I have recently discovered the world of high power rocketry, only to realize "Wow, there ARE other people like me out there". I earned my level 1 certification July 10th, 2004 at a Northern Colorado Rocketry (NCR) launch with a Public Missile Bull puppy on an Aerotech H123 reloadable motor. Besides the ripping scream of the rockets going up, I've met some really great people with this hobby.
I'm also helping out on the Delta II project, buildling a 10% scale model of a Delta II organized by Steve Mashburn. It has been a great learning experience since most of these guys are level 2 or 3 certified.
Rocket Fleet
| Rocket | First launch | Width | Length | Weight | Motor(s) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PML Bull Puppy | 06/12/2004 | 3.126 in. | 39.625 in. | 32 oz | Aerotech G80-7, H123W-10 | First kit rocket! |
| Scratch Built 6" | 10/10/2004 | 6 in. | 108 in. | 23.3 lbs. | Aerotech J570, K700 | Dual/Redundant deployment, kevlar/fiberglass body, nomex honeycomb/carbon fiber fins, 54mm motor mount tube. |
| 4" Modified Endeavour | 04/17/2005 | 4 in. | 80 in. | 17.3 lbs. | Aerotech J275 | Added custom fin can, designed for 2-stage, redesigned for electronic dual deploy, 4 fins instead of 3 and removed the bottom set of fins for the booster. |
Flight Log
Official NCR Flight Log 2004
Official NCR Flight Log 2005
| Flt | Date | Rocket | Motor | Sim Height (ft) | Actual (ft) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 06/12/2004 | PML Bull Puppy | Aerotech G80-7 | 1476 | ? | First flight! 29mm single-use motor w/tape nice depoloyment. |
| 2. | 07/10/2004 | PML Bull Puppy | Aerotech H123W-9 | 2788 | ? | Level 1 certification flight - Success! |
| 3. | 08/14/2004 | PML Bull Puppy | Aerotech G80-7 | 1476 | ? | Another single use low power for confidence |
| 4. | 08/14/2004 | PML Bull Puppy | Aerotech H242T-12 | 3255 | ? | Simmed to about 23 Gs, nervous about whether rocket could take it. |
| 5. | 10/08/2004 | PML Bull Puppy | Aerotech I161R-14 | 3500 | ? | Very nice flight, first I motor. |
| 6. | 10/09/2004 | Sparky | Aerotech J570W-0 | 1650 | 1250 | Successful Level 2 Cert flight! |
| 7. | 10/09/2004 | PML Bull Puppy | Aerotech I161R-14 | 3500 | ? | Unstable flight, cracked airframe and fins. Luckily no one hurt. |
| 8. | 12/04/2004 | PML Bull Puppy | Aerotech H123W-9 | 2788 | ? | Went back down to smaller motor, Repaired fins/airframe but airframe cracked again |
| 9. | 04/16/2005 | Sparky | Aerotech K700 | 4852 | 3928 | Drag Race with Steve Marshall, he won. |
| 10. | 04/17/2005 | Endo | Aerotech J275 | 3820 | 3338 | First flight, beautiful! |
| 11. | 04/17/2005 | PML Bull Puppy | Aerotech H148 | 2900 | ? | Rebuilt body tube to repair crack, slightly longer, but still squirrely. Nozzle cocked off to side after launch so rocket arched over. |