ZODIAC CRUISER - FIFTH FLIGHT

Having this rocket ready as backup for the Phoenix in case I can not fly it on a Sparkie motor. This rocket will have streamer and Main in the lower body, Main will be on Chute release, hope all is working great ! It did I flew the Phoenix on that J250 SK and all went well, was a great day.

Update 08/16/2019 - Made already two (2) charges for this rocket, (drogue).

Update 09/28/2019 - Thinking flying this rocket to 9 K, will prep two motors, one for a 9K flight and one for a 2500 feet flight. Will use the chute release, streamer and main in same bay.

Update 09/29/2019 - Today I did prep two motors in their casing a 2 grain and a 4 grain. All greases up and all have double O-rings on each side. Haven them both taped up to prevent moisture and in the amo case.

Update 09/30/2019 - Modifying the upper bay (that I never used on this rocket) to hold a 45" chute with chute protector and chock cord. Chock cord will be a the thin one that I used on the exodus. I simply have to install a much smaller eye bold or just put it into the open holes and secure a loop, so no hardware needed there (Jason Cook's solution). So rocket will have streamer 85" and a smaller chute like 34" with chute release in the lower bay/booster with the Whistle GPS and the RTX, he upper bay holds the main chute/chute release / chock cord combo. If weather cooperates this rocket will fly on a 4 grain motor to 9336 feet coming down on streamer and at 700 feet the main deploys. Will have to re-check the batteries on the stratologgers and fit iPhone and sled. Also have to re-check the total weight of the rocket.

Note to self:

Check and calculate total weight and sim.

Check stratologgers test, setup and batteries.

Check weather and high winds and direction at launch site at day of launch.

Update 10/01/2019 - Decided to use the chock cord from the HiTech for the main chute in the Zodiac front bay. Will have to make extra charges for that.. Will go with 1 Gram and 1.2 grams, its a very small bay... Also folded the Streamer and it fits nicely in the booster body.

Update 10/02/2019 - Made the main chute charges today, 1 Gram and 1.2 grams back up. Compartment is very small but want deployment, lots of dog-barf will be used !

Update 10/02/2019 - Replaced the big eyebolt on top of the AvBay (main) with a much smaller one, so I have more space in the front bay.

Udate 10/03/2019 - Removed the Black Powder from the motor is set at 14 sec, flight takes 17 sec to Apo. Also re-located the chute protector more down to accommodate the streamer a bit. Made the blast cushion for the drogue charge and one z loop on the chock cord.

Update 10/05/2019 - Replaced the back up motor with the I100 RED Lightning Long Burn motor, Just in case weather is not so good to get the selected motor going up. Also made all the Z-ties in the main chock cord, just 2 sections. I guess I'm ready to go now. I 100 RL motor all taped off.

Update 10/09/2019 - Got a green light from the board to launch 9+K, will double check the upper winds in Friday and will make the final call than. Also checked the stratologgers, need some battery replacements. Have to get the total weight of the rocket also. Right now the winds predictions are for Saturday at 11 AM - surface winds 3mph NE, 850 hPa 11 mph N, 700 hPa 7 mph NW. Cloud cover 10 %.

Update 10/10/2019 - Loaded all the charges, Main and drogue, Fitted the main in the front bay, it's tight but I wrapped the chute cords around and got it real tight and covered it with the chute protector, now it seems a bit more looser. Have two z-ties in the main chock cord and a swivel. In the booster I have the charge on top of that a lot of dogbarf, than the streamer also wrapped in a chute protector, on top of that the 3 z-ties, all in, only have to ad the RTX and the TAG trackers. Motor is already inside the case and in the rocket, all taped off and the igniter is also ready to go.

Weight is also checked and with all the electronics and Iphone and trackers, it will be the same 3360 grams.

Update 10/11/2019 - Weather looks great, open skies, surface winds around 3 mph WEST all the way up to 9000 feet, BUT between 1000 feet and 3000 feet they change to 10 mph EAST.

Update 10/12/2019 - LAUNCH DAY - Extremely great exceptional day !!! Very low winds, all the rockets landed on the field, close by the pads !! Had a few issues getting the main and shock cord in the front bay, need to make that a little bigger, like 4" or so to accommodate everything nicely ! The chute was really really stuffed in like crazy, had a feeling that that would not come out the nose cone ! Did not use the chute release, Had confident that it all will work perfect. Everything was tight in, the upper-bay had the shear pins (3), the booster had none, speed was to low for those. Normally had David going first to 5000 feet so I know the upper winds a bit better, but his rocket had an igniter issue, so I went after him. Rocket took off pad straight up !!! Deployment event of the streamer worked great and was visible all the way down. Since there were no winds at 9 K so the rocket came down nicely, straight down and landed on the flight line ! Have great rocket video ! Thanks Jason, and data. Not much of rotation! Streamer worked great again on that field ! Will try some lower altitudes next time, his was truly a very exceptional day in rocketry, great turnout!