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Old 07-30-2016, 07:13 PM
AstronMike AstronMike is offline
Craftsman
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Lakeland, FL
Posts: 224
Smile Flexie Rocket Gliders

Yes, those models were basically lengthy Bt60ish jobs with a standard 17x40 delta kite attached to the 'top' of the body, about halfway up. Used a standard NC and fins on the best version. That used a standard burn string to hold the wings for boost, keeping it a true RG. Now, even though BG, some later ones used a more 'convie' tail setup with elevator. That helped the trim nicely, but added complexity....

To make *that* work, I had fashion an ejectable rear motor can mount, which had a large paper clip on top as well as a long cord with a specially bent open clip. The top clip was for elevator retention, and the string-based clip was used to hold the wings shut for boost, since this did not use a burn string (that's what really ruins BTs on such things).

At ejection, the rear canmount would eject, pulling the clip off the elevator as well as pulling the string and its clip off the main wings, allowing them to open. Problem was, that fit had to be *JUST RIGHT* or it would not pull off (Crash) or, if it was too loose, wings deploy on ignition (also not a good thing).

Believe it or not that was pretty reliable for being such a cludgy system. However, having a wings-open-on-ignition disaster was enough for me to quit flying that stuff around clubs. Too many 'dinner jacket' rocketeers and not enough 'research' minded guys.....
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