The Black Diamond: This model is extremely fast and light, uses 1/2A to C motors, although I'm a bit afraid to try a C in this little gem. I imagine it could easily reach 1200 feet. It features streamer recovery. Added a lot of nose weight to balance this model, but now it flies very straight and true even in windy conditions. I was a bit concerned about cardboard fins, but they are very stiff and seem to work well (I just hope they don't get bent!) This rocket was later given my "Iris" modification, which extends the body tube about 5 inches above the streamer/parachute bay, and allows for a payload with an Altimeter One to measure altitudes. With the added weight, I needed a longer, 4-foot long, 2-inch wide streamer to slow it down some. Not so easy to squeeze into a BT-20 body. I had to lengthen the shock cord also, but it is still getting quite beat-up by its own recoil force. (Iris is named after the Greek god of the rainbow. She is a messenger of the gods, linking the gods with humanity.) If I were to build another one, I would split the launch lug and glue half of it further toward the nose. As it is, it wobbles on liftoff some while on the rod. I have only once tried this on a C motor, this rocket has flown higher than the Aon Center and the John Hancock Tower in Chicago, and the NY Times Building in NY, NY.
| Flight Date: | 2011-11-25 |
| Rocket Name: | Black Diamond |
| Kit Name: | Estes - Black Diamond {Kit} |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | B6-4 |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 504 Feet |
First flight of the day, clear blue sky above. I wanted to send this bird up as far as she could fly with a C6-7 but the wind seemed a little stronger than forecast. I opted for a B6 instead, even though it comes down pretty fast on a streamer. An Altimeter 2 was onboard. The motor fired-up and she burned for almost a full second, speeding the Diamond up to 123 mph. Rapidly accelerating, it reached 17.5 Gs before burnout. The Diamond continued straight up despite the winds while it coasted for another 5 seconds to 489 feet when the ejection fired. While the long, mylar streamer was unfurling, she topped-out at 504 feet one second later. She then returned quickly to the ground at 18 mph, ending up in wet mud within 10 seconds. So far, this is the fastest rocket speed I ever recorded.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes B6-4 |
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