Clusters...

Paradoxically, though I was now confirmed for HP motor use, I still enjoyed the heck out of clustering. This North Coast Rocketry (NCR) Enerjet 2600 Replica, for example. It flew on everything from triple Aerotech E28s to Ravenna H146s. The H146 flight was astounding, and we would have lost the rocket for sure, if not for the loud beeper we installed as a payload.

 

Still fascinated with clusters, this NCR Phantom 4000 really taught me a lot. It used a 29 mm core, accepting up to a full 320 n/sec H, and six 24mm auxiliaries. I frequently flew it on less, though, with a favorite combo being a Ravenna G208 core, airstarting G68s, or a combo of G68s and D12s.

Alas, not every flight goes as planned, and the last two pics show the result of an Aerotech H70 cato. The case failed so quickly that the rocket didn't even move on the pad, though the failed motor did succeed in lighting the full complement of D12 boosters.

They were on a 5 second fuse, and my son had actually taken a half-step to walk to the rocket when two things happened simultaneously; I yelled at him to stop, and the D12s came to life, lifting the rocket majestically into the air. Of course, with the H70 being kaput, there was no ejection mechanism in place, so the rocket core-sampled the corn field.. :-/ It didn't totally destroy it, though. I shortened the airframe by a foot or so, installed a payload compartment (built from the remains of the last 4" cluster rocket, which was damaged by the F100 cato), repaired the toasted motor tubes, and I still fly this one today.

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