This is my new launcher. It is based on the "Clark Cable" design. It
is shown in this picture without the launch tube. |
Here is my new rocket on the launcher. It is based on a picture of the "Pound
Puppy" shown on Robert Youens Web Site. |
Launch report for Sept 30/ Oct 1, 2001: After several false starts ( the hose blew off of the launcher twice) we managed to launch this rocket. All I can say is that it was AWESOME! It went straight up ... and got smaller . . . and smaller . . . and smaller . . . and then it started getting bigger. At first it slid backwards until it picked up speed and then it went into a horizontal glide, spinning on its longitudinal axis, and landed very gently on the ground. We launched it at 100 psi and then at 120 psi. I have launched it 6 or 7 times over 2 days. By about the third launch it began leaking, it looks like a small pinhole through the glue around the spout ( a fine mist sprayed out of it) and then by the last couple of launches it was leaking behind the fins. It must have cracked somehow, because we had a hard time getting it up to 90 psi and it wouldn't hold. We had to launch it while we were pumping furiously! Anyway it was a lot of fun and now I have to build more rockets!! |
Here is one of the launches taken from on top of a hill. You can see the trail
of mist and the launch tube is hanging in the air right above the launcher. |
You can see the rocket descending horizontally, at the top of the picture between
the pole and the tree. It settled gently to the ground. |
