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BSD Horizon
This rocket is one of my favorites, and is the rocket I used to certify both Level 1 and Level 2. It's a single stage rocket, weighing just over 3.3 lbs. and 51 inches in length; this is the only rocket in my fleet that I actually painted according to the maufacturer's specifications. <G>
Here are a few pictures of the Horizon; click on the image to see the full-size version.
The Horizon, standing on its tail at BMR's launch site in Dayton, Washington.
Prepped and ready for my Level 2 certification flight on an Aerotech J-420R motor.
Launch on a 3-Grain Cesaroni I-205 motor.
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Flight Log
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Name
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Manufacturer
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Status
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Date Built
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Horizon
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BSD Rocketry
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October, 2001
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Flights
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Date
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Motor
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Altitude
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Notes
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December 2001 | Aerotech H180-M | 1200 feet | Level 1 certification flight
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February 2002 | Aerotech H210R-M | 1400 feet | Pretty flight, Redline motor
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March 2002 | Aerotech H180-M | 1200 feet | Good flight, ejection just after apogee
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May 2002 | Kosdon I200 | 1800 feet | Skidmark motor, very pretty - EX launch
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May 2002 | Aerotech J420R-* | 4100 feet | Level 2 cert, Mach .9, dual-deployment
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July 2002 | Aerotech H210R-M | 1400 feet | Lost motor tube on ejection, good flight
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September 2002 | Cesaroni I205-10 | 1800 feet | First Pro38 motor, very nice flight, drag race
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October 2002 | Cesaroni I205-10 | 1700 feet | Carried stuffed spider, separation on ejection
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October 2002 | Cesaroni H153-10 | 1200 feet | Very pretty flight
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Design & Construction
The horizon is a stock-standard BSD Horizon, widely favored by many for a Level 1 certification rocket. The kit is pretty simple, and anyone who's built a mid-level or high-powered rocket should be able to assemble this one easily. The only added difficulty over other rocket kits is that BSD kits come without pre-slotted airframes; you have to cut the fin slots yourself. A sharp hobbie knife works well, however, and the airfram is pre-marked for cutting.
If I were building the kit today, I would add a third centering ring in the middle of the motor mount. Although the standard two-ring configuration works, there's nothing to lock the fins in place - the top ring is well above the top level of the fins. The rocket is also long enough that small motors come close to requiring nose weight for stable flight. Since the mainstay of this rocket is H180-* motors and higher, that's not much of a problem, but it would be nice to be able to safely launch this rocket on G motors for small field launches.
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CPAN
