"I don't believe it! You must be kidding!" Ron AG5RS discusses the new Wing Glider with Tony N5RPQ. What surprise does Tony have going here??
"Hello? Is this 911? Charlie is smiling. Something must be WRONG. Can you get a unit out here to the Secret Sugar Land BLT lab ASAP?
An inside view of the main payload video transmitter. Ron has "tweaked" it for optimum video output on 1.2 GHz FM.
Why is this camera wrapped in a plastic baggie?? Shortly after burst on BLT-19, the camera failed - the video faded to black - really fast! Ron has rigged the camera to get warm air from the 1.2 GHx transmitter final amplifier during reentry. Will it work?
Charlie K5ENG loves this stuff! Here is the backup cutdown assembly for the wing glider. When the black plug is pulled, the circuit is ARMED. Yes, that means EXPLOSIVES!! Well, at any rate, it uses an electric match to melt the fish line that will suspend the wing glider below the main payload. It's worked before!
Is this the new wing glider?!? Not really... Tony brought it along to show an example of what a small, but effective, delta-wing flying thing might look like. This one goes REALLY fast, but it's a bit too small and too heavy for the BLT-20 project.
All of this good GPS/APRS stuff goes in the wing glider. Tony will have a real challenge repackaging this gear to fit. The good news is that if the system works, we will know exactly where the wing glider is on the way up, and on the way down.
Mike is still on the phone. They have put a trace on the call... Uh oh... What does Charlie see? Could it be aliens, or maybe a REALLY big balloon full of HELIUM?!?
We finish the night with a few more tests of the remote cut-down circuitry. Looking GOOD!
Our FINAL Integration Meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 18, 2004, at the Secret BLT Lab (310 Lombardy) in Sugar Land - 8 PM till 10 PM.
Launch is scheduled for 10 AM on August 21, 2004 from the Wharton Regional Airport. Be There!!!