What a day! A lot more windy than predicted. The temperature was not bad, but the wind made it worse! It felt like it was freezing! I spent most of the six hour flying window participating in the NAR old motor testing program. I flew a variety of old Aerotech 18mm reloads. First up was my Estes Bull Pup on a B6-4T. After major issues with igniters, it finally took off for a perfect flight. The delay was right on. Then I flew the Pup again on a B6-2T. There was no ejection. I suspected the delay snuffed out. Opening up the motor, I saw that the delay never ignited!
Then things got interesting... I flew two old White Lightning loads in a Quest UFO... the C4-4W, and the C6-3W. On the second igniter with the C4, it did not look like it would go. Then the UFO hissed and came to life, arching over and spat the rocket by the trailer where it spewed smoke for several seconds before the charge went off. The C6 went off on the first try, with similar results.
The final old motor I tested was an E27-4T. This gave my Super Tube a nice ride and ejection was right on time. Seriously, I think Aerotech should bring that load back! A lot of power in such a small package. I had more E27's but I decided it was to cold to clean any more cases, so I moved onto flying other things.
Estes sent me a brand new X-15 that the ejection charge blew apart during the October launch. I flew it with a C6-3 motor. It went horizontal, but other than that, it had a perfect flight. Then the wind looked like it was getting calmer, so I decided to prep a high power flight. I brought my Megablast (which I have not flown since a Whitakers launch a few years ago) which I planned on flying with my AMW 390 motor to test my new e-matches I made (done several ground tests, this was their first flight test). I rigged the rocket so it was both motor eject and dual deploy, with a parachute in each section. I was debating which load to use so I asked a guy next to me, blue or green? He said Green. I285 Green Gorilla it is. The resulting flight was perfect, with all three charges going off, resulting in a perfect landing.
