MERLIN - SEVENTH FLIGHT

Had a great flight last month, just want to get this rocket flying on a K630 Blue Streak motor. Again, will have the streamer in (150 feet) and an extra small main at 500 feet to test the chute release again. Also, two GoPro camera's back-to-back and the Nexus�5 phone. Will have a 4K GoPro on the ground for take-off. So, far the plans, hoping weather will be cool and great. Motor is a 4 grain K630-15 Blue Streak.

Update 10/23/2022 - Today I sanded out the round window part a bit more, popped the old glass out, sanded the new windows larger, and glued in a new glass piece provided by Jason Cook. This window is the same as the Grizzly and the Project X rockets. Very clear and working great with the Nexus 5.Phones.

Update 10/24/2022 - I tested the 4" sleds with stratologgers with lights, because I was worried, the previous flight had a little problem Back Up/main charge did not go off. Found that sled with the problem, one of the back Up wires to the main was bend and disconnected. Will solder this and use a shrink tubing to fix this. Another sled will be used for this flight, but always good to test things before flight.

Update 10/26/2022 - A bit early, but I already taped and�connected the charges on the AvBay. These charges were already premade like a few months ago, I also made more extra charges for the next 3 coming flights. Will test the Sled later today. Ok Stratologgers both tested and all good to go.

Update 11/12/2022 - Loaded the Main chute in the upper bay, It's the X-form chute with no spill hole. Used also 2 Z-ties there and dog barf. Made the booster charge and put that in the booster, extended the wire a bit to make it sit al the way lower inside. Connected the 135 feet streamer on the quicklink, all slided in smooth, between the charge and the streamer there is a chute protector and dog barf. Made a 35" small chute in there with the chute release, just a test again with the chute release. Do not forget to connect the chute AND chute release to the chock cord !!!!� Later on this week will be charging all the batteries, Also two camera's back to back will be in there and the RTX, will test RTX later again !

Update 11/18/2022 - Charged all de camera batteries, GoPro camera's, chute release, flashlight batteries, drills, and phone. Cargo box on top of car and loaded, RTX is still charging and will be more charged tomorrow morning. This time I have a tent (small) with me and chair. Weather predictions are good, temps in the 74's, winds 10 mph and 50 % clouds coverage. Should be a great day. Hope I can find my RTX that I lost a year ago with Carlos his metal detector... Just hoping. RTX is working great, Test ok. Had to modify the sled a bit, the angle was to big with that new window, so now the phone sits more flat on the sled.

Update 11/19/2022 - LAUNCH DAY - Cold morning leaving the house, but warmer in Palm Bay like 74 F. Got a very nice spot parking, set up the canopy�and chair out for Florence. Unpacking went smooth. Prepping went smooth also, got the rocket out of the Cargo box, need to organize things and tools better. Upper bay was all prepped home, installed the Nexus 4 phone in the sled and closed the bay. Window was spot on for the camera. Booster packed, first turned on the RTX and loaded that in the booster, took a short time to get signal, all good, than I taped the two GoPro camera's back to back on the shock cord and turned them on, all in the booster, than the small chute with the chute release for another test. Release turned on at 400 feet ! All good. Nexus 4 phone was already turned on and talking. So the two rocket parts connected, Chute release was connected with Qlink and also the chute. Applied a but baby powder so it slides smoother for separation. Twisted the two part a bit to�test the friction. All good, Florence made a hell of a lot of pictures again. Thanks Sweety. At the launch pad E1. Smooth loading, both stratologger turned on and beeping. Igniter in motor, continuity test. All good. So actually everything went really smooth. Had a little of an angle because of the 7 mph winds, sometimes more. Rocket went almost straight up, laundry came out great streamer out, later on the main chute. I did not notice the smaller chute with the chute release, I could see that the streamer was wrapped around the shock cord, so actually it also wrapped the small chute with the chute release. At the recovery side the chute appeared to be open so the chute release worked again. Had a lot of video recordings: Nexus 4 phone, Gopro ground, GoPro I shock cord, GoPro II shock cord, Dash Cam car, Canon 10 D, Canon 10D, and small camera. Left at around 2 PM. Tim, David and Gary were there also.��

Update 11/20/2022 - Looking at the stills of the GoPro camera's on the shock cord, it seems that the chute release did not open, but it was open on the ground ??!!! Will look into that.

Update 11/21/2022 - Cleaning the motor casing, this was really really dirty. I had that before when i flew a skidmark motor some time ago, but never expected that with this motor. Used a lot of baby wipes and green pads to make it close to perfect clean.