NLD17 preview

The N24.

Friday 4 April is the "NAVRO LanceerDag 17" (NAVRO Launch Day 17). A total of seven HPR rockets and two amateur rockets are planned to be launched, as well as an some model rockets. The first amateur rocket is NAVRO's own N24. The rocket is essentially the same as the N23, but is propelled by an AeroTech K1100-T this time. The basic airframe of the rocket first flew as the N18 and this launch will be its seventh launch. To celebrate NAVRO's 25th anniversary it is repainted in NAVRO-blue and silver. Among the experiments the NUND parachuting (Nose Up/Nose Down) is the most striking. The N24 will descend nose down on the drogue chute and when the main chute is deployed the rocket will turn and the nose pointing upwards. The second amateur rocket is Mark Uitendaal and Leon Krancher's Vortex XL. It is propelled by their own PVC I290-SB motor. This will be the second flight of this motor.

NAVRO members account for five HPR rockets, of which Gerben-Jan Ligthart's one is a bit special. In 25 years of NAVRO membership he has done everything in rocketry from designing rockets to sort out legislation, except for building a real rocket! His Alfa uses an H238-T for propulsion. Bert Koerts will bring two rockets to NLD17. The first is the Payloader, with an H112-J. The second is the Paas-ei (Easter Egg), with an K458-W. This rocket is supposed to have surprise. Jan-Hein Ramakers also brings two rockets, the Sonic Boom with an H242-T and the Nessus with an H242-T. The Nessus is a two-stage rocket, but because it is the rockets first two-stage launch only the first stage has an motor.

Also present will be two guest flyers from Tripoli The Netherlands. Timo van Engelen will launch his Quick & Bright with an H238-T. Michel Mulder will try to get his Level 1 with his launch of the Tiny-Pterotactyl.

That is all for now,
see you all on 4 April.