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Total Grain Length: 10.05"
Number of Grains: 3
Average Grain Length: 3.35"
Grain Diameter: 1.9"
Core Diameter: .82"
Throat Diameter: .625"
Kn: 129, 144, 137
Timer 1: 12.5 seconds
Timer 2: 13.5 seconds
Deploy Charge: 3.6 grams
This was the first launch of the new Iowa Amateur Rocketry Group site north of Sioux City, Iowa. It was only fitting that the rebuilt fiberglass rocket should make the first flight. This rocket has been through so many launches in the past, and has been the test bed of so many experiments, the rocket deserved the distinction of the first flight.
The FRF was again called upon as a test vehicle, I wanted a flight to a fairly low altitude to get an idea of wind speed and direction for higher powered flights. I had the rocket in a very simple configuration, main at apogee with two of my homemade timers for deployment. The motor was the LW-1, with a light load of 1.4 pounds of KN/SU propellant.
It was windy, but the clouds had broken to just a few high thin clouds. So I decided to go ahead with launching the RFR, and see how it did in 15 to 20 mph winds. I had all three of my video cameras at the launch, I had one, Jace had another and John had the last camera, so we had the flight pretty well documented.
5,4,3,2,1 and ignition!
Here's the RFR leaving the tower.
The RFR flew straight and true to an estimated 2,800'. I'm getting a little spoiled I think, my first thought was that the flight was a bit unspectacular. But it was still a "J" class motor. The parachute deployed right at apogee and we watched as the wind took the rocket to the NNE at a pretty good clip.
John had the good eye, and found the RFR just on the other side of the road. The rocket was recovered intact and ready to fly again.
One interesting thing I learned from both launches performed, is that the rockets performed well despite fairly high winds. No serious weather cocking occurred in either flight. Recovery using the RDF beacon was so easy, I can't see how a rocket could be lost.
Here is a satellite image* showing the launch site and landing sites of the rockets launched.
* Iowa Geographic Map Server - Iowa
State University Geographic Information Systems Support & Research Facility