*Update. Please read. I’ve heard from many of you experienced Rocketeers who have said 2 igniters in 1 motor is NEVER recommended! I argued that same point with Bud for a month, but he insisted on the backup. He is the Rocket man, so who am I to call judgment, so I conceded! You Rocketeers also told me that a second igniter could interfere with the first one and visa versa. It’s called Thermal Dynamic Interference and is often counter productive, as two igniters in the same hole could supply less temperature increase over a longer time span because the heat created by the combustible material located in the area of contact between the two. Thus those igniters could be slowed by the second igniter (it might have a significant R factor). Or conversely, the second igniter might act as a heat sink and spread the heat, also lowering the peak temperature.
Also I’m told that with 2 igniters fighting to get to the top of the motor equally, there also was no guarantee either’s tip would touch the combustible materiel.
Part 1 is of a young Bud back in the 80’s with his inventions.
Part 2 is his rocket of today, the X-14, the Launch, the Main Motor Failure, and Post crash analysis.
Bud was not there, but was quick to throw blame my way for the results.
I feel bad for Bud because he put all those hours and money in, but calling it my human error within hours was totally unfair and unwarranted. I put a lot of work into this too, certainly not wanting this kind of ending either! I never wanted the backup, since I made a video proving my setup would have worked fine without the interference of the second, bulky quest igniter.
Final Analysis: Thermal dynamic Interference with the igniters caused the motor not to light.
*Note. We always have to be prepared with model rocketry for the unexpected, including Jet Assisted Take-Off’s. Don’t do this stuff at home, or anybody else’s. Go to a safe location, just like you would with any model rocket.
Thanks for watching, be safe, and happy flying!
Dave Herbert
AMA L-8221
CD/LM/Scientific Div
Drone news, Helis, planes, and more at:
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