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(Outline of LUNAR's November 19 meeting talk…)
How to get Level 1 Certified and Live to Tell About It
– Or –
Not the Right Stuff, The Big Stuff!
by Andrew Pohlman, LUNAR #555
Certifying Level 1 can be as easy as falling off a log if you do your homework and pay attention to detail. Here is the scoop in outline form. The good news is that you will not be inside the thing you'll be sending up (not the right stuff). I'm sure those with abounding High Power wisdom will have more to say and I'm sure some will disagree with some of what I present. So be it. The point is, after achieving this right of passage you'll be able to form your opinions about what it takes to fly the Big Stuff!
1) Requirements NAR and Tripoli
- build a rocket and fly it successfully on an H or I motor provided especially for the purpose of certification.
- have the flight witnessed by an existing member at Level 1 or greater ( NAR requires an additional member to witness the flight, not necessarily a certified flyer)
- fill out the forms and have them signed by the witness(es) and send them in to the appropriate organization
- the flight must be 'perfect', in that the deployment system actuated and the rocket is capable of flight without any repairs (this is a judgement call by the certification team)
- the rocket need not be recovered if it is excessively dangerous to do so, but you MUST prove the motor did not eject
- the certification team must observe you construct the motor if it is a reload
- all normal range rules apply and your certification flight will usually be announced as a 'heads up' flight (don't take it personally)
- the H128 / G75 controversy is settled: H128 is a go, G75 is a no!
2) Run Simulations (see steps 3 and 4)
- exciting cert flight should be an oxymoron and don't belong in the same sentence
- use ROCSIM, WRASP, Alticalc or Rockdrag (don't forget the are simulations and may not reflect reality)
- choose your desired altitude - at LUNAR Ken Finwall and I agree it should <=1500'
- Run simulations of everything and choose a rocket/motor combination that is optimized for your flight parameters
- Build a list of optimal combinations - you may not be able to acquire your first choices
Assuming you have played with your simulations until nauseated:
3) Choose a Rocket that won't fly away nor only go 300' (see steps 2 and 4)
- choose a rocket that requires a G80 minimum and has a simple design (3F&NC)
- large diameters (like 4") are best but really anything you can build well will be fine
- use lots of epoxy in construction - don't scrimp, don't get cheap
- take your time building it - don't get lazy and take shortcuts
- you MUST build a motor retention system into your rocket - Aerotech engine hooks DO NOT cut it!
4) Choose a Motor (see steps 2 and 3)
- there is no reason NOT to use a reload; if you haven't built many reloads, get some practice with mid-power models and a 29mmm RMS
- if you can afford it, choose the diameter you want (29 or 38 mm) and buy the 'SYSTEM' so you'll have choices on the big day (Ken does not always have what you want)
- go for the lowest thrust that will get your machine off the pad safely
- you don't have to wimp-out and certify on an H128, just keep it sane
- if you can't get a good simulation, go to step 3 and choose a new rocket
5) Choose the Certification Team
- well in advance make an agreement with a certified flyer to be at the same launch you intend to certify at
- make sure Ken Finwall will be there to sell you a motor
- get advice from the certification team - if they don't want to give advice, choose others
6) Get the paper work well in advance and bring it
7) Choose a day when the Rocket God and Wind God are not wrestling
8) Classic Sane Combinations
- THOY Falcon on an H97-6
- LOC EZI-65 on H97-6 or H180-10
- PML Explorer on H128-10
- PML Tethys on H123-6
9) Guts-Required Combinations
- PML Cirrus on an H anything (massive altitude, tiny rocket)
- LOC Lil Nuke on an H anything (massive altitude, tiny rocket)
- THOY Phoenix on an H anything (fins exhibit many problems)
- LOC Warlock on H97-6 (under-powered nightmare - LCO should deny)
- LOC EZI-65 on an I65 (sane flight but need crack recovery crew)
Copyright © 1998 by LUNAR, All rights reserved.
Information date: November 14, 1998 lk
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