L3 Bird

I’m building a pre-release of the GLR Sledgehammer for my Level 3 Certification flight. Giant Leap makes great rocket kits (I got my L2 certification and broke Mach with their minimum diameter Firestorm54) , and this latest project is no exception.

I will be using some new materials for the wings and fins – a strong but light aerospace composite with NOMEX honeycomb sandwiched between G10 fiberglass. It also has an elegant cluster of three avionics bays for redundant flight computers, GPS and RF transmitter.

With an M-size motor (imagine four thousand Estes A engines), RockSim estimates that the 7.5 ft. tall, 43 lb. rocket will pull 20 g’s.

I am hoping to launch it at Rocket Mavericks in July if not sooner.

14 responses to “L3 Bird”

gdsanders

Jan 16, 2008 at 5:31 pm

"imagine four thousand Estes A engines"

Whoa!

What altitude can this rocket achieve? I’m amazed by the advancement in rocket tech since my long-ago days messing around with Estes kits.

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eye of einstein

Jan 16, 2008 at 5:46 pm

I stand here and smile..

this is wonderful..

I enjoy this and your constant globe trotting..photos

why you even come here to my hometown..

all the best .. Flickr on…

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Todd Huffman

Jan 16, 2008 at 6:07 pm

Excellent! I’m totally there. I’ve got my Firestorm ready… perhaps someday I’ll be pushing rockets with an M…

Ah, and hopefully at the next rMav I wont get stuck in the Playa again!
flickr.com/photos/oddwick/1662311251/

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Happy Tinfoil Cat

Jan 16, 2008 at 9:05 pm

20 G’s ?! I’m no rocket scientist but if you reach 25 G’s don’t you break loose of the Earth? and possibly go into orbit?

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Kevin Baird

Jan 16, 2008 at 9:37 pm

I think the 25 you’re referring to is 25,000 MPH escape velocity. The 20 Gs won’t be applied long enough to get it to that speed.

PS: Keep in mind that the X-Wing had 4 M’s, weighed over 400 lbs, and went maybe 80 feet up.

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Happy Tinfoil Cat

Jan 17, 2008 at 12:17 am

Okay. Anything more than one G would be enough if applied long enough. I’m stupid.

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karl.simpson

Jan 17, 2008 at 3:26 am

Wow, can’t wait to see this!

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MattJhsn

Jan 17, 2008 at 10:36 am

Can you kill yourself with one of these? Just checking. Be careful.

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DixonTJ

Jan 17, 2008 at 5:25 pm

Steve,

What motor? What altitude?

OH! Forget it… I just saw the Rocksim screen.

Has your design been approved by your TAP?

-Tim

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DixonTJ

Jan 17, 2008 at 5:35 pm

BTW, your reasoning on going with the 75mm motor mount versus the 98mm?

Also, the tailcone looks nice–is that a GLR part?

-Tim

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jurvetson

Jan 17, 2008 at 9:18 pm

@dixontj: Yes, a gorgeous custom wood boat tail from GLR. I am just starting the outreach to some local TAPs. Found one for Tripoli and one L3CC for NAR. I am also considering a further tweak to the design, and want to button that down first.

I would probably prefer 98mm in retrospect so I can stress test it with a N2000. As it is, I am hoping that this will be a L3 project with a high probability of success, like the Firestorm54 is for L2 (it’s hard to screw that one up… I’ve even flown it without a nose cone, uninjured).

If it works, then I was going to skip 98mm and go big…. =)

@MattJhsn: You have to be alert and ready to leap aside….

But, with the layers of safety precautions, nobody has bit it…. which you can’t say about softball or golf. 😉

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Rocketman8911

Jan 18, 2008 at 4:45 am

Steve I have Richard Hagen and Jim Green as my L3 TAPs and they’re both great guys and both fly with Aeropac. Also Tony Alcocer and Tom Rouse are TAPs and fly with Aeropac also great guys. Also why such a big rocket for L3? I’m (over) building a Performance rocketry Competitor 4 for my L3 rocket. It’s a 4" rocket with a 75mm motor mount. Should go about 16-17K with an M1315W.

Fly it at MudRock.

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DixonTJ

Jan 18, 2008 at 2:18 pm

Great! Love trying new materials/techniques. Keep us up to date.

If you don’t already have it you might get FinSim and a good composite materials text to go through the equations on your fin design and its survivability with an N2000 and the thermals at Black Rock.

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jurvetson

Jan 21, 2008 at 8:21 pm

Thanks guys!

I like big and low for the photo opportunities…. lots of action near the ground.
😉

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L3 Bird

14 responses to “L3 Bird”

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