EXODUS - SECOND FLIGHT - MACH ONE

Prepping this rocket for a next high power flight. Try to take this rocket to 13K feet and a velocity close to 1.43 Mach, but it always sims out higher then the real thing. Hoping for great weather. Also try to fit in the RTX in the lower frame, it will all fit with a 6 grain casing (5 grain motor). And a small drogue as well.

Update 02/13/2017 - Did some test with the RTX GPS module and also with the blue tooth device. The map and compass are really cool to locate the rocket. The Compass is a bit slow responding on my phone but good enough. In Tifton GRITS field there is hardly any WIFI signal so I will use the RTX/GPS... Glad I did the test... Real cool and happy. Looking forward for this flight.

Update 02/18/2017 - Charges made a little more power, just to make sure all goes well... Charges not connected. Also greased the motor liner and installed the 5 grain motor in the casing. Added rubber rings on both sides so the closures have tow rubber rings on each side, was a bit difficult the slide the motor in but all went well and is in place. Also measured the igniter length and taped it till were it has to go. Cut triangle in nozzle cap.. done. Motor is all packed up in the casing cover and taped air tight. The weather forecast does not look great at this point, some rain and winds but kinda open skies and warm like mid 70's.

Update 02/19/2017 - Z tied the shock cords and folded the parachutes in the protectors. Taped up and RED tape to remove the masking tape reminder.

Update 02/24/2017 - Charges connected, RTX charged and Rocket part wrapped in foam and all taped up. check fittings also, will use baby powder but all looks great so far. Batteries all charges up and at 9.3 Volt on the stratologgers.

Update 02/25/2017 - Great Launch day I mean, Cloudy skies and lots lots of wind.

Waited like till 2 PM in the afternoon to get a clear window to go to 13000 feet. Approved by George (SOAR) I put my rocket on the launch pad # 17. Lots of pictures taking also (lol) Clayton and his friend Deep helped me all the way. Very excited about the launch also, would like to get that 1.30 Mach ut of that rocket. Prepping was a breeze, put the RTX and TAGG in and all fit well, tight but it all fitted ! Rocket took off like a missile, Rod was in a 7 degree angle because of the heavy winds that were still blowing. The cloud band was gone but the winds were still there. We were checking the satellite images every minute....But 2 PM was my final decision, just time wise to get the recovery done on time and head back home. And Yes she flew great !!! Wind predictions were like 34 kt at 10 K and 15 kt at 5 K, to much to get er back safe. She went up straight but landed like 1.96 miles out East (?) just in a tall big tree on the edge of a small forest... Clayton and Deep came with me for the recovery, we got lost for a moment because the RTX was not connecting right and the Tagg needed WIFI, I got WIFI for a moment and that took me to the right direction. Without Tagg I would never found my rocket. Had to practice some more with he RTX because the giving coordinates were not right according Clayton. Will check that issue out later and recall those coordinates and see where they go to. After finding out that the rocket was in a huge tall tree we called on George with his 40 feet stick to help us and he was very very helpful and was telling us all kinds of stories about other recoveries also. funny guy. After a few tries he could not reach the rocket or any part of it he was just 5 feet to short. The land owner showed up and he told us he would get the rocket down over the weekend. He was a very very very friendly guy and his nephew were very helpful, we showed him the place and that was no trouble at all to do the job on Monday. His name is Tommy Barber (2296864224), great guy and lots of stories to tell. He own a lot of property in that neighborhood. He called me over the weekend that we will get the rocket out of the tree on Monday. So very excited to make that drive again probably on Wednesday. Clayton and Deep were a great help just being there. Thanks guys !

Correction on the RTX coordinates, we interpreted the coordinates wrong there need to be a space after the first decimals.. NOT this:3116.74926N, 8319.17350W - BUT THIS WAY:31 16.74926N, 83 19.17350W !!! Pay attention freddy !!1 Read the RTX manual.

Update 02/28/2017 - Some recovery issues. Tommy Barber has the flu and apologizednot able to the the job. He called me on Tuesday evening (today) that he will do it at the end of the week and will call me back. Also Shawn O'Connor from Valdosta volunteered to go over there and try to get the rocket out of the tree !Great guy, he texted me a few times for some recovery updates. I was also planning to go with a long stick and a ladder over the weekend but I will wait for Tommy his phone call before I do something stupid again.... So for now waiting, very frustrating waiting, feel a bit sick with all these situations and the loss of my very precious rocket.

Update 03/04/2017 - After a whole week of stress and heart related issues, still going to ER and lots of doctors visits after, I found out that Shawn O'Connor recovered my rocket with minor damage. I guess I have to refit the parts and will deal with some swollen cardboard also, But I hope Epoxy and some sanding will take care of that, I hope to get that rocket flying again to mach 1.77 with a new nose cone also. I'm so great-full thankful that he recovered the rocket and electronics also. trying to locate it with the TAGG but it seems that does not work anymore. Maybe the battery went to low and also some water damage might occur. TAGG turned off at 6.00 PM today.

Update 03/12/2017 - Up early this morning to take the 2.30 min drive to Shawn/Hihara GA. No rain just a solid cloud cover.... Nice little town, all well organized and clean all over, could be a setting for a movie ! Shawn and his wife and son and friend were very very friendly.... He got my rocket all tucked away and taken care off. He has a big 'mancave' garage and loves to do diverse things and hobbies.. His property is huge and has open field to launch mid power rockets, which he does.. I guess.. I should...

On the drive home I charged the Iphone and indeed the onboard video was there and all the data. More checks were done and the Tagg and RTX are working fine, just need a new lipo battery again.. But so far no major damage just a fewscratchesandclean up. Will do a double test and check out on the electronics for sure and also clean up the rocket and the fittings. Will order an other nose cone and try to fit the RTX in there with a new setup or so... Also will double check the stratologgers before the next launch. But so far all worked great, charges all fired correctly and chutes released on time and altitude, just a bit high readings on the velocity which needs to be cleaned up, Jason Cook is planning to help me with that, but need some time. Tired from the day drive and talking stories with Shawn and family, again a great day !

Also found out that the tree was cut down to recover my rocket, a bit sad about that but the tree was dying anyway... Thanks for the recovery guys !!!

Update 03/14/2017 - I cleaned the casing today. came out clean, the grease on the liner helps a lot keeping the casing clean, Also checked for rusty spots on the Av Bay hardware, put some oil with paper towel to keep it smooth. Could download the video and got the video still squared away. Still looking for a fiberglass nose cone with metal tip for the next high power flight.

Update 03/15/2017 - Jason just calculated the actual velocity from all the crap data. And indeed it was 1531 ft/sec so Mach 1.36 !!!!! , very happy with the result.