Gallery 5

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Not really a new addition to the fleet, but I have just never got around to putting it on the site, it is my level 1 certification rocket, a BSD Diablo.

Flights:

The first flight was on a G35-4W back in April 2002 and it was very successful, boosting to about 1000 ft and perfect deployment. The second flight at UKRA in June 2002 was scary to say the least (click here to read more). The third was as they say, "third time lucky" producing an awesome boost to over 3000 ft !!! with again perfect deployment for my level 1 cert flight.

A new edition to my collection, a BSD 38 Special which I got for Xmas last year. Hasn't been flown yet but watch this space.

Another rocket that has had more of it's fair share of disaster is my Aardvark 4" diameter 9ft long Sandia Tomahawk. Flown last year at the Canterbury Cup, it caused a huge amount of embarrassment to me after spacking pretty severely.

Again another rocket which I haven't got round to putting on the site, a Das Modells Patriot. The first flight was at the Canterbury Cup and yes you guessed it, it went wrong. Upon launch the rocket took the rod with it as well until it got to about 50ft stopped, dropped the rod and fell to the ground. Time to go home. However after a rebuild of the fins, the launch lug and a few months later a successful flight was attained. The flight even in quite high wind was as straight as an arrow on a D12-5 up to about 800ft where it deployed for a safe recovery. Third flight was a bit wobbly and archy, so for the fourth flight an extra launch lug was added and this remedied the problem.

Pen ultimately I have just bought an Estes Banshee but have not flown it yet.

Lastly a classic from Estes, the Phoenix and yes it crashed too. Not on the first flight, but the second, took off then at 50 or 60 ft it turned 90 degrees so it was going horizontal then slammed into a tree at about 100 mph. Not good, but a rebuild was completed soon after.