I would like to ask the opinion of the group: When you finish your level 3 rocket, what are the advantages and disadvantages of making a test flight before the certification attempt? Presumably the test flight would be on an L motor (and the rocket is capable of being safely launched on said L motor).
My inclination is to go ahead and make the first flight with the M. It isn't much more expensive, and if it doesn't work, I just try again with another M. If it does work, I get my cert. If the rocket gets destroyed, that's probably just as likely with an L or an M. The rocket is built extra-sturdy, so an M isn't going to shred it. The most likely failure modes would be a recovery failure or a motor CATO, I think.
What do you more experienced guys think?
-- David