Electric Co rescues Doorknob from high power line and successful MaxQ Falcon 9 launch
Out of ridiculous determination, I decided to try the Doorknob again with the extended payload, this time with a F67-6W instead of the classic motor. Every motor I've seen using the classic propellent has a delayed impulse off the rod which causes it to veer. The white lightening didn't veer but did arc over enough to land on the high power lines.
I recently got back my Majestic rocket that landed in the HECO substation three months ago. It landed in the substation with no damage. Their security office was very disturbed and basically accused me of a domestic terrorist attack on the utility system. Finally after three months, they decided to turn it over to the 5-O as lost property. I made an appointment with HPD and got the rocket back in a bag. It looked like someone snapped off the fins and ran it over with a heavy truck. The cam, altimeter, and screamer all looked like it was scrapped across the asphalt. When I took out the SD card, it broke in half. Not akamai!
After the launch day, I walked over to the apartment to see if I can ask someone for access to the roof. A guy pulled in and said it landed on the high power lines, and HECO was already there to take it down. I ran around the building and told them it was mine. Turns out they were passing by from another job and spotted the rocket hanging there. It had only been there about an hour. The lineman wanted to cut the cord. I told him it was Kevlar and won't work. It was easy to push it over then grab it from the low power lines below. The joker decided to test out the chute by dropping it about 15ft which was not mahalo pono. Hitting the power line caused more impact damage to the plywood fins (which is a testament to the fin endurance). The tip of the NC cracked open but easily fixed with CA filler. At least they didn't snap off the fins this time.
The Falcon 9 from MaxQ worked great this time. The first attempt at Blaisdell was a disaster because the black plastic was brittle and didn't eject the sustainer, so the rocket crashed into some trees. Randall at MaxQ mailed me a replacement rocket with better plastic. There were some missing items, but Randall quickly mailed me the parts. It looks cool sitting on my desk with the landing legs extended.
After watching the video of the Interceptor, I realized it was showing me 65m which is 212ft. When I cycled through the altimeter's readings, it was showing me 212ft, but I didn't change the units. Just a weird glitch. I wasn't serious about Appogee chutes sucking. The CP probably wouldn't have tangled if I used a D12-3 but the 5sec delay shoulda worked.
I thought I left the Ion on my desk and completely forgot that I stuck it in the GG. I totally missed it when I snuck the Estes altimeter in. The Ion in the Doorknob gave me an altitude of 789ft but also said the flight was three times as long, so the flight profile didn't match the video. Weird glitch. I also had trouble making the RaceRender videos with the GG so didn't bother.
I tried to get a side video of the Quest B6-0 motors exploding, but they were rudding out of frame with the overpressure. Gary said they were old motors he was disposing of. The B4-4 in the Starlight wasn't old, just had a longer than expected delay which happens sometimes with Quest motors.
0:00 Intro
2:08 MaxQ Falcon 9 C5-3 4pts
3:13 Citation Patriot D12-5 4pts
5:13 Gary Mars Leaper, A10-PT
5:28 Gary Scratch Spool rocket, A10-PT
5:42 Gary Planet Probe, Quest B6-0
6:16 Great Goblin clone F44-4W 368ft 6pts
7:00 Flight video
8:03 Gary Delta Saucer, Quest B6-0
8:40 Doorknob Ext F67-6W 4pts
9:53 Flight video
10:30 HECO power line rescue
13:00 Gary Hex-3 QB6-0
13:26 Gary Stealth
13:49 Gary Six, 1/2A3-4T
14:14 Interceptor C6-3 212ft 5pts
15:21 Gary Zombie, A8-3
15:42 Gary Tumbleweed, 1/4A3-3T
15:57 Gary Semroc Starlight, QJet B4-4
16:46 Total 23pts + 5 bonus = 28pts