Finalizing Rocket Ideas
I’ve been weighing my options for a while and have been delaying posts because of the fact that I don’t want to feel constrained to any particular type of design. There are two design plans that stick out in my mind, but it is about twice as more likely for me to go with the simpler one.
The two designs I was thinking about were:
1.) Fuselage constructed of a plastic fluorescent light protector (same as last year) and foam wings giving it the shape of the Concorde, a supersonic passenger jet. With this design, the plane could easily exceed 70 mph. The engine thrust has doubled and the time during which that thrust acts has also doubled, so we’re in for an interesting launch here.
2.) Much heavier design where the frame is made of coat hangers and covered with packaging plastic. I think that this plane will be much more gratifying if I can get it the way I want it to look, but the problem is that its definitely not going to be as durable or perform as well as the former choice.
So, as of now, I’m looking for the right shape to make the wing so that I can get the best design. The model I had made a few weeks ago was a flop, but I’m trying again with a few different shapes. The main problem I’m having with the design is that it is unstable when flying, it doesn’t want to maintain its banking axis angle.
Here is the model:
I love you Dave.
That’s pretty amazing. And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Seriously, the very fact that you manage to do this every year is pretty impressive. I don’t think all that many college aged kids can say the same (we’re all to busy checking the Facebook and the MySpace).
Good luck! I hope all goes well. And I look forward to the Launch ‘08!