Estes 1:100 Saturn V Maiden Flight (12/21/2019) (UNEDITED)

(UNEDITED VIDEO) First flight of the Bruce Family Estes Saturn V! (kit #1969) Five-motor cluster of Estes D12-3(x2), D12-0(x2) and D12-5(x1). Estimated altitude 400ft. Onboard video captured with 808 keychain camera (#18 variant).

Flown with Tripoli Tampa Rocketry Association (TTRA) in Plant City, FL. Sustained winds were 10mph, mostly cloudy.

The liftoff was a success, but due to being rushed, the D12-0s and D12-3s were accidentally transposed into each other's motor tubes. When the D12-0s finished burning, the top portion of the propellant grain pressurized the body ahead of the motor mounts and caused an early separation with the rocket at nearly full speed. This caused the parachute for the nose section to detach from the nose entirely and become entangled with the three booster parachutes. The nose came in ballistic and buried the escape tower eight inches in the dirt. The booster descended under only two full parachutes and suffered a broken fin, minor melting to the rear of the vacuform fairings, and some scuffed paint. Unfortunately, the D12-3s were in the sealed tubes meant for the D12-0s. As a result, the ejection charges fired and blew out the the sealed motor tubes, (0:14) as well as pressurized the internal area between the centering rings which crushed the three open tubes. Thus, all five motor tubes were severely damaged, and it would require drilling out the entire motor mount and sanding the airframe smooth inside. Since I don't trust myself to be able to do so without causing further damage, this Saturn V is retired from flying and will become a static model, and a second build will be forthcoming.
A second 808 keychain camera was loaded into the body with the parachutes to monitor their deployment, but shock from the violent ejection disabled the camera and the footage was lost.

[BerkanoMV]

thanks to help me in the rocket forum! cant wait to see how you made your chute

[saturntony]

Wow that was a bit violent. Great cam work. Until reading your write up afterwards, I did not realize you had 5 - D12's on that classic estes SatV. I hope the issues with it made for a good retired model. I have one almost finished and by the looks of yours, I don't think 400 feet will be possible with my 80's version. Maybe 150 if I am lucky on a calm day. I may switch out the only one d12 and do an e20 tho. Thanks for sharing.