/26/2020 - Prepping my next launch rocket. Have to adjust the chute protector and quick-link more down to were it leaves the top of the booster, that's were the streamer will be attached, and yes I also use a chute protector with the streamer as extra protection.

Update 01/27/2020 - Just to make sure, I tested the whole sled and stratologgers out again, all good and working.

Update 01/28/2020 - Made the charges today - 1.8 - 2.0 Main / 1.8 - 2.0 Drogue/ streamer...

Update 02/01/2020 - Checking the weather for Bunnell, looks iffy, might be rain in the forecast, winds are pretty low for now.

Update 02/02/2020 - Weather looks great for this weekend Launch, Low winds (5 mph) clear skies and no rain !!! Temps around 65 at high. brain (Aerotech) the motorman will be there also. Will be testing out the Chute release also.

Update 02/04/2020 - Folded the main chute today, earlier I made a video folding the streamer and install the streamer in the booster, Z-ties etc. RTX will be again in the front Bay nose cone section, will have a small chute in there with chute release for testing. Still install the charges and the motor.

Update 02/05/2020 - Installed the charges and also installed the motor in the motor-mouth.

Update 02/07/2020 - Taped the little*GoPro* like camera on the booster chock cord at the end were it meets the Av-Bay with chute protector present. Hope it all stays together, Will investigate the position better when I see my earlier images. Lots of electrical tape used.. Tested the stratologgers, have to set the main Apo + 1 and the back Up Apo 2.5 sec delay. Leave motor charge in and deployment and main charge were close. But I know that rocket is a bit heavier and will not reach the 5000 feet mark...

Update 02/08/2020 - LAUNCH DAY - Great weather, Clear skies and low winds, some gusts at times but low. Talked to Bernie about my 98XL casing and the O3400 motor, he will give me some discounts.. Watched a few other lower flights and decided to launch at rail #7. Prepping was a bit of a hasslewith those 3" rockets..In booster there was the streamer 10" wide/85' long, than on top there were the z-ties and than the *GoPro* camera and chute protector on top all taped up with electrical tape to the shock cord, and than the Tagg/whistle, the top section had the main chute 60" with the x-ties and the RTX in there really really tight, had to find a good spot for the RTX and with al the struggle I forgot to tape the RTX on the shock cord !!! ok zo far zo good, shearpins in nose cone section and all pressed in the booster, It was so tight that I had to use excessive force to close he two section up, leaving a small gab, (see pictures). I was actual afraid that it might not deploy, but than 5 charges in the whole rocket, well something had to deploy anyway. There was again a bit of a delay because of the airplanes circling around the field. Wait was a bit long and afraid that the camera or iphone would overheat or die. Rocket took of clean of the pad, straight up. But I guess it did not reach the almost 5000 feet as simmed, I admit that the rocket was indeed much heavier.. and expected a lower altitude ! Came down North of the field on the side were the ditch with water was and the power-lines and barbwire. But did not get any of that, could grab it clean up of the field packed it and went back. I also noticed that the RTX unit was not in the rocket and than I realized that I did not taped it properly !! Dam... looked a bit around with the handhold unit but no signal from the rocket Unit RTX. let it go for a while and figured to look for it later and tried to follow the flight path on the ground, That was not so much distance to cover because the rocket landed close by. Gary launched and his rocket ended up in the NE field and since that was the direction that I wanted to look for the RTX so I followed him to give him a hand. And while just plain walking there it was, unbelievable !!! No signal and found it just in the grass there !! I tested it out later home and it was all working, battery was pretty low, I guess from the fall or the ground hit. All good ! And the Iphone recorded and have also launch data and the go-pro video was still running when it landed !!! Man I was real lucky with that, but will never pack all the stuff in a 3" rocket again !!! Lots of pictures and data. Great day again ! Oh Brain the motorman was there also and Tom also, Tom is selling out and will stop his business soon, so yes I bought 2 motor from him with a 30% discount !!