Mk81 Snakeye Glide Retarded Bomb by Timothy Day (tday@softronics.com) |
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While perusing the China Lake Weapons Digest a few months ago, I happened across this photo of an extremely cool looking bomb, the Mk81 "Snakeye". It is a glide retarded bomb designed for low-level, high-precision attack while avoiding bomb-fragment damage to delivery aircraft. Having discoverd model rocketry about 6 months previous, it became a necessity to construct a scale version. |
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Mk81 Snakeye (prototype) Finished Length: 14" Finished weight: 4.2oz (no motor installed) Main Airframe: BT60 Motor Mount: 18mm Reccommended engines: B6-2, C6-3
Flight Report: The Mk81 prototype has been flown four times so far, with some damage occuring on each flight. All flights to date have been on Estes B6-2's. Flight 1: Complete separation due to inadequate ejection charge venting. This flight proved the stability of the rocket, but the piston shot itself completely out of the forward airframe. Flight 2: Good boost, but again inadequate venting. While not a separation, the ejection charge destroyed the piston centering rings. Replaced the centering rings with basswood. Flight 3: First successful deployment!! The rocket entered a fast but stable spin on deployment, but soon became unstable. One of the rear R/C hinges broke free on descent. Added electrical tape around the hinges. Flight 4: Straight boost, perfect deployment. Again, the rocket spun in fast and landed on fairly soft ground. Broke a forward hinge on landing. |