Rocket Launch Notes
What Skywinder Rocket When August 13, 2002 Where Civic Center Weather Clear, sunny skies, almost no wind, temp 87, 11:27 AM Engine C6-3 Status Great Flight and Recovery Other Third Flight - Helicopter recovery worked perfectly Photo None Notes Marielayna and I flew this rocket. It was the Skywinder's third flight. This rocket was uses helicopter blades to slow its descent instead of a parachute. It was the third flight of the day. A good time was had by all.
We chose to angle the launcher very slightly into the wind. I gave a fast countdown and Marielayna pressed the launch button. The rocket took off and flew in a slightly spiraled trajectory. We had made a slight adjustment to the helicopter blades before launch that caused the spiral. It flew to about 280 feet before it arched over and started down. At first we though it might crash, but then the downward velocity stabilzed and we could see the shimmer of the sun reflecting off the rapidly spinning helicopter blades. The Skywinder landed about 150 feet from the launch pad.
Post flight inspection revealed no damage.
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