The Wright Rocket Site

BALLS 18 - 2009 - Black Rock Desert, Nevada

Rorschach and Panther Paws

Black Rock trip number 5 had two personal launches from our truck load.  First up was Red's second flight with her Level 2 cert bird Rorschach.  She flew on a PHP 4 grain 76mm L motor totaling 4300 NS.  The up was beautiful but due to a too-small deployment charge the bird came in ballistic and is no more.  It was a sad day for Red.  :(  Estimated altitude was better than 11000'.

I had better luck with Panther Paws.  This was only the second flight for my Level 3 cert bird and it flew in a modified configuration with just a 6" nose cone rather that the transition and 4" upper section it originally flew on.   It also flow on a PHP or Purple Helmet Propellant configuration to a new personal best for altitude of 18608'!  The motor was an 8 grain 98mm PHP N2800 with a total output of 15600 NS.  This was a 53" long motor - the largest we've ever produced and it performed perfectly other than some spit liners.