From: matulka@convex.com (Jerry Matulka)
Subject: Re: Comanche-3 (will I ever see it again?)
Keywords: multistage
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 22:11:12 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

In article <1992Apr15.142452.18369@bnr.ca>, mdoug@bnr.ca (Doug MacLean) writes:
> After reading the launch instructions for the Comanche-3...I'm starting to think
> that if I ever launched this thing, fully loaded, with a D12-0, C6-0, C6-7 config.,  
> I'll never see it again (over 2600 feet!?). They recommend 1 tracker per booster stage, that's 2 people, and 2 trackers for the final stage, that's 2 more people; not to mention the underlined recommendation of 'only on CALM DAYS' 
> Does anyone have experience with this rocket, or similar multi-stagers? 

Funny you should ask this.  Last weekend I launched a Comanche-3.  I had
built it about a couple of years ago, but hadn't gotten around to flying any
rockets until last Sunday.  I was visiting some people out in West Texas, so
there was plenty of room to attempt such a launch.  The weather however was
not terribly cooperative.  Saturday was the targeted launch date.  The wind
was fairly strong all day though, so I decided to wait until Sunday morning
hoping that the wind would subside over night.  Being West Texas though, the
wind of course did not subside.  To make matters worse clouds had moved in.
Well since I had promised my fiancee's 9 year old son that we would fly some
rockets when we were out in the country, I decided to proceed any way and
just take my chances at recovery if necessary.  I really didn't high hopes
of recovering the Comanche anyway as two stage rockets are hard enough to
track.  We first launched a small 10 inch rocket with an A8-3 engine as a
sounding rocket, to get a feel for just how bad the winds were.  By
adjusting the launch angle (and guessing just right) the rocket landed by
streamer 20 feet from the launcher.  Not bad.  As I said this was out in
the country on a farm.  There were some cattle grazing on a field of wheat
about a quarter of a mile away.  Not being very advanced creatures they
didn't want any part of more rocket launches so they headed to the other
end of the field about 3/4 of a mile away.   We then launched a slightly
larger rocket again with an A8-3.  No problem, again it landed within the
targeted recovery area.  Onward to some larger D engine rockets.  The first
was a "Der V3" on a D12-3.  Recovery again was simple enough with the proper
launch angle.  Time for another D launch.  This one may have been a Black
Brandt (not sure on the model).  Wouldn't you know it, the wind decided to
temporarily subside.  Instead of landing in the recovery area, it landed
about an eight of a mile down range in the top of a Mesquite tree. 
Fortunately Mesquite trees in this area were only about fifteen feet tall,
so it was a simple matter of climbing the tree for a successful recovery.
Before attempting the Commanche the rockets were all reloaded and another
round of launches was conducted.  This time the small ten inch streamer
recovery rocket was loaded with a C6-7, mainly because I didn't have any
more A engines left.  Another great flight.  One complication this time,
the cloud deck was reached and the rocket dissappeared.  Time passed.
After just about having given up on seeing this rocket again, I spotted it
about 500 feet off of the ground just outside of the intended recovery
zone.  It's different to be scanning around and spot a rocket on its way
down, that you would have swore had landed ages ago.  Ok the second round
of launches was now complete.  Eight launches, Eight successful recoverys.
I could have packed it in at that point, but everyone was looking forward
to seeing a multi stage rocket, including myself, so why not, it may be
another two years before I get to fly again.  I hadn't taken extreme care
in painting this bird, so it wasn't difficult to go into this launch
accepting it as a write off.  Adjust the launcher for a little more down
range as the wind was back up after the one launch interlude.  Ignition.
Multi stage rockets are a real kick!  I love the sound of the engine
transistions during staging.  The first stage worked great.  The stage
was easily visible coming back down.  The second stage transition to
third stage was not visible however, but you could hear it.  Out of sight,
the ejection charge was heard. Not visible however.  While the rest of
the recovery team scanned the sky, I went and retrieved the first stage.
No sign of the second stage.  Much time had passed.  After just about
giving up.  The upper stage was spotted about 20 feet off the ground about
two thousand feet away.  Wow, this could be really lucky.  Unfortunately
it landed in the wheat field that the cows were grazing on.  The wheat was
about a foot tall.  Without a parachute to keep it on top of the wheat,
the streamers let it sink out of sight.  After a 20 minute search, the
search was called off, as it was time to head back on the four hour drive
to Dallas.  Stupid to launch a commanche under those condtions, sure if
you expect to recover it.  To me it was well worth it though to see the
excitement in the other people at having seen a multi stage launch.  I'll
get another commanche, and next time will have more patience, no big deal.
Two years in between launches is just too long.

Happy flying,

_____________________________________________________________________________
|Jerry Matulka       Phone: (214)497-4305         Email: matulka@convex.COM |
|3000 Waterview Parkway, P.O. Box 833851, Richardson, Texas USA 75083-3851  |
|___________________________________________________________________________|