RearViewMirror.Org

Purple Cow (BSD Diablo)
Keri's first High Power Rocket. A stock BSD Diablo kit, this rocket is kind of like a little brother to the Horizon. The diameter is the same, the nose is the same, the airframe is about a foot shorter, and the fins are smaller.

The Purple Cow was a fun rocket, intended mainly as a way to have a rocket that the kids at the Monroe launch site would enjoy and have fun watching. It turned out to be very popular, and has gained quite a following; Keri is now more or less expected to make "Cow" rockets, and so far she's been doing that.

The Cow was lost on the second of Keri's Level 1 certification attempts at Fire in the Sky 2002 in Touchet, Washington. Although it was later recovered (several months later) it had been hit by a combine in the interval, and is definitely beyond repair - but we did get our motor casing back, at least.

The other piece of good news is that the individuals certifying Keri's level 1 attempt decided that by the standards of the certification rules, the first flight was acceptable, and coupled with the perfect flight profile of the second attempt (not counting the landing four miles from the launch site) Keri had earned her Level 1 certification.

Level 2 will be this year. <grin>

Picture of Keri with the white and metal-flake purple Purple Cow just before her first certification attempt

Keri ready for her first certification attempt on an H180-M motor.

Immediately before launch on the first certification attempt.

Flight Log

	Name	Manufacturer	Status	Date Built
	Purple Cow	BSD Rocketry		December 2001

Flights

Date	Motor	Altitude	Notes
January 2001	Estes F64-4	400 feet	Good flight, very windy
February 2001	Aerotech G80-4	1000 feet	Nice flight, good recovery
March 2001	Aerotech G40-4	1200 feet	Very nice flight
April 2001	Aerotech G80-4	250 feet	"Cruise missile" rod whip; minor damage
May 2001	Aerotech H180-M	1800 feet	Level 1 cert attempt; tangled 'chute, no damage
May 2001	Aerotech H180-M	1800 feet	Level 1 cert attempt; rocket lost

Design & Construction
The Cow was a normal, standard BSD Diablo. Scott Binder, the former owner of BSD and the designer of the Diablo, witnessed the certification flights (and found the remains a few months later) and expressed interest in creating a custom version of the Diablo for the Purple Cow's replacement, but in the end Keri went her own way and build a custom fusion of Diablo and Horizon, creating the Cowsmic Castaway.