The first high-power flight in Alberta for 2024, Fire & Ice was held in Viking by the Edmonton Rocketry Club.
We needed more fire and less ice! [Photo by Edmonton Rocketry Club]
Still needing one more high-power dual deployment for my Electronics Endorsement, I returned with my Highlander 29 DD. Flying on an Aerotech 29mm H135, it rose to 1525 ft and the dual deployment worked perfectly. The rocket landed on the frozen lake, about a five minute walk from here.
With my EE now complete, I could begin the L4 certification journey, a process not unlike ritual suicide…
January 24, 2024 was the date of the first ERC launch in 2024, and was held in Calmar.
I returned with my Black Tusk DDL, which had a “mostly good” flight and a “not too bad” recovery. The drogue deployed properly, but the upper airframe shredded when the main deployed. The remainder of the rocket was recovered, except for the nosecone.
The ERC held their last flight of the year at Calmar, on November 12, 2023. It was actually quite a nice day, no wind and mostly blue sky.
My Black Tusk DDL waits on the table while we watch a launch. [Photo by Calgary Rocketry Club]
My Black Tusk DD had failed it’s previous dual deployment attempt because the main parachute was too tightly packed into the upper airframe. I replaced the old tubing with a longer one, creating the Black Tusk DDL.
Flying on a CTI Pro29 G126, it reached an altitude of 1279 ft. It was a perfect dual deployment flight, using my EasyMini, and a great way to close out the year!
On October 14, 2023, I attended the Fall Fire rocket launch in Kitscoty, Alberta, hosted by the Saskatoon Rocketry Society.
In Canada, it is necessary to obtain an “Electronics Endorsement” before starting the L4 Certification process. This requires two, high-power flights using dual deployment in a different rocket for each flight.
I modified my Aerotech Mega-Initiator, adding an altimeter bay and an upper airframe tube for the main parachute. This flight reached an altitude of 1352 ft on an Aerotech 29mm I205. Everything worked perfectly, under the control of an EasyMini altimeter (primary) and a RRC3 altimeter (backup).
My second flight used the Highlander 29 DD, reached an altitude of 931 ft, but the main parachute hung in the airframe. The rocket landed safely on the drogue, and was prepped for another flight. This time, the rocket rose to 895 ft, but the drogue did not fire until about the same time as the main chute. Inspection revealed that the drogue was not properly armed, and was ejected by the motor ejection charge instead of by the StratologgerCF altimeter.
Even though I only completed one of my two required dual deployments, it was a learning experience and I had a good time. This was my first Fall Fire, and I really enjoyed meeting the local rocketeers.
On September 23, 2023, I attended the ERC rocket launch in Calmar with two rockets.
Black Tusk DD
Highlander 29 DD
The Black Tusk DD is simply my BT-80 rocket, fitted out for dual deployment. Flying on a CTI Pro29 G83, it reached an altitude of 1101 ft, recorded by an EasyMini altimeter. The drogue deployed properly, but the main stuck in the upper airframe. The rocket was recovered in good shape.
The Highlander 29 DD is my original Highlander 29, also fitted out for dual deployment. Flying on an Aerotech G80, it reached an altitude of 708 ft, recorded by a StratologgerCF altimeter. This rocket also was recovered in good shape.
Both of these rockets were my first attempts at dual deployment, using an altimeter bay to deploy a drogue parachute at apogee, and the main parachute at a specified lower altitude. The purpose of dual deployment is to limit the rocket’s drift, so that old rocketeers like me don’t have to walk as far to recover the rocket!
