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On Saturday Febuary 13th at 12:00 pm, the people at R.A.T.T.works test flew the first nitrous oxide fuel-injected hybrid. The rocket was a modified LR-5 liquid fuel rocket and used a modified L-400 hybrid.
Skunkworks-style top secret injector assembly |
Fueling of the alcohol was done during assembly of the motor, and the nitrous oxide was loaded remotely with the rocket on the rail, ready for launch. At ignition of the ignitor grain, it burned through the nitrous fueling line (aka the U/C valve)as designed. The motor ran in hybrid mode for approximately 1 second, then the fuel plug burned through and released the alcohol. At that point, the motor was running in plastic fuel and alcohol fuel mode, producing a 10 foot flame. 
Ted connecting the NOX loading hose and ignitor |
Approximately 2 seconds after lift off, the plastic fuel was consummed and the motor was running in liquid-only mode. The visible flame was reduced to near zero, which is typical for alcohol motors. 
The inventor, Dave Griffith |
The rocket seemed to kick into warp drive as its rate of acceleration quickly increased. Unfortunately the rocket burned out of site and the testers ran out of daylight before it could be found, with its onboard ALTACC accelerometer data. Estimated altitude was around 15,000 feet, and total burn time was about 6 seconds. This type of start-up sequence for nitrous oxide liquid-fueled motors will most likely become an advantegeous way to go, as the motor runs extremely smooth and should not be subject to hard starts. 
Launch of the fuel injected liquid bi-propellant rocket. Note the six foot flame. |
This type of start-up sequence for nitrous oxide liquid-fueled motors will most likely become an advantegeous way to go, as the motor runs extremely smooth and should not be subject to hard starts. Such circumstances can cause numerous problems, such as explosions, flame outs, ignitor blow outs, back flash, ect. In other words a problem-free high power rocketry liquid motor appears to be in the works. R.A.T.T.works said they would have pictures of the flight on their website some time in the near future. The web address is http://www.rattworks.net/. |
