May 16, 1997 - Launch Report
This wasn't our usual launch field, the park isn't as big as the recreation field at the college. With that in mind, and the light winds of maybe 3-4 mph, I prepped Big Bertha with a B6-4 and a sheet of wadding. I agree with all who have advocated launching for younger kids, they're excitement is priceless.
The picnic was in honor of a family that had moved away, but were back visiting for the weekend. I let their four young boys, ages 4 through 10 take turns at the controller button with me holding the case firmly. Bertha is on the rod, connected and ready. Big countdown from the peanut gallery.
"5-4-3-2-1" Whoosh!
I still like twilight launches! Bertha lifted on her flame tail and flew
to her usual perfection. As I had hoped, the parachute nicely carried her
over the parked cars and brought her down some 100' away. Nice bit of spot
landing that.
I decided not to launch the Twister tonight, the darkening skies would surely swallow it up without a trace. So next up was the SuperShot, also on a B6-4.
"5-4-3-2-1" Whooosh!
The SuperShot let 'er rip! Nice flight for a 'B' that was definitely higher
than Bertha. The parachute drifted past the parking lot again and touched down
just a little further away. All the kids thought the rockets were "way cool!"
Bertha was prepped again, this time with a C6-7. I wanted more altitude, but the longer delay would deploy the chute at a reasonable height. I've used one of the C6-7's from the Blast-Off pack I bought in the SuperShot and regretted it. The well-after apogee, high-speed deployment started a small zipper split. But the LOC-style shockcord mount in Bertha is very robust and hasn't caused any problems at all. I've now flown her twice on the C6-7's and the rim of the bodytube is still in mint condition.
"5-4-3-2-1" Whooooosh!
A chorus of "wow"'s echoed around the park as everyone watched Bertha hit
the best altitude of the night. She did pop the chute coming back down but
still at a good height. Seems the breeze is a trifle stronger up there. Bertha
has easily cleared the parking lot, and is heading toward the street. Me and
numerous adults yell at the "chase team" to not pursue it onto, or across the
road.
In the end, Bertha was just teasing. She landed about 50' short of the street.
It was getting pretty dark by now and the youngest brother had waited patiently for his turn at the button, so we sent Bertha up one last time on a B6-4. He did his own 5, 8, 3, 1 countdown.
Bertha made another friend that night.