Chris LaPanse (cjl) was kind enough to pass along this sequence of photos taken by his dad, Ray, from the Talon P flight. I’ve never seen this motor in person in anything other than a minimum diameter rocket, so it’s great to have such awesome photo coverage of one of its more “dramatic” flights. Thanks Ray & Chris!

[Show as slideshow]

Several friends e-mailed me links a few months ago to the American Pyro Supply website, where they were having a sale on 200 micron AP for propellant making. Intrigued, I ordered a sample to check out the quality. At $4/lb, I couldn’t afford not to. When it arrived, I noticed that it seemed much finer than the 200 mic I’m used to dealing with from industrial sources. And that led to a bit of poking around with the microscope:

On the left is a small sample of 200 micron AP from ATK; on the right is a small sample of “200 micron” AP from AmPyro. These are representative pictures; as I pushed the slide around under the scope, it became clear that the AmPyro AP is indeed slightly smaller than the virgin industrial stock. How much smaller, I have yet to quantify (and may or may not). I made a few batches of Blue v2 with the AmPyro stuff and fired them at conservative pressures, and it does seem faster than that which I made last year with industrial stock. Other anecdotal reports of near-overpressurizations in well-characterized motors due to the smaller particle size are also making the rounds. Check and adjust accordingly!

Just for Scott:

(thanks to Darren@Loki for the hookup!) Wires can be used to increase the bulk burning rate of a propellant by conducting heat deep into the burning surface. I did a literature review and gave a talk on the historical applications of this technology a while back, so I’ve got no excuse not to try it. Paper and presentation video after the jump.
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Joe, Chris, and Charlie were back again at LDRS this year with the Talon 12, this time on a P motor. (Their novel of a build thread is here on TRF. It’s required reading.) The basic design of the motor is the same one that I worked up for our two stager at USC, and flown again (with different propellant) in the Turbo Encabulator and Del Grande. For effect, we switched back to the purple flame propellant in the Talon, and it looked great under power, as seen in this photo by Ray LaPanse:

Unfortunately, though motor operation was nominal, the rocket shredded just at the end of the burn (as has happened once before with this motor, in another rocket). Full details on the propellant and configuration (and a flight video) are below. Read on »

I’m finally getting around to posting my Red Glare photos. I found a cheap flight, and Todd volunteered to pick me up at the airport, so things all worked out really well, and I had a great time. Special thanks to Darren Wright and family for the awesome hospitality, the MDRA BOD for putting on a great launch, Todd for driving me everywhere, and Ryan/Caity/Cancel/Jeff/Scott for putting up with me! Can’t wait to go back for October. I might even bring a rocket…

Photos after the jump.
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