PLEASE SEE PREIVOUS “PART 1″ BEFORE READING ON. -CLICK HERE-
Clever, Missouri - December 27th - 1700 hours
It has been two days since the original idea and creation of my plane that can carry and launch the bottle rocket payload. Although I promised myself to try launching yesterday, I was overcome by videos games, thrift stores, and casinos. A murky, murky gambling haze of yesterday still haunting me, I set out to complete my project today.
- Project: “Death from Above” - (CONT.)
Step 8: Check plane for preflight and load for payload test flights. Check. Technical: The duct tape seems to have held up fine and everything looks in order. The charger is functioning well. Weather conditions seem ample for launch with a slight SW breeze, just enough to keep the plane air-borne in small area.
Step 9: Payload Test Launch(es). Check.
Technical: I am experiencing immediate problems with the payload. Although my estimates put the six bottle rocket payload at a feasible weight, I could not have been more wrong. The immediate nose-dives mean the plane is way too heavy. As you can see from the video, I attempt to test the plane without payload….perfect flight. From the video you cna also see that I troubleshoot the old fashion way. I remove the payload two rockets at a time until the plane is at a “flight-ready” weight. It turns out the plane can only really hold two rockets. But this is still a great thing. However, I need to reconfigure the launch tubes to only hold one rocket per wing.
Step 10: Reconfigure launch tube to accommodate one projectile per wing. Check. Technical: I cut new, longer, launch tubes from two more straws. I mount the straw as close to the plane body as possible without disrupting the propeller. I also decide to construct a few new fuse extensions based on the new reduced payload.
Step 11: Launch my mad creation and enjoy. Check….well almost… Technical: Although the flight weight, wind, and plane seem to be perfect, I fail to launch the plane successfully four times. It seems to nose-dive, even if not immediately. I almost blow the left wing off after a nose-dive that left a lit bottle rocket pined to the wing on the ground. My father is also almost hit in the face with a bottle rocket. Although a continuous failure, it is pretty awesome nonetheless.
Step 12: What went wrong? One more try? Check. Technical: After talking to my dad a bit I realize that I may have made another mistake when reconfiguring the plane to one launch tube. As you can see, the single launch tubes extend well in front of the wing. This places the balance of the bottle rockets in front of the wing rather than under it. Thus causing the eventual nose-dives of the plane. My dad recommends placing the front of the launch tubes actually under the center of the wing. While I realize this means that one more failure like today and the plane wings are probably going to blow off, I am happy that my dad is so excited about the project. I probably should have consulted the old aerospace engineer first anyway.
So Saturday, my final full day here, I plan to test the last and greatest build of project “Death from Above”. Final launch is eminent!
Clever, Missouri - Christmas Day - 1300 hours
My father is in the backyard, lighting “parachuter” fireworks for the kids. They run and catch the produced parachute as it descends to the earth. He then brags about the large volume of fireworks he has stored in the “safe room” (it’s for tornados, not money and jewels).
My curiousity peaks.
I look across the yard at the odd self-propelling airplanes that my aunt sent for the kids to play with. The kids aren’t quite old enough and the chaotic flights of the planes, pointed into the wind, had me launching them while the kids hid behind me and screamed with joy when the planes passed. (Maybe I’m a little over-protective).
But I connect the dots between the over-abundance of fireworks and the under-used airplanes.
“A project,” I think, “something to keep me busy so I don’t just sit around all week…something that flys…and shoots….and blows up…”
- Project: “Death from Above” -
Step 1: Procure self-propelled airplanes giving to smal children for Christmas. Check. Technical: Although the planes are quite awesome, I had little resistance to taking one of them for modification and possible destruction. I think the family has come to realize that when my genius strikes, they should not get in the way. Also, I think they were all napping.
Step 2: Testing plane for weight and flight longevity. Check.
Technical: The plane tests for strong flight and a decent weight, meaning the extra ounces of weight from the six bottle rockets should not affect it terribly. Also, the engine seems to charge quickly and keep going for a long time. This may prove a problem ion retreiving the plane post launch….especially if it catches on fire itself.
Step 3: Locate and collect combustible projectiles (bottle rockets). Check. Technical: Once again, with everyone napping I was able to gleam a large supply of needed bottle rockets.
Step 4: Obtain tools and additional items for full build. Check. Technical: I found all things necessary for the final build, I believe. Straws (Bottle Rocket launch tubes), Tape (launch tube adhesion), Scissors (sizing launch tubes), the plane, and the rockets.
Step 5: Constructing the launch tubes and attaching them. Check. Technical: I cut the launch tubes down roughly to a length that matched the wings themselves. I knew that if I didn’t provide enough support, the rocket might not last long in the tubes after takeoff. Everything attached well and the launch tubes should not be a problem.
Step 6: Fuse problems…..fuse problems….bah! Check. Technical: As I shove the bottle rockets into the launch tubes to test the plane’s total weight I realize…..”these fuses are too short!” I don’t want this to blow up in my hand, long before launching the plane…so I improvise. I extract some fuses from three packs of old firecrackers. (Two for the main project launch and one for a “fuse extension” test.) I attach one fuse extension to a test group of three bottle rockets.
Step 7: Testing fuse extensions
Technical: As you can see, I first think the fuse extension is a failure but after seeming to go out, they exlpode with life and the three bottle rockets launch simultaneously a good 8 seconds after lighting.
However, darkness creeps over quickly and I realize that the project only has two steps left….the final deployment of the plane to test conditions and then the main lauch. But, in darkness neither of these can be completed or documented well. So I resign for the night.
Launch is scheduled for tomorrow, 1100 hours.
