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The Maiden Flight of the Galactic Zephyr
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Commander Kip Quasar's Galactic Zephyr and the Voyage to the Planet of Intoxicated Sorority Girls
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Below are photos of my successful Level 3 certification flight on May 10, 2003 (which was also my 44th birthday). Everything about the flight went exactly as planned - nice boost, smooth parachute deployments, soft landing, no damage.
I wasn't mentally prepared for the level of support and encouragment I received from those who witnessed the flight. There were a number of friends and coworkers who made a special trip out into the Arizona desert and burned up a Saturday morning just to watch this flight. I have to extend a special thanks to everyone who made the event so memorable for me.
I also want to thank Paul Holmes for overseeing my Level 3 certification, Andy Woerner for his oversight up to the point where Paul took over, and Marc Casanova for being an official witness. I also need to thank Billy Dahlberg, Cory McCormick, and Chris Carlisle for their help on launch day and all the days leading up to that point. I couldn't have done it without you!
Click [HERE!] to view video of this AWESOME flight!
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Assembling the forward and aft sections of the Zephyr. Other than installing the shear pins and filling the Nitrous tank, everything is loaded and prepped.
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Getting ready to install the Zephyr onto the pad.
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Standing the rocket upright
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Paul Holmes scratches his head as he tries to figure out why he couldn't get a good seal when he insterted the fill stem into the throat of the tank. Billy Dahlberg offers his expert advice, free of charge.
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Billy Dahlberg, left, Cory McCormick, right, and me, center.
Incidentally, Billy moonlights as a professional photographer. I'm postive he thinks the horns-behind-the-head thing is just as hilarious when he's behind the camera! Be sure you use this joke a lot if you ever hire him to take your picture.
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Milliseconds after liftoff.
This photo shows what looks like rust on the bottom half of the rocket. I don't know why it turned out this way, except that perhaps the bright illumination from the flame lit up the ground enough that the reflection of the desert floor is reflected in the silver paint.
All these flight photos were taken by Billy Dahlberg. Check out his business's web site at http://www.naturallylit.com
Click on photo for larger image (approximately 100K)
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The Zephyr clears the mountain skyline in the background.
Click on photo for larger image (approximately 100K)
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The next photo in the flight sequence.
Click on photo for larger image (approximately 100K)
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Click on photo for larger image (approximately 100K)
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Click on photo for larger image (approximately 100K)
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Streaking skyward.
Click on photo for larger image (approximately 100K)
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Click on photo for larger image (approximately 100K)
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Click on photo for larger image (approximately 100K)
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The Zephyr is over a quarter-mile in altitude when this photo was taken. The resolution on Billy's 6.6 megapixel digital camera is unbelievable. This image is displayed at 100% (no reduction), with a whole lot of sky cropped off.
Click on photo for larger image (approximately 100K)
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This might be the most amazing photo of the entire sequence. The Hypertek M1010 is right at the end of its 9.9 second burn. Even at an altitude approaching 3000 feet, the fins are still visible in this photo (this is not enlarged).
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After reaching an altitude of 3000 feet (2,947 feet on the Missile Works altimeter, 3,112 feet on the G-Wiz LC Deluxe) the 12-foot drogue deploys right on schedule. The main parachute was set to deploy at 800 feet.
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Left, the forward and aft airframe float down under the fully deployed drogue and main parachutes. Yes, I made both of them. No, I won't make one for you. The drogue measures 12 feet across the canopy, and the main measures 24 feet.
The two parachutes on the nose are a pair of matching Rocketman R7's.
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INDEX
- Introduction (narrative)
- Flights
- Construction Package
- Recovery Package
- Stability Evaluation
- Flight Performance Parameters
- Procedural Checklists (MS word document)
- Pre-Launch Checklist
- Motor Preparation and Installation
- Recovery Preparation
- Parachute and Harness Preparation
- Control Devices Preparation
- Pyrotechnics Preparation
- Launch Checklist
- Pad Procedures
- Launch Sequence
- Misfire Procedures
- Recovery Checklist
- Normal Recovery Procedures
- Flight Failure Procedures
- Calculations and Resource Files
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PHOTO BY BILLY DAHLBERG
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