The X-Ray: Nice little payload rocket, using a tape-friction-fit motor mount. Not at all like the modern Estes X-Ray kit. This has a balsa nosecone, transition and fins. It is a very light model. This ol' girl sure made a lot of flights and she's showing her age. In the early days this was my tallest and most impressive rocket for the first year or two, so I would really like to get her flying again and see how high it can go, I imagine close to 1000 feet. To restore this model, I need to find a clear BT-50 payload tube since the old one is cracked. I don't recall it cracking during a flight, it most likely occurred while in storage.
Recent update: Finally found a clear tube of the right diameter: Stole it out of a new Estes Magician kit a bought for parts. Expect the X-Ray to shine again!
The X-Ray has now been restored and is flying again. I found the same clear tube length and diameter from Estes - but I had to spring for a full Magician kit to get it! I gave it a new Kevlar shock cord mount and some new rubber, reinforced the screw-eye to the balsa transition (which to my suprise was never glued in originally!). It also received a new 9.3" plastic parachute with longer shroud lines and a good hard cleaning. Its first new flight with an A8 motor brought it up to 216 feet at 76 mph (111.5 ft/sec.). There will be more flights with this for sure.
| Flight Date: | 2012-12-02 |
| Rocket Name: | X-Ray |
| Kit Name: | Estes - X-Ray {Kit} (18) [1965-1985] |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | A8-3 |
| Expected Altitude: | 200 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 7.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 231 Feet |
This was the second test flight of the just-restored X-Ray, carrying the Altimeter 2 in its transparent payload section.
The burn was good, lasting ½ second and accelerating this light rocket at 21.2 Gs off the pad and it produced an overall average of 7 Gs for the burn. She hit a top speed of 75 mph and coasted for 2.6 seconds.
At that time, the ejection charge fired off 4/10 seconds too early, the rocket was at 217 feet – just a foot higher than the last flights apogee. This time it kept going for another 14 feet before heading back down at 231 feet. This flight set a new speed and altitude record for the X-Ray with the A8 motor.
The parachute opened fully, bringing the rocket back at 7 mph. After a 22.7 second flight, it landed in the grass about 200 feet downwind. Estimating that I could get 540 feet with a B6 motor, I had to scrub the next test flight because the winds were too much.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes A8-3 |
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