So you're telling us that 8 pounds of Lava Rock would be OK?
From: R Dierking [mailto:applerocketry@xxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2017 3:29 PM
To: richsilv@xxxxxxxxxxx; roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [roc-chat] Re: Prohibiting Metal for Nose Weight
Funny. Good story too. But, not discussing bowling balls. Yes, difference
between getting hit with 8 lb bowling ball vs. 8 lb rocket nose; not much!!!
But, there is a significant difference between the potential impact damage
of an 8 lb. solid nose, pieces of metal, or 8 lbs. of dirt/sand/water.
Also, we are discussing using metal (and in particular things that are
intended to be used for projectiles like bb's and lead shot), vs.
alternative types of masses.
Richard
From: richsilv@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2017 3:08 PM
To: roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [roc-chat] Re: Prohibiting Metal for Nose Weight
People get strange things in their heads, don't they.
I recall being very freaked out by the whole notion of a Bowling Ball
competition. I'm like thinking WTF I think I'll go into town while they are
holding this competition.
Then I got to thinking about what's in some of my rockets. And chatting with
others with larger projects. Seem to recall that the Gates Porthos had more
than 35 pounds of Nose Weight.
It took me a while to get over that.
And the irony of the situation was just too funny.. My wife and I used to
bowl in what's called a Vegas League. Without going into a lot of details
about what that is. And we always flew to Vegas. Just consider that between
my wife and I we were bringing 3 or four bowling balls onto the Aircraft
(No, I was not going to let the Gorillas on the tarmac throw around my
pristine bowling balls.). At the Safety check (this was well before 9-11)
someone got freaked "What, you cant take those on the Plane!", "Why?" I
asked and the inspector couldn't come up with much of an answer, but their
antics did finally get a manager over. The manager's comment was (and I
quote) "What do you think they are going to do, roll the ball up the isle?"
To which there was a great laugh.
Then, when we get on the plane, I'm lifting these into the Overheads. and
people are freaking out (even though they were going be (largely) over my
head too.), a bowling ball up there? "What, you can put 70 pounds of Purses,
Laptops, Briefcases. But you are worried about < 4o pounds of Urethane? But
we complied and kept them on the deck. In those days, they actually fit
under the "seat in front".
Mass is mass, don't much matter what it is (as long as you have your
tetanus!) if its coming in ballistic, you'd better not be standing
underneath.
From: roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of David Smith
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2017 2:04 PM
To: roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [roc-chat] Re: Prohibiting Metal for Nose Weight
Richard,
One of the main reasons for avoiding metal structural partd is so the rocket
is not conductive in the event of contact with electrical lines.
As for the hazzards of using BBs or hardware for ballast, I don't see where
an alternative is better. Mass is mass, metallic, ceramic, or otherwise.
Do you have any examples where metal ballast caused damage or injuries that
woukd not have bee. the case with non-metal ballast of the same weight?
David Smith
Nar 78668, TRA 15803
Amateur Extra: W6DPS
On Jan 30, 2017 1:50 PM, "R Dierking" <applerocketry@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Next time the NAR and TRA safety rules are revised, there should be
something about what kind of nose weight should be used or how about
shouldn't be used.
Don't the codes already say something about minimizing the use of metal?
Why add it? There's no good reason why metal has to be used; there are
other things that would work fine.
And, just to get ahead of the one response that's going to ask if a rocket
with other types of weight could hurt someone just as bad. Yes, I realize
that. But, again, if you think through the various failure scenarios, metal
(bolts, lead shot, bb's, what ever.) is a poor choice for nose weight.
What other things could be used? Things that would be even better for both
safety and performance.
Richard Dierking
