May 1 Pickrell, NE
Well I didn't get off work until 7 a.m. on the 1st so we were late getting out of here to the launch. We arrived just before 11 a.m. and the launches were well underway.
It was a little windy again, but we're used to that anymore in the midwest, when isn't it windy.
First up on our launch list was our PML Amraam 4. We've had this built a while and yet to launch it and I had an opened I211 that needed to get burned so we loaded it up.
Above is Tannor with the Amraam on the pad ready to go.
Here the I211 is coming up to full pressure and beginning to liftoff. PML shows an expected altitude of 2400 feet with this motor.
Here it is cleanly lifted off the pad and on it's way up for a very nice flight, the medium delay was just right with ejection at apogee and the main chute deploying nicely.
For video of the Amraam's maiden flight click here.
Next up Meesha prepped the Big Bertha for a flight on a C6-3. We placed it on the pad and it lifted off for a nice flight with chute deployment right at apogee, always a real consistent flyer.
Next up was our feature rocket from the last Pickrell launch. Last time there we attempted our level 2 cert flight with a BSD Thor, the motor adapter thrust ring let go and things got very interesting with a loose J350 flying through the air.
So I had to bring this rocket back and fly it again just to show everyone what it should look like.
For some reason the LCO seemed a little nervous at this point, I can't imagine why but he was happy that it wasn't another J350 at least.
Here she goes lifting off on an AT I285 Redline motor, I just haven't been able to get the camera to really show the brilliant red color of the flame, it's pretty well washed out in the pictures I get.
She lifted off just fine this time to an altitude of 1,488' as recorded by the RRC2. The altimeter fired the apogee charge about a second or so late, but without any problems and we got good separation.
At 500' the main charge fired and the Rocketman R7C parachute deployed fine and provided for a nice soft touchdown.
That's it for now, should have some video up here by the end of the week of our flights.