Black Brant X Model Rocket Flight

Update: Flew rebuilt model at Muncie, IN for a successful level 2 certification. Had a beautiful flight and got some good data, but unfortunately I did not get a good video of that flight. I would be more than happy to share any information or answer any questions that anyone may have. You learn more from mistakes than success.

This is my attempt for my NAR level 2 cert. The rocket is 8.5 ft tall and weighs 10.5 lbs. The projected altitude was 3053 ft and a max velocity of 341 MPH. It contains an RDAS flight computer. Rocket was built by Matt Piekunka

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• rockets
• model
• flight
• nar
• piekunka
• matt
• black
• brant

[Wolverines8]

What kind of motor was in that?

[Piajunka]

I believe it was an aerotech J-275 white lightning

[DTHRocket]

I have an idea. From the video it didn't look like you used through the wall fin attachment. Am I mistaken? I think that your fins would have a better chance staying intact if you used through the wall fin attachment.

[Piajunka]

I did use through the wall but it wasn't epoxied well. I only used one fillet on the body tube. The second version I flew also had through the wall construction and fillets on the inside tube, on the inside of the body tube, and on the outside of the body tube. Through the wall construction doesn't help much if you don't epoxy well. :)

[EvilPrince69]

Use phenolic to rebuild; QT bites. Did it bellyflop in or was the main too small? Did the electronics bay break loose on ground impact? 341MPH = 488fps isn't a big speed for an L2 flight; did the fins come off on the way up or on ground impact? Looks like the finsweren't bonded to the motor mount tube well, not to the QT. Inquiring minds want to know.

[Piajunka]

The main problem that I saw with my rocket was that I rushed it. The fins were through the wall, but were only bonded by the outside fillet. I also made the mistake of using CA to bond the electronics bay to the body tube, which is where my parachute was attached. The force of the main coming out detached the upper and lower stages, and the upper stage hit without a chute. There were numerous changes on my rebuild, and I hope to fly it again Sept 29th in Muncie, IN or Midwest Power.

[Mavericco]

Fell in love with the Black Brant series back in the mid 70's. Awesome Job ! Thanks for posting this Video !

Rick

[david1513]

heres a hent find a plasic tube to glue inside the space where the fins are then make your motor mount fit the space by sanding and glueing it inplace this will add stringht to the fins, use gorilla glue only, for the plastic tube use 2-x exspanding gorilla glue, but use only gorilla glues,

[david1513]

epoxy is not a good choice, use gorilla super glue, it bonds to just about every thing and very strong, plus a corn field is not a great place to lounch try AMA in muncie next time corn stolks sticking up will distory your rocket, David Coffin*

[kodybrian]

Successful? do not think so... you must be able to fly the rocket again. That rocket is not successful L2 by any means. Who was the person who certified it to fly just terrible job all the way around. This hurts all in rocketry especially when you post this and call it successful. Yes this is very old

[satweavers]

I like fins to penetrate the body tube and epoxy to the motor mount tube. Lots of epoxy inside and out and generous fillets on the outside. Makes strong fins!

[PenguinsFanatic87]

@QuattroStig O it really had nothing to do with it, was just hyped at the time when i found out he was going by the way, i think he took like 7 place...

[QuattroStig]

@PenguinsFanatic87

I don't know what that comment had in relation to the video. But I hope you had a good experience in TARC.

[journeyquest1]

So many people worry about making the rocket go up. But whats more important is the coming down.

[PenguinsFanatic87]

Dude, my rocketry teacher (i'm ninth grader and on school TARC team) is going as the american representitive of the US to the world rocketry championship in serbia next year. He is doing rc glider and endurence copter.

[chickenz666]

i think after "O" sized motors, amateur rocketry ends... then you get into the good stuff lol