Rod Whip Paper

Launch Rod Whip (and what to do about it)
by Jack Hagerty

"Why did my rocket suddenly turn sideways after leaving the launch rod?  There's no wind or anything to push it!"

The answer may be launch rod whip, a little understood phenomenon that affects every model rocket to some extent.  This paper explores the dynamics behind rod whip and gives several methods of minimizing and even completely eliminating it.  And it's free!