Southern Neutron's G Superroc Altitude Adventures

 

We took G Superroc seriously, trying to develop a competitive (hopefully winning) design. We built seven models, and ended up winning with the 4th one, built and tested in March. It was actually the first one built to use the engine combination we figured early on was the best way to go, either an F10 and two E6's or two F10's.

We ended up also doing an R&D report about it, which took second place. Click here for the R&D report PDF file.

For other NARAM event photos and info, click on this link.

 

Below are some photos, info, and a link to a Youtube video.

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October 2006. Model #1.

Max length 450 CM model (first known max length model attempted). Flew on G40. Mostly BT-70. Model bent at coupler joints, veered to left, increased its bending and pried itself apart.

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March 2007. Model #4.

Max length 450 CM model, all BT-60. Cluster of one F10 and two E6's. Firestar ignitors.

The F10 and Two E6 BT-60 Model flew successfully!

Click for Flight Video on Youtube

Ejection was late, so the model proved to be the world's longest Backslider glider too.....

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Recovery of first known successful max length G Superroc.

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Ed LaCroix, happy the model worked so well.

If an onboard altimeter is to be believed, the model flew to 607 meters and would have scored 273,150 points had it been flown in a contest or record trials.

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Who says that it's impossible to transport or ship a max length G Superroc? The couplers were 8.5" long, package tape used to secure the tubes to each other at the joints. White tubing is 34" long

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Drawing of Model #4 (F10 and two E6's) and Model #7 (Two F10's).

NARAM-49 photos:

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Ed LaCroix taking the Two F10 cluster model (#7) out to be measured and checked in. Terrill Willard at right.

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Terrill, Ed, and George loading the model onto a 12 foot rail. The launcher is a Birmingham Rocket Boys HPR launcher.

(Chris Taylor pic)

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Ed hooking up the clustered F10's.
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Launch. Unfortunately, the model had a cato on one F10 and had structural failure midway in the flight. We do not know if the F10 cato caused the failure or if the cato was afterwards.

(Chris Taylor pic)

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Ed prepares attempt two, first NARAM flight of the March model (#4) on one F10 and two E6's.

(Chris Taylor pic)
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Flew well, but only one tracker saw it. One of the three that did not see it was under a tree. So, with no track ,we had to fly again.

(Chris Taylor pic)
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Officially the first contest flight, third time we flew, second flight of Model #4. It flew well again. Finally tracked, to 513 meters.

(Chris Taylor pic)

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Ed & Terrill shortly after recovery.

Score of 230,850 points won Team Div. Two C Div entries had a better score but we had added 5 ounces of extra tube coupler over the March configuration to make sure the bird did not have a surprise structural failure.

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(Chris Taylor pic)
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(Chris Taylor pic)
More pics with Model #4, including George.

 For other NARAM event photos and info, click on this link.

 

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