Chandley Technologies - Airborne Model Rocket Launcher

Airborne Model Rocket Launcher

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Project Write-Up

Completed Pictures

Completed Videos

Because who wouldnt want to straffe their backyard with a barrage of missiles?

We at Chandley Tech take pride in integrating various components together to make cool, but completely useless machines. This was one such endeavor. Since the Styrofoam Rocket Plane research is nearing completion, we decided to apply some of our findings to another project: mounting a rocket launcher onto a radio controlled airplane. The uses for this project run the gamut from a totally impractical civil defense to a sure way to get arrested.

This project is still bery much in development. Two versions have been constructed, both with varying degrees of success. We will discuss the two very different approaches to each aircraft, the benefits, and drawbacks of each.

Project Write-Up
The Aircraft Decision A lot of this part of the project has been based around what was available to us. Model aircraft are, unfortunately, pretty expensive, and thus we used an aircraft that was around. Ideally, we would select an aircraft specifically for this project... Maybe once we have some disposable income. The aircraft selected for the first version was a 'Park Zone P-51 Mustang'. This turned out to be a fantastic choice due to the excess power, and the fact that it is an electric airplane, providing enough electrical power to suit our needs. The aircraft selected for the second one was the Parkzone Flyer. This aircraft, once again, was chosen mainly because we already had one at our disposal. It was a grand choice though because it was designed to perform 3D aerobatics... and thus had a lot of extra motor power to work with. The key of our design was that we needed to make the firing mechanism and launcher as lightweight as possible. When extra weight is added to the airplane we had to ensure that the airplane could handle it, not only from an engine standpoint but also from a wing standpoint. Too much weight and the wing stalls. More weight also means more drag, so the engine power is key. Plus, making everything light er means one thing: bigger missiles!

The Launcher For the first version, we decided to mount a PVC launch tube onto the bottom of the aircraft, primarily for simplicity and readily available materials. This method suffered from a lot of problems. First and foremost, it was not upgradeable at all... it was simply a tube attached to the bottom of the airplane. The rig was also specific to only the Parkzone P-51, and thus would not work well with anyone else's airplane should they try to follow our ideas. Finally, it could only support a rocket that was specifically designed for the launcher. This made the rocket heavier, and therefore the entire system heavier. This new and improved version would be of a completely new design. While working on Handley's Jacob's Ladder, we discovered the wonder that is the 'Mechanical Grounding Lug'. This is a part that can be anchored to a surface and will tightly secure a wire inside of it. This was the basis for the launcher. A wing is designed to be strongest roughly one quarter of its length (from leading edge to trailing edge) from the front. This is where the center of gravity of the rocket had to hang, so this was a solid limitation of the launcher. We decided to use two of these lugs, one in the front of the wing and one just past a quarter of the way back from the front of the wing. After purchasing the necessary part, we began drilling holes into the end of the wing, making sure not to destroy any of the structure. We forced the two bolts through the wing and attached the lugs securely onto them. So far so good. The final step was to take some wire and bend it into a U shape and clamp it down in the lugs. The final step is to hack off the excess bolt off the top of the wing. See the picture at right for more details.

The Rocket The first rocket was designed in order to accomodate the PVC launch tube. It was designed finless based off of the Estes Viking Model Rocket by putting a lot of weight at the nosecone of the rocket. This made the rocket very heavy Now that we weren't restrained by a plastic tube for a launcher, it was time to choose one badass rocket to complete the system. As impressive as it would have looked to have mounted a five foot long behemoth to the bottom of the small craft, I have my doubts that it would have flown... We decided to go with the "High Flier" for two reasons. It was pretty cheap cheap, but most importantly, it looked like a friggin missile. The only modification that we made to the rocket was the addition of another straw to the front of the rocket, as well as wrapping both straws with tape. The straws are usually used to guide the rocket up the rail, and therefore they dont have to withstand a lot of forces. In this cae, they were holding the full weight of the rocket up, plus whatever 'G" forces are made when the airplane is turning. Simply glueing them would not have been enough.

Electronic Firing This is the part which doomed the second aircraft. We have, thus far, tried incorporating a second receiver/transmitter pair into the aircraft to independently control the rocket. This had worked in tests on the ground, but as soon as the aircraft is up, she fails. We believe this is caused by interference between the two receivers... SO! The next version will use a transmitter/receiver that has enough channels to accomodate an arm relay and a firing relay. We may use a microcontroller to take care of the firing systems, but we are not sure yet. This is the part of the project which requires development. All other parts have been test flown and test launched (ground tests) successfully.

Pictures
A ground test of the launch tube.	Version two in all its glory. Note the missiles on the wingtips. Everything worked... except the airplane itself. Interference doomed her.

Completed Videos

Video One - Version One Testing

Two tests of the rocket, followed by a static ground test of the system.

Video Two - Version Two Testing

Test flights of the second version. Interference caused varying... crashes. A static test launch of the rockets as well.

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