The removable 12" diameter tail pipe along with the parachute canisters, tail fins and fin lighting system will all be supported by the structure shown above. The duct has formed flanges that will be clamped securely by water jet cut stainless steel ring segments. Hot exhaust thrust gases will be prevented from escaping at this seam by a custom EGC high temperature graphite gasket.
The hot pipe will be supported from this frame at the rear by a special sliding clamp that will allow the pipe to grow in length as it expands from the intense internal heat.
