A few water rocket pictures

These picures were taken during a couple of our water rocket 'Regattas'

The classic water rocket launch picture, some water, mist and no rocket.

Ian McNaughton and his 'Squiggle Class' rocket using a garden quick dis-connect screwed into the base of the bottle. This rocket had the most spectucular flight I've ever seen. It sort of curved and changed direction during flight, coming to earth through the branches of a rather large tree.

Ian Clark with prototype cable-tie launcher, foot pump and completely unmodified 600ml bottle. At this stage we hadn't quite figured out how big an area we actually needed for launching. Those trees are awfully close.

The 'Cable Tie Launcher'. There are actually 3 ties, one is behind the launch tube. Also there is a black 'O' ring on the black pipe there somewhere. The white tube holds the cable ties agains the flange on the neck of the bottle, preventing take-off untill the green string is pulled. Note also the elegant 'Stake in the ground holding it up'. I was using an elbow to link to some small diamiter drip irrigation tube at that stage.

We tried to measure the height a squash ball could be launched (Thats a 1.25 litre bottle) but it moved to fast too see with the inclinometer. The launcher is Ian McNaughton's version of the 'cable tie'. The fins were originally for the double.

The general scene at our Royal park launch. You may be able to make out two pieces of string running off to the right. One was a 50 metre measure for our inclinometer baseline (too short!), the other for a remote release. Being 50 metres away when you launch gives a different perspective.

Experimental triple launcher. 3 x 2litre bottles fired simltaneously. The 1.25 litre on the top has about 600g of water in it. Some work is required, particularly in the stability area.

.. and at the end of the day...