L1 Certification Help

Hi All,

I restarted rocketry the first of this year after several decades. When I was young I only ever did low power, but I've been working my way up and I'm now planning on launching a T-LOC 4 on a G77 at August 12th launch. The T-LOC is the 30th rocket I've built since January 1st this year. I'm obsessed!

I think I'm on track to go for an L1 certification attempt this fall, and I have questions:

1. Is it safe to assume Amesbury is the site where I can attempt an L1 cert.? I know Acton isn't, but not sure about Amesbury.
2. Should I join NAR or TRA? I guess I'm looking for recommendations and/or pros and cons.
3. Are there members of the club willing to be part of the Certification Team? And how much do I need to pay them? (ha ha)
4. I'm planning on building the Apogee Zephyr. By all accounts it's a great L1 cert kit, but if their are other opinions I'd like to hear them.
5. More questions to come (probably).

Thanks in advance!

Gerry

Thanks for the response Kenn. Big help!

The one thing that has me really thinking now is the idea of a 5 lb. rocket. Keeping the flight under 1000' is an excellent objective, but the Zephyr at 44ish oz on an H (9-10 oz) is going to go 1700-2000'. That would not be good. So I really need to reconsider which kit to build.

Thanks again. Likely will have more questions.

Gerry wrote:

Thanks for the response Kenn. Big help!

The one thing that has me really thinking now is the idea of a 5 lb. rocket. Keeping the flight under 1000' is an excellent objective, but the Zephyr at 44ish oz on an H (9-10 oz) is going to go 1700-2000'. That would not be good. So I really need to reconsider which kit to build.

Thanks again. Likely will have more questions.

My L1 rocket (3.1" dia Cherokee G upscale) was rigged for dual deploy.  However I used motor deployment plus a chute release... I set it up so that it carried everything that dd would require i.e. altimeter, battery, drouge, main etc.  It came in at around 53 oz. (~3.3 lbs) ... Somewhat more when loaded with an H165 reload/motor.  It reached (according to the altimeter) 1047 feet.  It happens that the day was so calm it probably didn't need the chute release.

Setting things up for dual deploy with the requisite altimeter and battery, bulkheads, charge wells, and other hardware will add a lot... at least 10-12 oz. , perhaps more.   Plus your be able to do that high altitude flight in the future!   I hope to actually fly a duel deployment when we return to Amesbury... But for sure it won't be a high flight this time either

It's not hard to build it heavy

 

This is great stuff guys - thank you.  I did some simulations for the Zephyr and found I'd probably need to add a pound of weight to keep it to 1000 ft. (not quite sure how I'd do that...) I figured this would be a bad idea, but emailed Apogee just for yuks to see what they'd say. Yeah, they didn't think it would be a good idea either.

Now I'm looking at 2 LOC kits as options: The Yank Iris and the Mystic Buzz. Both are 4" rockets in the 4-5 lb. range and over 6' in length. I've run some sims and they look good, as in, there are H motor options that should safely get them in the 800-1000 foot range.
Mystic Buzz

Yank Iris

**Both of these have 54mm motor tubes, but LOC has adapters for bother 29mm and 38mm.

I'm sure there are reasons that these kits are bad options so let me hear them!

Also, how long are the clubs launch rails? For simulation purposes I've assumed 6' but I think they're longer.

Gerry wrote:

This is great stuff guys - thank you.  I did some simulations for the Zephyr and found I'd probably need to add a pound of weight to keep it to 1000 ft. (not quite sure how I'd do that...) I figured this would be a bad idea, but emailed Apogee just for yuks to see what they'd say. Yeah, they didn't think it would be a good idea either.

Now I'm looking at 2 LOC kits as options: The Yank Iris and the Mystic Buzz. Both are 4" rockets in the 4-5 lb. range and over 6' in length. I've run some sims and they look good, as in, there are H motor options that should safely get them in the 800-1000 foot range.
Mystic Buzz

Yank Iris

**Both of these have 54mm motor tubes, but LOC has adapters for bother 29mm and 38mm.

I'm sure there are reasons that these kits are bad options so let me hear them!

Also, how long are the clubs launch rails? For simulation purposes I've assumed 6' but I think they're longer.

Interestingly, I considered the mystic buzz myself, but cheapskate that I am, I went with the upscale Cherokee I got as a limited production kit as it came with all the parts I needed except for the electronic stuff.  The mystic buzz is a nifty looking rocket, and about the only drawback might be the split fins in terms of construction... But a minor issue at best.  The IRIS is a subject I really like because I like sounding rockets.  

Rails on the HP pads are available of course... 4" dia. can use 1010 buttons/guides.  I think we have 8' rails if I'm not mistaken.  All that matters I suppose is that the rocket is moving 30-40 mph when it leaves the the rail.