Flight Log - 2016-07-16 - Richard Holmes's Nymph

From a design by Geoffrey A. Landis.

Flight Date: 2016-07-16
Rocket Name: Nymph
Kit Name: Landis - Nymph {Plan}
Flyer's Name: Richard Holmes
Motors: 1/2A3-2
Launch Site: Syracuse Rocket Club (Weigand's Field)

Next my second glider entry, the Nymph, also on a ½A3-2T. I did some hand tosses and decided to go ahead with it. In the launch picture it’s going straight up. About a microsecond later it turned over, crossed the flight line, and power pranged in the midst of the spectators. AWKWARD. The wing was split, the motor was spit and for completeness I note a touch of damage to the leading edge of the stab.

Closer examination afterward revealed the rear stop on the sliding pod was missing on recovery. Apparently it was a weak glue joint and it came off in flight, implying premature breakage of the burn string; the pod would have been pulled back, destabilizing the rocket during ascent. That's my best guess as to what went wrong, anyway.

 

StageMotor(s)
1Estes 1/2A3T-2

 

comment Post a Comment