Launch Report - 21 February, 1998

test launch (gliders)

Hey! A good day on the weekend, but not on a scheduled club launch day. I wasn't able to go to the club launch last week, so I checked on the mailing list to see if anyone was interested in going out to launch today. I didn't get any replies by mid-afternoon, so I decided to go to the local schoolyard to test launch some of my gliders.

On the docket for today, my Quest HL-20, Estes Astron Spaceplane clone, and Novus Aerospace (Astron Mike's) saucer 105 and saucer 130.

First up was my repaired Quest HL-20 on a B6-2. This was its first launch since repairing the motor-mount and gluing the elevons into a slightly elevated position. We got a good boost and a 'passable' glide - still pretty steep, but better than the past couple launches. It must be that the elevons need to be glued 'up' a bit more on the next copy.

Second, the first launch of my Estes Astron Spaceplane clone on a 1/2A6-2. Boost was GREAT! Much better than my first model back in '67.
The Spaceplane spiraled straight up to ejection. Then it nosed over and started down...
Come on, pull out of it...
Crunch!

No damage. What happened?
The elastic thread used to activate the elevons was too fine and couldn't pull up the elevons against the dive. I'll replace the elastic with something a bit stronger and see how it does next time.

Next, the Novus Aerospace Saucer105 on an A8-3.
Note: Mike does NOT recommend an A motor for this kit, but I didn't want to go overboard...
I did more test glides and adjustment of trim since its previous launch, so I expected this one to go well.
Nice boost, good rollout to glide. A little stall, then a bigger one, bigger yet, followed finally by a dive out of the last stall that severely bent the BT and delaminated the ArtCor saucer between the leading edge and the back of the stand-off pylon. I guess I didn't have it trimmed as well as I thought. {:-(
Mike says (in further correspondence) that it needs to glide without even a hint of stall when doing hand-toss trimming. I guess this calls for a rebuild. Good thing I got a supply of ArtCor in. ;-)

Finally, the Novus Aerospace Saucer130 on a B6-2. Again, this is a smaller motor than Mike recommends for this bird, but I prefer to start a bit small and work my way up. The model exhibited a good bit of flutter on the way up, and then wasn't quite able to pull out of a dive coming down. Grumph! The Saucer for this one ALSO delaminated on the crash, so it'll take a full rebuild.
I blame the results of this flight mainly on the Post Awful. The saucer had several crimps in it when they delivered the kit and I suspect that compromised the strength of the wing. It *might* have been able to pull out of the dive if I had used the C motor, but then again, it might have shredded on the way up due to the flutter.
Now then, where did I stash that ArtCor?

This was definately a less than stellar day, but I'll rebuild, make mods and fly again, soon.

Rognlies of Racine
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Last Updated: 25 February, 1998
Author: Alan Rognlie
Email: arrognli@execpc.com
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