The Nike-X: One of my favorite '70s kits. This design was inspired by air defense missiles. The real Nike-X project was begun, but cancelled before it saw the light of day; this is only a suggestion to what the real one would have looked like. The pseudo-second-stage fins and the great Black & White decals are the highlight of the design.
I have modified this kit by adding an altimeter payload bay ("Iris"), which adds 3 inches and 17.5 grams of weight. Of course, now she's just a bit too heavy to fly safely with A8-3 motors. (Iris is named after the Greek god of the rainbow. She is a messenger of the gods, linking the gods with humanity.) This rocket has flown higher than torch of the Statue of Liberty, including its base.
Flight Date: | 2011-12-04 |
Rocket Name: | Nike-X |
Kit Name: | Estes - Nike-X {Kit} (1270) [1975-1984] |
Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
Motors: | B6-2 |
Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
Actual Altitude: | 110 Feet |
Another low flight to stay out of the winds. The B6 burned for 0.9 seconds, accelerating at 6.3Gs peak, 2.3 average Gs. The rocket speeded to 44 mph then coasted for 2 seconds to an altitude of 110 feet.
As it arched over it dropped 5 feet in 1/2 second and deployed the parachute, descending at 7 mph and landing nearby in 12.7 seconds. Another good flight!
Stage | Motor(s) |
---|---|
1 | Estes B6-2 |
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