Interesting high lights of the NAR BoD Meeting and ...

His 18mm design was published on the March 2001 Sport Rocketry.

One thing I've noted in flying this a few times, is you can't use a standard length launch rod. I've had success with a 3" rod that is SECURELY anchored to the ground. Don't even consider a rocket like this on a porta pad type launcher.

Could you explain this a bit better? Is the "launch pin" the short rod, or the hole it goes through?

I've only flown his 13mm design so far. And only three times at that. I used the recommended A10 (well, I used the plugged version) and it didn't get off the 3" wooden dowel. A 1/2A gave a nice flight off the top of a standard launch rod.

I may take the nose plug off and put an engine retainer on so that I don't eject the motor. That way I'm at least compliant with the AMA codes up to G motors.

For the 18mm and up sizes I'll take your advice and use a short pin on a sturdy stake driven into the ground. The 13mm instructions show a

There was a follow-up in the next issue about the launch rod being shorter. A news search on 'monocopter sport rocketry' turned up the thread.

Bob

The launch pin itself, the short rod should be steel. On a recent effort I just drilled a 1/2" hole through the CF in the monocopter as a "launch lug" for lack of a better word and it has worked for 12 flights so far, but a wooden dowel for a launch pin on this larger mono is just asking for disaster. I have seen the results, it is ugly.

Chuck

Ahem: The launch pin is the launch pin. That doesnt' help clarify thigns much.

Bob

I'm at a loss.....the Alien mono comes with a wooden dowel for a launch pin to install into the launch pad. That wooden dowel is not strong enough to handle the launch of a G motored mono, that pin should be steel. It is too short to be considered a rod, it's known as a pin to most people I have been with who launch monos.

The pin is substituted for a rail or launch rod for a monocopter flight. Ed Miller once told me when he first started he put a monocopter on a regular launch rod as he had no idea they needed a short pin to launch, it almost spun up to the top of the rod when the motor ran out of gas. While everyone else snickered he retrieved his monocopter which never left the rod, a wiser man.

Chuck

Bob didn't understand what you meant by "launch pin", and you explained it this time. In the previous message, you said "The launch pin itself, the short rod should be steel." which implies that the launch pin is NOT the short rod, but rather some secondary rod that's used.

Just a misunderstanding.

-Kevin

Kev

Thanks, man. I knew what I meant but I guess no one else did. ;-) I guess if I want to confused myself I'll just read my own posts. :-)

Chuck

OK, I got it now. The launc pin is the launch rod, and soem kits have a dowel instead of a steel rod.

I would think that a full length rod would get wipped around like all h3!!

We had the same problems back inthe 70s when we launched Frisbees :-)

Bob

Sorry man, thought you had the same kind of handle on Monos I have, but I went and ASSumed......not the first time nor the last. Don't be afraid to keep me straight. I must sound like Yogi Berra sometiems.

Chuck

I have actually seen two motors (a K and a L) come out of rockets and propel themselves into the distance at a high rate of speed. They were stable until burnout (at which point I could no longer see them).

Sure. I've seen Estes C6-7 motors do the same. And A3-6T motors (long ago).

C.G. in front of C.P. They are end burners and the mass at the front remains there until the flame front advances forward.

The motors peeling off a multi-motored frisbee in the 1970's were quite frightening.

-Fred Shecter NAR 20117

The K I saw was a standard Aerotech, the L was a Hybrid.

Hi FW,

People fly Helicopter kites, and box kites, and contest kites at NAR launches.

do the clubs insurance cover them if that 5 foot box kite comes down right no top of my truck ?

what about a duel harness contest kite breaking my head open ?

what about, what about..

heck I might be able to get a top ten list going of what is flown at NAR launches besides rockets going here, any takers ?

Not all, some are boosted at near 45 degrees to verticle. you've seen them ;-)

Sounds like they were chicken hunters... I say, chicken seekers, that is. ; )

Randy

Great. Now I have "Bob Your Head" and "Cross the Road" stuck in my head.

At least it dislodged the "Beetlejuice Song".

;)

-Shread Vector NRA #1 Paramount Leader

Any idea why they burn through on that design but not a 3FMC rocket ?