My second attempt at re-certifying took place in Feb 2013. For this flight I used another old rocket I built in high school - PML Black Brant X. I modified the rocket for dual-deployment which extended the length about 6 inches. This was the same rocket I used to earn my Level 2 cert back in 1996. There's footage of that flight in my Vintage Rockets post.
In order to make the rocket flight ready again, I drilled some holes into the tailcone and used two bolts with washers to create a motor retainer. I also replaced the plastic rivets around the altimeter bay with screws. I selected the Featherweight Raven altimeter to control parachute deployment. As you'll see in the video, it looks like a great flight. Unfortunately it suffered major airframe damage during the parachute deployment. The piston got stuck in the body tube and the main parachute actually came out of the middle of the forward payload section instead of the separation point between the body tube and nosecone. The phenolic around the fin section bulkhead also shattered. I noticed the phenolic was brittle when I drilled out the screw holes for the altimeter bay but I thought it would be strong enough for one more flight. I'm sure the brittleness was due to sitting in storage in various climates over the last 17 years. I salvaged the nosecone, parachutes, and shock cord but threw the rest of the rocket away.
9' rocket + 9' flame and sparks! Photo by Greg Smith
Liftoff on a Cesaroni J381 Skidmark!
That white speck in the upper-left corner is my oldest son and I at the
launch table on the flight line
Drogue deployed at apogee
Too many body tube pieces. The section visible in the middle of the
screen and at the base of the fin can are broken fragments.
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