Wildman 3

Wildman 3
Diameter:3.1"Type:Sport
Length:63"Status:Active - 4 flights
Motor Mount:54mmBuild Dates:2014-04-29 to 2014-05-30

This is a Gen 4 Wildman 3 kit, of the shortened-but-still-with-Curtis-tubing variety. I added a payload section for standard double break dual deploy and an AeroPack retainer. It was a nice quick build that kept me relaxed during the final days of my dissertation, and it's a great versatile sport flyer. Duck courtesy of Stickershock.

Flights

Event: NYA 2015

Date: 06/06/2015

Motor: Infinity K1700

I'd had this motor loaded since I lived in Indiana, and figured this was a great opportunity to burn it. The kids were about to leave and were excited to see a K motor fly. My coworker Juliett wanted to launch this rocket--I explained to her that it might blow up :) Luckily, after the countdown (5... 4... 3... 2... 1... PIZZA), all was well, and the Wildman boogied off the rail on a long UltraViolet flame: "OOH IT'S PURPLE, GUYS!" Events happened like they're supposed to, and Daniel helped me track the bird down out on the lakebed. Great flight to end the day.

Wildman 3 on a Infinity K1700

others: video

Event: ROC February 2015

Date: 02/14/2015

Motor: AT K695

I had prepped the Wildman the night before but didn't know what to fly in it. After an intensely fun day of selling as Wildman West, I had a K695R left over. I'd never flown this motor before, so it was a natural combination. The rocket jumped off the pad on a long red flame and both apogee and main events were nominal. A great flight to start the year, and I'm keeping this rocket's K streak alive!

Event: ROCtober 2014

Date: 10/11/2014

Motor: AT K480

Apogee: 11941 ft

I originally picked up this load for the Arcas, but since it was only 6 grains it would have been a tame flight compared with the steady diet of Ls that rocket had been eating, so instead I opted to shoehorn it into the booster of my Wildman 3 and let 'er rip. This is the slow WL load for the 2560 case, and it's immediately apparent why it's slow: the crystals of 400 mic are quite visible in the propellant! I installed a thermite igniter for guaranteed ignition, and Bryce Chanes did the honors. Even with the reduced massflow, the flame-to-rocket ratio was quite satisfying, and the rocket took off with authority and headed skyward. The big mudflap fins kept the duck on a precision course to apogee, where we were greeted with drugless deployment. I turned my attention to the rest of the flights on the rack, allowing the tracker to do its job of reporting the rocket's location; by the time I was paying attention again, main deployment was near, and the signal was still strong, even on low attenuator. The big Spherachute appeared at 700' and the duck touched down about 50 yards from our truck after a trip to just under 12,000'. Yeah, it was calm!

Event: QCRS June 2014

Date: 06/14/2014

Motor: PPL K900

Apogee: 7200 ft

This motor was the last of the Alumaflame batch that I had cast up for Midwest Power several months ago. Since it was the first flight of my new rocket, I elected to run conservative on the nozzle throat size, swapping up to 0.656 instead of the usual 0.563. The result was a nicely extended burn time and a gorgeous blue flame attached at the nozzle. YEAH! The rocket cruised smoothly up to apogee on a long trail of thin white smoke and performed a nice dual deploy on the way down, with the orange-and-white Spherachute main laying across the top of some corn next to the road, making it easy to find. Goodbye for now, Princeton. See you soon!

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