The Koliba Komet

This was my first introductory to large rockets. With help of the Austin Area Rocketry Group President at the time, Jeff Short, and David Bachelder of Quickburst, I was able to gather all of the pieces to build this rocket. There were no "plans" or kit instructions to follow but was more of a design in my head to go off of.

During the beginning stages of this obsession, I also learned about joining NAR and certification procedures. There are 3 levels of certification that are required to use specific motor classes. You cannot just go buy these motors from a local hobby store. These motors are regulated by the ATF and are very dangerous to use if you don't pay attention to what you are doing. SAFETY is the key in this hobby but can be rewarding at the same time. So with help, again from Jeff, I was able to launch the Koliba Komet on a Cessaroni H138. This is a 38mm motor. I don't know how high nor how fast the Komet flew but it was AWESOME!!

After my Level 1 was accomplished, I was able to fly more H and I classified motors. I was also introduced to electronics, altimeters to be more specific. Altimeters are needed for dual deployment attempts. Electronic bays(ebays) are the most common things used to hold the altimeters and protect them from the gases of the black powder charges used to separate the tubes from one another. The first charge is set off at apogee, or otherwise known as the highest altitude of the flight, and deploy a drogue chute. The drogue slows the decent of the rocket but still comes down rather quickly. Winds play a major factor in the decent and direction the rocket will land, hopefully safely. The altimeter I used was the Perfectflite MAWD. A predetermined altitude setting is needed prior to flight to set the desired altitude for the main chute.

A second charge pressurizes the payload tube and forces the main out the top of the tube by pushing the nose cone off. Keep one thing in mind, all parts are to be connected by shock cords. If not, parts will be scattered all over the launch site and rather difficult to keep an eye on all the various parts for retrieval! These rockets are intended to fly over and over again!
This is the video from my first dual deployment attempt. It was a success and has continued to be successful, until it doesn't work! I opted to fly drogue less, meaning that the rate of decent would be much faster. The winds were a little high that day so I didn't want to end up in the "Amazon" at the Hearne launch site. The group that had the launch is the Tripoli Houston #002.

I have since retired the Koliba Komet. It now serves as a reminder of where I started years ago. It may come out of retirement in the future to soar the big blue skies and relive where it belongs! But until then, it holds it's place in my heart as the first and foremost rocket dear to me!