LIGHTNING - SEVENTH FLIGHT

Has been a while since this rocket launched to the skies... Last flight in 2020 was aborted due to loss of field in Bunnell. Will launch this one at SRA, still have to decide what motor I will be using. High like around 6K or low around 3 K, depends of the weather. Will start getting it out of the rack and select the parachute and streamer. Stay tuned.

I guess I will go with the J760 and hope the streamer, RTX and camera fits in there.

Update 04/10/2021 - Ok, Motor loaded in casing and into rocket, 3 grain, streamer loaded and fits, charge on the bottom with dog-barf and chute protector on bottom of streamer. Motor has double O-ring on top and bottom, fits in really snug. just 1/32th seems to be out of the casing, screwed the end cap on real tight. 2 Z-ties made, each 8 folds. Hope that camera and Tag will fit. The RTX will go into the nose cone this time ! Just need to prep the front with Z-ties and Parachute and RTX.

Update 04/11/2021 - Folded the main chute in the front bay, and made 2 Z-ties. 65" chute fits nice in there I can snug the RTX in there also, will see if I can fit it in the booster part with the camera.

Update 04/12/2021 - Tested the stratologgers today, will replace the battery after this flight. Has also motor back up charge. Also fitted the Avbay with iPhone and looks good. Adjusted just one screw to center the camera.

Update 04/15/2021 - Loaded and connected all charges. Started charging batteries.

Update 04/16/2021 - Car loaded and batteries charged. Hoping on a very nice launch day.

Update 04/7/2021 - LAUNCH DAY - Started off very rainy when leaving Jacksonville area. It started to clear out way past Daytona. As predicted on the field a bit windy 12 mph and cloudy, but that cleared out around 12 PM. Very frustration morning, lots and lots of college kids / groups, and some set backs with equipment. Had to force the RTX into the chute and chute protector in the upper bay to fit in there... Real real tight !!! There was no space in the booster because of the Streamer, yes Freddy wants to have his streamer in there !! Madman !!! All was real tight, even the AvBay and the iPhone seems to be a fight to get that closed on both ends !! Have to re-check why that all was so tight in there, never had an issue before !!! Well after all that done I finally could take my rocket to the launch pads, the whole morning was taken by those college kids and also due to low cloud cover !! But indeed around 12 PM it got much better, winds from the SW a bit strong but no problem when using a streamer. Took it to the E row #1, and Tim for his rocket at the same row at #3. So I setup my GoPro on the tripod and turned it on ! The GoPro inside the rocket was turned on, but as always that one would not work properly, so no video there, next time I will take one of the newer GoPro's in there ! Also there was continuity, But Tom was unable to launch the rocket, even Tim's rocket had no signal. So Tom did replace a 100 feet cable to get the issue solved, Ok that was fixed ! Rocket took off with a breeze, nice straight up !!! This was actually one of he times that my rocket went straight up, I choose the newer pads with those yellow legs, the other older pads were really very wobbly, so next time I will take those again !! Very reliable!!! Rocket kept just really just under the clouds up there, and deployment of streamer went smooth and rocket came actually straight down also, when main came out it drifted a bit away and landed on the roadway, fins are a bit scratched and also the upper booster. It landed on the motor-mouth because that end closure is a bit bend... Very hard to screw on/off will fix that on, Only the closure ring has that issue, so the rest is fine, no damage on the casing or that closure ! Have nice iPhone data and video, and also from the ground Gopro. Took lots of pictures again.