Two Stage Rocket (oz8477)

About this Plan

Two Stage Rocket. Jetex-powered model missile design.

Quote: "Shown in color on the cover, Jetex-powered missile makes a highly unusual space-age project. Works! Two Stage Rocket, by Paul Del Gatto.

This two-stage missile was born over four years ago, but it was not until early April that a phone call from MAN put this space-age project into stepped-up development.

At the beginning we had to rely heav-ily on notes and sketches to evolve basic proportions. Jetex we knew, could be used in complete safety, so the design should utilize two Jetex engines, the PAA-Loader 150 for stage one and the smaller 50B for stage two. The structural requirements were determined by the limited power at our disposal. It was imperative that the missile be light in weight.

All-up weight, ready for firing, should not exceed 3-1/4 ounces. Since the total weight of the two engines loaded and ready to fire was 1-3/4 ounces, it meant that the combined weight of the two stages could not exceed 1-1/2 ounces! If this seemed an insurmountable task, it proved less of a problem than some of the others that were encountered.

Several test mock-up designs of the configurations in profile form were made in order to evaluate stability problems which might arise later in the prototype. This proved wise from both an aerodynamic and operational point of view.

The profile configurations for both stages were tested independently, at first, to work out individual aerodynamic qualities so that each could be retrieved after a two stage flight with reasonable assurance they would not be smashed.

Stage two proved to be less troublesome than stage one, and the aerodynamic problems were licked with the testing of a second profile configuration. However, with stage one, three different profile configurations were tested before stability was satisfactory after being separated from stage two.

Now the stages were joined permanently to test the aerodynamic qualities of the complete missile and also to test the power transition from stage one to stage two. The latter test was essential to find the best timing for the changeover in two-stage operation..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages.

Corrections?

Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)? That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction