six-o-one
04-18-2005, 11:15 AM
Well, I had made mention in the Vendors section of the board that I built the Thrustline Cherokee-D clone and it came out so nice I hated to fly it. Should have gone with my instincts. If you don't fly it, it's not a rocket, right? So, yesterday, took my boy out to fly. Did a few other flights, then came time for the Cherokee-D.
Now, let me preface this by describing our flying field. The field itself is approx. 2000' x 2000' of open space, with another six soccer fields and more open area to the north and east. directly east to southeast is a fenced off area of trees (foreshadowing). OK, load her up and launch. Simply gorgeous. Straight as an arrow into a clear blue sky, probably 1000'-1200' conservatively. Ejection and chute deployment at or near apogee give or take a few feet. Well, the wind (7 mph according to the weather) was blowing to the northeast, so when I saw the altitude I figured I had a decent walk to a soccer field in my future. She started down and was floating NE as predicted, and not looking to land as far away as I first thought. Then, descent seemed to stop and it began to drift E. Yep, you guessed it. Just clipped the corner of the fenced off tree area, about 25' in, and of course, at the top of a 75'tree. AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH. Well, I am not one to just give up. Finished up, took the boy home, and got a bag of baseballs. Came back, and it took five throws to hit the chute and down she came---25 ft. Still hanging about 50' up. So now I figure no problem. Wrong. Probably hit the chute 20 more times, but it's just hung up. Hated to leave it over night, but there was little to no dew moisture last night, so am hopeful as to the condition of the rocket. Came to work today, and we have 10' sections of 1.5" PVC with couplers (I am a P.E. teacher and have no idea why exactly we have all of this PVC). Gonna tape a coat-hanger hook to the top section, and go after her this afternooon. I'll update tonight.
Now, let me preface this by describing our flying field. The field itself is approx. 2000' x 2000' of open space, with another six soccer fields and more open area to the north and east. directly east to southeast is a fenced off area of trees (foreshadowing). OK, load her up and launch. Simply gorgeous. Straight as an arrow into a clear blue sky, probably 1000'-1200' conservatively. Ejection and chute deployment at or near apogee give or take a few feet. Well, the wind (7 mph according to the weather) was blowing to the northeast, so when I saw the altitude I figured I had a decent walk to a soccer field in my future. She started down and was floating NE as predicted, and not looking to land as far away as I first thought. Then, descent seemed to stop and it began to drift E. Yep, you guessed it. Just clipped the corner of the fenced off tree area, about 25' in, and of course, at the top of a 75'tree. AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH. Well, I am not one to just give up. Finished up, took the boy home, and got a bag of baseballs. Came back, and it took five throws to hit the chute and down she came---25 ft. Still hanging about 50' up. So now I figure no problem. Wrong. Probably hit the chute 20 more times, but it's just hung up. Hated to leave it over night, but there was little to no dew moisture last night, so am hopeful as to the condition of the rocket. Came to work today, and we have 10' sections of 1.5" PVC with couplers (I am a P.E. teacher and have no idea why exactly we have all of this PVC). Gonna tape a coat-hanger hook to the top section, and go after her this afternooon. I'll update tonight.