The Viper: A '70s kit offered to Estes Aerospace Club (EAC) members. It uses T motors. It is a good, economical flier with parachute recovery. The small 12-inch parachute is a good choice for this rocket, since it is limited to A-power only. I wouldn't waste the time using 1/4A motors unless it's extremely windy or you have an extremely small field, the larger motors are so much more satisfying.
This particular Viper was painted with Purple and Orange instead of the Purple and Yellow. I suppose that was because I had orange dope and no yellow, but that was 35 years ago, who knows?
This rocket was later given my "Iris" modification, which extends the body tube about 5 inches above the streamer / parachute bay, and allows for a payload with an Altimeter One to measure altitudes. With it’s most powerful A motor, I can’t seem to get this above the 200-foot mark. (Iris is named after the Greek god of the rainbow. She is a messenger of the gods, linking the gods with humanity.) This rocket has flown higher than the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in NC, the tallest lighthouse in the USA.
| Flight Date: | 2012-06-30 |
| Rocket Name: | EAC Viper |
| Kit Name: | Estes - E.A.C. Viper {Kit} (0820) [1972-1986] |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | A3-4 |
| Expected Altitude: | 180.00 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 8.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Fort Indiantown Gap, PA |
Pulled this ol’ bird out because it’s a nice straight flyer in any kind of winds. I even chose the A3 motor over the A10 - even though the A10 is better for winds - because I wanted to defy the winds again. It did not disappoint me. Mostly I wanted to compare the A3 and A10 motors for a third time.
It took off and went straight up, and was back down on the ground in 15 seconds or so and still within the launch area only maybe 20 feet from the pad. Typically on this motor it will go 60-65 mph and reach 185 feet, but the rather sensitive launch-detecting accelerometer was prematurely triggered while loading it on the pad, so I have no data on this flight. I could have repeated the flight, but it was late afternoon on a really hot day and I needed a rest after 8 flights. Some other time.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes A3T-4 |
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