Hatchlifts
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... There are almost as many vehicles used to get to a launch field as there are rockets...almost! But it's a safe bet that if you're an experienced rocketeer, you either have a pick-up truck, or perhaps an SUV with a hatch back. Most of us have attended a trunkfest or a swap meet where the vendors have their merchandise laid out in the back deck of their car or SUV, with the hatch back raised. This keeps the stuff out of the sun, and should it rain or sprinkle, out of the precipitation. However, after some nine years or so of service, the 2012 Kia Soul that I drive failed me... that is, the hatch lift pneumatic cylinder won't hold the hatch lift up. Now, about a half year ago, when I pressed this little used car into service as my launch vehicle, the hatch worked fine, but I had trouble keeping a large beach umbrella standing next to it in the slight 5-10 mph breeze. After the umbrella fell twice, a neighbor rocketeer lent me a bung...