Legacy

I picked up this kit as an afterthought when buying the Caliber ISP for our group project.  It turned out to be a great rocket.  It screams on everything from F motors to I motors, has a nice sized payload bay for altimeters or dual deployment, and can even accommodate the RATT Works H70 Hybrid motor.  This rocket was also featured in a school musical as a prop.  Click through to see how much this rocket can be punished.

Flight Log

Flight #

Motor

Electronics

Performance

Comments

Flight Details

Flight #3, ROCStock 17, June 2003

The previous hybrid flight was so great that I had to do it again.  The rocket had been prepped since September of 2002, but never flown due to weather and other projects.  Finally, I got the chance to fly it at ROCStock 17.  We loaded it on the pad early, about 8:30 AM, and it filled fine.  The rocket lifted right off and cocked a little to the right, then proceeded on a straight course to apogee.  It fired the charge, but decided to come down in two pieces after it burnt through the shock cord.  A man was nice enough to pick up both pieces for me, since I lost track of them on the way down and he saw where they were.  Close to a success -- it's getting a Kevlar shock cord next time :) 

Me putting the final touches on the Legacy for its second hybrid flight.

Flight #2, ROC August 2002

Wayne Mrazek of Now Hybrids was kind enough to offer me a RATT Works motor and reloads if I were to fly them and write an article for Extreme Rocketry.  Of course, I took him up on the offer!  I decided to put the H70H in my Legacy, and my I80H in Lactose Intolerant.  As luck would have it, I couldn't finish Lactose Intolerant in time for the launch because I got sick, but I still had the Legacy.  Upon arrival at the site, we found no wind (score!) and warm temperatures.  After asking Wayne about a million questions, I finally had the motor prepped and ready.  I came up with a motor retention scheme of 2 washers, a 10-32 bolt, and some Kevlar attached to the shock cord mount.  It would all fit, but very tightly.  I packed the booster with chutes and motor, and then began work on the altimeter.  This rocket has holes for an ALTACC in the payload.  Murphy struck when I realized that I left the ALTACC at home.  OK, rig up a mount for the RRC².  I stuffed some electronics-safe foam in the coupler, and more foam in the payload.  It worked, kinda.  The altimeter already was a pretty tight fit in the section, so no board was required.  To arm it, I would take apart the payload at the pad and twist some wires.  Everything was ready to go and I proudly marched up the flight line.  I got 1/2 way to the pad when I realized that I forgot to drill a vent hole.  Back to camp, take out the motor, measure and drill, repack booster.  30 minutes later we were ready again.  By this time, there was a line for the hybrid pads.  I was second in line, after a freaky 2-stage thing.  That flew kinda ok.  Then I loaded my rocket on Joe Mullin's awesome rail.  I armed the altimeter, and we raised it.  The fill began, but it wasn't working too well.  We tried everything- switch the solenoids, check the connections, everything seemed fine.  It was no use.  Then Wayne had one last thought.  I pulled the vent tube out, and just let the motor vent directly to the outside.  It worked.  We filled the tank and off she went.  Beautiful straight up flight.  We lost track of it at burnout (grey rocket, blue sky), but one person had a track on it.  We were watching it come down and it landed less than 50 feet from where I was standing.  The perfect flight.  I'm gonna do that again next month!

Pad prepping with Chris and Joe

Obligatory Dumb Rocket Picture

We have liftoff