Turbine Rocket Saucer

Started building an experimental rocket design that combines saucer and spinning turbine design elements.

Build thread here: www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=13727

Finished the turbine saucer and flew it twice. Plan to fly it at Acton too.

Up part was great with spinning, fire and smoke, recovery was OK, modest repairs in process

Flight pics and details on the thread posted above.

Videos here:

www.bpasa.com/Movies2010/flight1.wmv

www.bpasa.com/Movies2010/flight2.wmv

I\'ve had the same recovery issues with my version of the canted motor saucer. That\'s why I shelved it for a while.

My attempts have been a much smaller craft. Three 18mm motors, no turbine blades, made of cardstock around a foam core center ring.

Same flight profile though! Three of the five launches I got a \"Boomerange Frisbee O\'-death\" recovery. But card stock just sort of crumples on impact.

Somewhere in our family\'s big pile of 8mm film reels there is suposedly footage of my dad\'s saucer from the 70\'s. That\'s the one I\'m trying to re-create. He says it was made from a plastic hubcap insert.
I don\'t remember any.... exiting recoveries? Maybe just the fog of time?

Good luck with the \"turbine-in-a-tor\"

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HotRod Lincoln wrote:

Good luck with the \"turbine-in-a-tor\"

I like that name Turbine-in-a-tor or maybe TurBinator.

Plan to increase spin and moderately reduce lift to try to keep it spinning and flat as it comes back to the ground.

Safe recoveries are important to maintain the population of rocketeers and well as their rockets.

Posted pictures and video of yesterdays flights here:

www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=13727

Will get pictures up in gallery soon.