According to RockSim, an Alpha on a C6-5 has a top speed of 522 ft/sec. I ran three cases:

1. No launch lug.
2. Launch lug mounted at the CG (stock, per instructions).
3. Split launch lugs, one at the base of the nose, and the other between the fins.

The results are inconclusive, since I left the bottom of the rocket flat, there is a large low pressure area behind the rocket, giving a false drag reading. I need to add a tail cone and rerun the analysis. The plots below show some initial results.

Since this was a training class, I didn't have time to complete the analysis. We were running on really old PCs, and each run took about an hour. There are a bunch of settings I could tweak to get better resolution, but that will have to wait until I am back on my "home" monster machine. I also got one shot to create the graphics, and I failed to make the color scale legends the same for all cases. Once we get the software installed, I plan to work on this to see if I can determine an optimum launch lug size and placement.

Static pressure plot of an Estes Alpha with no launch lug at 522 ft/sec.

Surface pressure plot, no launch lug. Note the low pressure area behind the nose and in the fin area.

Static pressure plot of an Estes Alpha with stock launch lug.

Surface pressure plot, rotated 90 degrees. Note the high pressure areas at each end of the launch lug.

Static pressure plot of an Estes Alpha with split launch lugs. The lugs were placed in the low pressure areas of the "no lug" rocket, figuring since there was "booger air" there anyway, the lugs would have less impact on the overall drag of the rocket.

Surface pressure plot, rotated 90 degrees. Note the high pressure areas at the end of both lugs, but the area is smaller than the single lug.

Close up of front lug.

Close up of rear lug.

Static pressure plot, normal to flight path, at rear launch lug (it is at the two o'clock position).

For more information on CFD analysis, go to CFD Online