ULTRA-VIOLENT EXPRESS - FIFTH FLIGHT

Planning to Launch this rocket at the next SRA Launch in March 2019. Has been a while since I flew this rebuild from Jeff Milner. Thanks again Jeff for donating this rocket to me, I just love it. Will use the nexus 4 and also will try out the streamer - 84 feet/10" streamer all red from Buddy Rocketman. Details and pictures of the making of the streamer are under A-Streamer. Carefully folded and packed. Space taken is around 14" long. Try to find out the descent speed and drift for this subject. Hopefully great weather and low winds.

Update 03/01/2019 - For now I have selected the J760 White Thunder (3 grain) that will give me a low altitude of 3750 feet. Also need to find my RTX first or borrow from Tim, before I can Launch. Hope Bernie has the motor, if not I have to switch to another one. Second choice is the K360 WH.

Update 03/08/2019 - Got the rocket ready, using the X-form chute and Streamer (no drogue), made the charges and stored them in the containers now, will install them next week Wednesday.

Update 03/10/2019 - Packed the main chute today, Z-ties made with rubber bands, all tight and installed the shear pins in the nose cone (3).

Update 03/14/2019 - Waiting on SRA and Tim on a final word if we are GO on Saturday. Weather looks funny and rain is in the forecast.

Update 03/15/2019 - Launch cancelled - NO GO for this coming weekend, plan is to launch next weekend March 23, 2019.

Update 03/20/2019 - Launch is a GO for Saturday 23.. weather looks optimal like never before. Expecting lots of flyers. Start getting my stuff ready.

Update 03/21/2019 - Tested the stratologgers, Main all good over 9.30 V - Back up at 8.95 V, will replace that by the next flight ! Start charging batteries and installed the charges and the chutes and the streamer !!! yeah !

Parachutes all Loaded and streamer, no shear-pins in booster, have to order some more.

Update 03/22/2019 - Very windy day here in Jacksonville, actually the whole week. Hope Palm Bay will be better. Loaded everything in the car and Florence is coming again. Weigh the empty rocket launch/no motors = 6.500 grams = 14.33 Lbs.

Update 03/23/2019 - LAUNCH DAY - Early day, leaving at 7 AM. Clear skies, Took a detour to find the RTX at the recovery site from the previous Launch in February. Found it, all shredded but still working, will use it for parts... Prepping the rocket was easy, but found out that I had the wrong Av Bay and sled with me, a bit to long, just a bit, adjusted the inner nut and it fitted .. almost but good enough to close the bay up. Borrowed Tim his RTX, and had my Whistle on it also, was working fine this time. Florence took a bunch of images also and that was great ! Around noon I walked to the Launch pad with Florence behind me taking pictures. Streamer was all loaded up in the rocket (84 feet) and also Jason his new IR beta 6.0 software. Launch went great to around 2650 feet, lower than expected. Streamer came out nice but noticed that I should have the streamer connected to the other end of the shock cord, booster floated higher than the streamer and when the main came out it go tangled in the fin can of the booster. Descent speeds were around 80 ft/sec... Actually good enough, under tangled main it got to 50 ft/sec. Came down fast in soft field, no damage on rocket, chute has a little rip that can be fixed or not... Rocket landed 1008 feet out. Nice to see the rocket coming straight down under streamer no drift or little. Will ask Buddy to ad 20 feet more to streamer. He could do that at no charge he said. Lots of streamers also today, great day, Wish Jason was there. Will fix the streamer issue for sure to fly next time. It will be a real job folding that streamer again !!! Thanks Florence for all the pictures ! Also nice to see Clayton and friends there.

Update 03/31/2019 - Buddy received the streamer and will ad another 25 feet to it. Motor casing all cleaned out. Parachute X-form has two small rips that will be fixed before I fly another 3" rocket.