Launch Report: X-Wing Tie Fighter Dog Fight

Date: 2024-05-30

Background

• This is a two-stage rocket. The Tie Fighter has a D12-0, The X-Wing has a C6-5.

On Site Preparations

• For wadding I used some streamer material.
• For a parachute I used the 12” mylar chute.
• An Estes standard starter was installed and taped into place.
• The rocket was slid onto the 5/16" launch rod and the controller wires were attached to the igniter leads.

Launch

• Wind was out of the East and was about 4 mph at the most.
• John stated the sky was clear - launch site was clear and did the countdown: 5-4-3-2-1. Teresa pushed the button on the launch controller.
• The D12-0 motor ignited and the rocket leaped off the pad. It flew stable upward to an altitude of about 50 feet where it made a sharp left turn toward the East. The rocket then gap staged, the Tie Fighter dropped, 60 feet from the launch horse, and the X-Wing took off on a westward path, pointed in a slightly downward angle.
• The X-Wing dove into the earth at full speed, 92 feet from the launch horse, where the motor delay burned and the ejection charge fired. This caused a small grass fire, which John put out.

Condition of rocket after the flight

• The X-Wing’s 2 lower wings were ripped off the fuselage and the front of the fuselage was burned beyond recognition.
• The Tie Fighter’s one vertical panel was ripped from its support.

Conclusions

• The 2-stage rockets stability was -0.126 calibers. With the base drag hack it was 0.497 calibers. 
• A string swing test was performed and the 2-stage rocket passed that test.

What I learned

• This was a spectacular flight. The site was clear and no observers were present.
• It is possible that the staging tube slipped, allowed the X-Wing to cock sideways and that was why the rocket veered to the East.
• This rocket was repaired and is now flight worthy