My Level 3 project named California Screamin’ is based off the PML Ultimate Endeavour. It stands 120 inches tall and has a diameter of 6 inches. When loaded with the Aerotech M1297W motor, the total weight is approximately 42 pounds. Major modifications to the PML Ultimate Endeavour design include:
Fully fiberglassed phenolic airframe with two wraps of 16 ounce glass cloth.
G10 fiberglass fin thickness increased from .093 to .187 inches.
Length extended from 108 inches to 120 inches.
Airframe modified for dual-deployment.
PML piston system removed.
Extended altimeter bay to 10.5 inches. Electronics include the Featherweight Raven2 altimeter with Power Perch and the Telemetrum v1.2 recording altimeter with GPS and telemetry link.
Main parachute upgraded to a Rocketman 12 foot Standard Recovery parachute. The drogue is a Rocketman 4 foot Standard Recovery parachute.
Motor mount increased to 75 mm with Aero Pack motor retainer installed.
I started this project in Dec 2011 and completed the certification flight in Apr 2013. It would have taken less time, but I spent six months out to sea on a deployment to Japan and Hawaii. I was able to get most of my documentation written (31 pages) during my free time on deployment. If you are working on your Level 3 project and have any questions with the required documentation, send me a message and I'll be glad to assist. I took over 160 photos throughout the build. If you would like more information or to see more pictures of the building techniques I used, just ask.
Pre-assembly - spacing out the centering rings on motor mount tube
Test fitting centering rings and steel rods on the motor mount assembly
Booster section prior to inserting into body tube
Sliding body tube over motor mount and fin assembly
Altimeter bay: 15" coupler with 10.5" liner, bulk plate, and 1" spacer
Screws and threaded inserts prior to altimeter bay bulkhead installation
Side 1 of altimeter bay sled with Telemetrum
Side 2 of altimeter bay sled with Raven2 and Power Perch
Altimeter bay aft bulkhead with ejection canisters, u-bolt, and two-circuit
barrier terminals
Inserting screws through the body tube into the altimeter bay bulkhead
PML expanding foam curing before the next batch
Fin fillets sanded
Rocket set up for ejection charge testing
Rocket, drogue, main 'chute, and 80 feet of kevlar shock cord
Assembled and ready for flight!
Rocket transport vehicle
Launch day! Assembling the 5,417 N-sec motor
Lift off on an Aerotech M1297 White Lightening!
Screamin' to 5,770 feet
Drogue Deployment
Forward payload and nose cone before main 'chute deployment
Successful recovery!
Telemetrum flight data - lost power at apogee
Raven2 flight data
Ejection charge testing video with Telemetrum
Level 3 flight with footage from 3 different cameras
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