#163

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Rocket Information
Vehicle ID: 163
Flights: 60
Model: Airspike
Manufacturer: Aerotech
Recovery: Parachute
Status: Operational

**Rocket Information**
Vehicle ID:	163
Flights:	60
Model:	Airspike
Manufacturer:	Aerotech
Recovery:	Parachute
Status:	Operational

History
A couple of fin fillets added after flight #3.
A couple more fin fillets added after flight #5.
One fin re-attached after flight #6.
The lower section was replaced with that of a new Airspike kit after flight #39.

**History**
A couple of fin fillets added after flight #3.
A couple more fin fillets added after flight #5.
One fin re-attached after flight #6.
The lower section was replaced with that of a new Airspike kit after flight #39.

Flight Log
Flight Date Motor Launch Site Comments
1 2001/11/11 G75-SJ Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-I RLB Managed to see the entire descent once the parachute came out. Estimated altitude: 3600 ft.
2 2002/04/06 H128-MW SLRA, Elsberry, MO Payload: Perfectflite 9200, Mk-I RLB. The altimeter powered up but apparently a cell (or cells) were bad and it soon failed. A tracking transmitter was also on board riding in the nose cone.
3 2002/04/06 G64-10W SLRA, Elsberry, MO Payload: Mk-I RLB
4 2002/08/31 G54-MW Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB
5 2002/08/31 G35-7W Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB
6 2002/09/15 F20-7W Teeniemunde, Arma, KS One fin snapped off at landing.
7 2002/10/13 F25-9W Teeniemunde, Arma, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB
8 2002/10/13 F23-7FJ Teeniemunde, Arma, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB
9 2002/10/26 F50-9T Zeilmann Field, Reading, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB
10 2002/10/26 F25-9W Zeilmann Field, Reading, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB The nose cone (with the transmitter in it) separated from the rest of the rocket. I saw the entire flight of the rocket but didn't notice that the nose cone was missing until the rocket was nearly down. The transmitter was still operating and I was able to find it and the nose cone using the radio.
11 2002/11/09 F40-10W Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB The delay was a bit long for this rocket. Landed close to me.
12 2002/11/09 F37-SW Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB
13 2002/11/09 G40-10W Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB Both Nick and I lost sight of it so I had to use the tracking transmitter to locate it. I started walking east, where I was getting the strongest reading. As I re-scanned I noticed that it seemed to be to the north east, and seemed to be vertically polarized. I kept walking towards the signal and it kept getting stronger. Then, off in the distance near the road I noticed some people walking around, and one of them appeared to be holding a rocket that looked a lot like this one. As I walked toward them I kept checking the signal and sure enough, it was straight ahead. It turns out they found a couple of rockets while trying to locate their own and planned to bring them back to the RSO table.
14 2002/11/09 F50-9T Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB The fin can landed on the payload bay and ended up with a fin stuck right through the bay. Fortunately the transmitter was located in the nose cone and suffered no damage.
15 2003/04/12 H128-MW Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB, Perfectflite 9200 The transmitter stopped working at ignition (loose battery?) but started working again once it landed. Nick spotted it in the field and managed to lead me right to it. The altimeter reported 3800 ft.
16 2003/04/12 G33-7J Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB.
17 2003/04/26 F40-10W Zeilmann Field, Reading, KS Payload: Perfectflite Alt9200. Reported apogee: 1480 ft.
18 2003/05/10 F20-7W Gridley, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB
19 2003/05/18 D13-4W Teeniemunde, Arma, KS

20 2003/05/24 D15-4T Shawnee Mission Park, west site

21 2003/05/26 D15-4T Shawnee Mission Park, west site Delay seemed a bit long.
22 2003/06/08 F24-7W Teeniemunde, Arma, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB.
23 2003/06/08 F24-7W Teeniemunde, Arma, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB. Landed in the field to the west. Recovered with help from Larry Z.
24 2003/06/08 F24-7W Teeniemunde, Arma, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB.
25 2003/06/14 F24-7W Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE Payload: Mk-II RLB.
26 2003/06/14 F21-8W Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE Payload: Mk-II RLB.
27 2003/06/15 F21-8W Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE Payload: Mk-II RLB.
28 2003/07/19 H128-MW Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB. Part of a 39-way drag race. Video of this aired on a Discovery Channel show.
29 2003/09/13 E28-7T Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE Payload: Mk-II RLB.
30 2003/09/13 F32-10W Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE Payload: Mk-II RLB.
31 2003/10/04 F52-8T Zeilmann Field, Reading, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB.
32 2003/10/12 F22-7J Teeniemunde, Arma, KS

33 2003/11/15 E23-5T Gridley, KS

34 2003/11/15 E28-7T Gridley, KS

35 2003/11/15 E23-5T Gridley, KS

36 2004/05/16 E18-7W Teeniemunde, Arma, KS

37 2004/05/16 E28-7T Teeniemunde, Arma, KS

38 2004/08/14 D15-4T Shawnee Mission Park, west site

39 2004/08/14 E16-7W Shawnee Mission Park, west site CATO. Fin can destroyed.
40 2009/06/11 F20-7W Teeniemunde, Arma, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB.
41 2009/08/09 F20-7W Teeniemunde, Arma, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB Separation. Lost one small loop of Kevlar. Tracked the NC with the tracking transmitter.
42 2009/09/05 F20-7W Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB
43 2009/09/05 G77-MR Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB Motor retention failed so I flew it with just tape even though I knew better. Of course the motor kicked but it was turned into lost-n-found the following day.
44 2010/06/19 H97-MJ Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE Payload: Mk-II RLB, Missileworks RRC2 altimeter Altimeter reported 3363 feet. Took a while to find this even with the tracking beacon. Had to go through a corn field, a bean field, cross a stream with steep banks, and then finally found it in a wheat field. Lots of signal reflections due to terrain and metal materials in the area. Also, the nose was stuck into the ground and due to the way the tracker's antenna was position this gave it a vertical polarity. Once I got close enough that I was no longer using the directional antenna I actually heard the audible beep from the altimeter before I saw the rocket. The landing site was 3/4 mile from where I parked at the launch site. Altimeter controlled deployment with motor backup.
45 2010/06/19 G79-MW Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE Payload: Mk-II RLB, Missileworks RRC2 altimeter Altimeter reported 2088 feet, 810 ft/sec maximum velocity, apogee in 11 seconds. Altimeter controlled deployment with motor backup. This time it landed much closer in some corn.
46 2010/09/04 G77-MR Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB, Altimeter One Altimeter reported 2211 ft. First flight of the day at A.I.R.Fest and my first flight of the Altimeter One.
47 2010/11/13 H97-MJ Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB Missileworks RRC2 altimeter configured for apogee deployment, reported 3333 feet. Landed south of the range in the short grass.
48 2010/11/13 H97-MJ Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB Missileworks RRC2 altimeter configured for apogee deployment, reported 3690 feet. Landed east of the range.
49 2011/06/19 G75-MJ Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE Payload: Missleworks RRC2-mini, Mk-II RLB Shot off to the south due to rod whip. Landed 0.67 mile from the truck. Don P. gave me a ride to help in recovery. Landed in corn.
50 2011/06/19 F35-8W Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE Payload: Missleworks RRC2-mini, Mk-II RLB The altimeter failed to report altitude. Landed in corn.
51 2011/06/19 F35-8W Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE Payload: Missleworks RRC2-mini, Mk-II RLB The altimeter failed to report altitude. Landed in corn.
52 2011/07/09 H97-MJ Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB, Missleworks RRC2-mini The altimeter reported 3201 ft, 1060 ft/sec max velocity, and 15 seconds to apogee. Landed one row into the milo field to the north.
53 2011/09/02 H97-MJ Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-II RLB, Missileworks RRC2-mini altimeter configured for apogee deployment with motor backup. The altimeter reported 3334 ft, 810 ft/s, and 14 seconds to apogee. Landed in the milo field to the northeast.
54 2011/10/22 F20-7W Teeniemunde, Arma, KS Mk-II RLB
55 2012/09/01 G75-MJ Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Mk-III RLB
56 2013/07/13 H97-MJ Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-III RLB, Missileworks RRC2-mini altimeter for data only. The rocket shot off with the wind rather than weathervaning into the wind, resulting in a lower than expected altitude and a very long walk in the heat of Sweaty Balls V. The altimeter reported 2272 ft when the rocket was recovered in the plowed field to the north. Don P. met me as I made my way back to the road and gave me a ride back to the range.
57 2015/09/05 G38-7FJ Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-III RLB Chuffed a bit.
58 2015/09/06 F39-6T Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-III RLB
59 2015/09/07 F39-6T Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-III RLB
60 2016/09/04 H97-MJ Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS Payload: Mk-III RLB Landed 0.88 miles NNE of the launch pad in a field of healthy milo. I saw most of the flight before it disappeared in the haze. I would not have found it without the tracker. On the way back to the field two guys gave me a ride back in their van which was helpful since I was due to report for range duty.

**Flight Log**
Flight	Date	Motor	Launch Site	Comments
1	2001/11/11	G75-SJ	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-I RLB Managed to see the entire descent once the parachute came out. Estimated altitude: 3600 ft.
2	2002/04/06	H128-MW	SLRA, Elsberry, MO	Payload: Perfectflite 9200, Mk-I RLB. The altimeter powered up but apparently a cell (or cells) were bad and it soon failed. A tracking transmitter was also on board riding in the nose cone.
3	2002/04/06	G64-10W	SLRA, Elsberry, MO	Payload: Mk-I RLB
4	2002/08/31	G54-MW	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB
5	2002/08/31	G35-7W	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB
6	2002/09/15	F20-7W	Teeniemunde, Arma, KS	One fin snapped off at landing.
7	2002/10/13	F25-9W	Teeniemunde, Arma, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB
8	2002/10/13	F23-7FJ	Teeniemunde, Arma, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB
9	2002/10/26	F50-9T	Zeilmann Field, Reading, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB
10	2002/10/26	F25-9W	Zeilmann Field, Reading, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB The nose cone (with the transmitter in it) separated from the rest of the rocket. I saw the entire flight of the rocket but didn't notice that the nose cone was missing until the rocket was nearly down. The transmitter was still operating and I was able to find it and the nose cone using the radio.
11	2002/11/09	F40-10W	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB The delay was a bit long for this rocket. Landed close to me.
12	2002/11/09	F37-SW	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB
13	2002/11/09	G40-10W	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB Both Nick and I lost sight of it so I had to use the tracking transmitter to locate it. I started walking east, where I was getting the strongest reading. As I re-scanned I noticed that it seemed to be to the north east, and seemed to be vertically polarized. I kept walking towards the signal and it kept getting stronger. Then, off in the distance near the road I noticed some people walking around, and one of them appeared to be holding a rocket that looked a lot like this one. As I walked toward them I kept checking the signal and sure enough, it was straight ahead. It turns out they found a couple of rockets while trying to locate their own and planned to bring them back to the RSO table.
14	2002/11/09	F50-9T	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB The fin can landed on the payload bay and ended up with a fin stuck right through the bay. Fortunately the transmitter was located in the nose cone and suffered no damage.
15	2003/04/12	H128-MW	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB, Perfectflite 9200 The transmitter stopped working at ignition (loose battery?) but started working again once it landed. Nick spotted it in the field and managed to lead me right to it. The altimeter reported 3800 ft.
16	2003/04/12	G33-7J	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB.
17	2003/04/26	F40-10W	Zeilmann Field, Reading, KS	Payload: Perfectflite Alt9200. Reported apogee: 1480 ft.
18	2003/05/10	F20-7W	Gridley, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB
19	2003/05/18	D13-4W	Teeniemunde, Arma, KS
20	2003/05/24	D15-4T	Shawnee Mission Park, west site
21	2003/05/26	D15-4T	Shawnee Mission Park, west site	Delay seemed a bit long.
22	2003/06/08	F24-7W	Teeniemunde, Arma, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB.
23	2003/06/08	F24-7W	Teeniemunde, Arma, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB. Landed in the field to the west. Recovered with help from Larry Z.
24	2003/06/08	F24-7W	Teeniemunde, Arma, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB.
25	2003/06/14	F24-7W	Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE	Payload: Mk-II RLB.
26	2003/06/14	F21-8W	Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE	Payload: Mk-II RLB.
27	2003/06/15	F21-8W	Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE	Payload: Mk-II RLB.
28	2003/07/19	H128-MW	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB. Part of a 39-way drag race. Video of this aired on a Discovery Channel show.
29	2003/09/13	E28-7T	Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE	Payload: Mk-II RLB.
30	2003/09/13	F32-10W	Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE	Payload: Mk-II RLB.
31	2003/10/04	F52-8T	Zeilmann Field, Reading, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB.
32	2003/10/12	F22-7J	Teeniemunde, Arma, KS
33	2003/11/15	E23-5T	Gridley, KS
34	2003/11/15	E28-7T	Gridley, KS
35	2003/11/15	E23-5T	Gridley, KS
36	2004/05/16	E18-7W	Teeniemunde, Arma, KS
37	2004/05/16	E28-7T	Teeniemunde, Arma, KS
38	2004/08/14	D15-4T	Shawnee Mission Park, west site
39	2004/08/14	E16-7W	Shawnee Mission Park, west site	CATO. Fin can destroyed.
40	2009/06/11	F20-7W	Teeniemunde, Arma, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB.
41	2009/08/09	F20-7W	Teeniemunde, Arma, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB Separation. Lost one small loop of Kevlar. Tracked the NC with the tracking transmitter.
42	2009/09/05	F20-7W	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB
43	2009/09/05	G77-MR	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB Motor retention failed so I flew it with just tape even though I knew better. Of course the motor kicked but it was turned into lost-n-found the following day.
44	2010/06/19	H97-MJ	Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE	Payload: Mk-II RLB, Missileworks RRC2 altimeter Altimeter reported 3363 feet. Took a while to find this even with the tracking beacon. Had to go through a corn field, a bean field, cross a stream with steep banks, and then finally found it in a wheat field. Lots of signal reflections due to terrain and metal materials in the area. Also, the nose was stuck into the ground and due to the way the tracker's antenna was position this gave it a vertical polarity. Once I got close enough that I was no longer using the directional antenna I actually heard the audible beep from the altimeter before I saw the rocket. The landing site was 3/4 mile from where I parked at the launch site. Altimeter controlled deployment with motor backup.
45	2010/06/19	G79-MW	Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE	Payload: Mk-II RLB, Missileworks RRC2 altimeter Altimeter reported 2088 feet, 810 ft/sec maximum velocity, apogee in 11 seconds. Altimeter controlled deployment with motor backup. This time it landed much closer in some corn.
46	2010/09/04	G77-MR	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB, Altimeter One Altimeter reported 2211 ft. First flight of the day at A.I.R.Fest and my first flight of the Altimeter One.
47	2010/11/13	H97-MJ	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB Missileworks RRC2 altimeter configured for apogee deployment, reported 3333 feet. Landed south of the range in the short grass.
48	2010/11/13	H97-MJ	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB Missileworks RRC2 altimeter configured for apogee deployment, reported 3690 feet. Landed east of the range.
49	2011/06/19	G75-MJ	Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE	Payload: Missleworks RRC2-mini, Mk-II RLB Shot off to the south due to rod whip. Landed 0.67 mile from the truck. Don P. gave me a ride to help in recovery. Landed in corn.
50	2011/06/19	F35-8W	Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE	Payload: Missleworks RRC2-mini, Mk-II RLB The altimeter failed to report altitude. Landed in corn.
51	2011/06/19	F35-8W	Tripoli Nebraska, Pickrell, NE	Payload: Missleworks RRC2-mini, Mk-II RLB The altimeter failed to report altitude. Landed in corn.
52	2011/07/09	H97-MJ	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB, Missleworks RRC2-mini The altimeter reported 3201 ft, 1060 ft/sec max velocity, and 15 seconds to apogee. Landed one row into the milo field to the north.
53	2011/09/02	H97-MJ	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-II RLB, Missileworks RRC2-mini altimeter configured for apogee deployment with motor backup. The altimeter reported 3334 ft, 810 ft/s, and 14 seconds to apogee. Landed in the milo field to the northeast.
54	2011/10/22	F20-7W	Teeniemunde, Arma, KS	Mk-II RLB
55	2012/09/01	G75-MJ	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Mk-III RLB
56	2013/07/13	H97-MJ	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-III RLB, Missileworks RRC2-mini altimeter for data only. The rocket shot off with the wind rather than weathervaning into the wind, resulting in a lower than expected altitude and a very long walk in the heat of Sweaty Balls V. The altimeter reported 2272 ft when the rocket was recovered in the plowed field to the north. Don P. met me as I made my way back to the road and gave me a ride back to the range.
57	2015/09/05	G38-7FJ	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-III RLB Chuffed a bit.
58	2015/09/06	F39-6T	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-III RLB
59	2015/09/07	F39-6T	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-III RLB
60	2016/09/04	H97-MJ	Kloudbusters, Argonia, KS	Payload: Mk-III RLB Landed 0.88 miles NNE of the launch pad in a field of healthy milo. I saw most of the flight before it disappeared in the haze. I would not have found it without the tracker. On the way back to the field two guys gave me a ride back in their van which was helpful since I was due to report for range duty.

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Last updated: October 16, 2016