August 24, 1997 - Launch Report
Mark Painter came up from northern Kentucky with quite a collection. An Estes RediRoc (a Raider?), a Big Bertha with a unique Robin's-egg blue finish (hand-painted and initial'd by his wife), and a Bailout done out in NASA colors. He had a Maniac painted in olive drab - very military looking, an Omloid (no eggs - maybe next time), and another that I mistook for a Flash - now I've forgotten what it was.
Andrew Stein and his young son Trevor brought a Twister, a sharp-looking experimental rocket, and a Viking as well as a 35mm camera that was in use all afternoon. Even though it was a fairly dull day, I'm hoping the pictures turn out well Andrew! (PS - they sure did! Andrew has a fast trigger finger.)
Dave and Shelly Raines brought a FF rocket glider and a Comanche 3. Right off the bat, Dave had trouble with his launch controller. But Shelly made a quick dash to a store and got fresh batteries that got Dave into the air.
Scott Froese brought his boys and quite a collection of rockets as well. Sorry if I forget a few Scott, but I do remember a sparkling white Bullpup, a neon yellow Big Bertha, a Phoenix and a 4' machine from Mountainside Hobbies that Scott flew on an AT E28 reload. Our only composite, and he kept it a secret right up to launch time.
Kyle and I brought a cherry-red Viking, a black Big Bertha (the color it's supposed to be guys!), a Comanche 3, and the DD Shadow.
Launch Highlights: The sky was overcast and threatening looking, the wind was bouncing around from under 5 mph but with gusts probably over 15. Mark tested the wind for us with his RediRoc. Unfortunately - in spite of a stiff breeze - it went straight up and straight down. We didn't learn anything from that Mark!
Andrew tried next with his Twister, we saw the back half come down - but the helicopter top was never seen again. Oops - the first casualty of the day, and not the last. (PS - it was accidentally found later)
Kyle and I launched the Viking, but the wadding was packed too tightly and the streamer didn't deploy. Prang! Good thing it's such a light rocket. Just a little paint damage at the top of the BT. Oh, this is looking good - NOT!
Mark had his Bailout ready. We asked, but no - there wasn't any passenger today. It was too breezy. Mark has a nice Estes Command Controller launcher. It beeps out good and loud when the safety key is inserted. This flight was the first of many where Mark showed us how close he could land his birds near the pad.
Scott sent up a rocket (sorry - don't know what, he was furthest from me) that we all lost in the sun. When we were all started scanning the soccer fields looking for a downed rocket, we noticed some fellow waving at us a couple of hundred feet away with it in his hand.
Dave bravely fired his rocket glider into the gale (just kidding). I think it separated early - but it had enough altitude to swoop around us and get the young'uns scrambling.
Trevor and Andrew launched their experimental rocket - and it did some fancy loops and swirls, then deployed its recovery equipment and landed. Very exciting although unorthodox flight. Andrew didn't seem to think it operated as planned - so he retired it until the design is refined further.
Dave was feeling brave again, and sent his Comanche up on two stages. (Kyle and I flew ours, but only the main section.) Dave's A8-0 to A8-3 nearly didn't get the booster off the launchrod! It hit the ground and bounced only a few feet from the pad. Unfortunately, the sustainer landed hard and ripped a fin off. No one had any CA, so I thought it was through for the day. (I was wrong)
Scott had his 4' rocket on the pad. 3-2-1, there's a bit of smoke and a "whuff" sound but no launch. "Hey! Is that a composite?", I ask. Yep, but Scott is having trouble with his E reloads, even with Firestar ignitors.
But he waited, then re-prepped it and tried again.
***Vavoosh!!***
Wow, what a noise! I want one! I want one!
Uh, oh - longggggg delay. I don't want one! I don't want one!
But it finally popped about halfway down and deployed the chute.
An anxious but exciting flight.
Somewhere in here it started to rain shower during bright sunshine. Didn't last though and we toughed it out.
Mark kept throwing everything he had into the air. I don't think he had a single failure. We'd hear the beeper on his Command Controller and turn to watch another perfect flight that drifted back down to land very near its starting point.
We had to wait a few minutes for the wind to die down to launch The Shadow. Whoosh! Arcing into the wind, perfect deployment - except its coming down nose-first. The shockcord's looped around the rear fins. I had to admit that no, it wasn't a rear-ejecter - it shouldn't look like that. I swear that stupid rocket never does the same thing twice. It tries to find a new way to scare me every time it's out.
Contrary to my opinion, Dave's Comanche wasn't through. He got out his masking tape and acted like it was fiberglass. Laid a band from fin to fin, taping an inch up the fin from the root. We all watched this one carefully, but the second launch went flawlessly. The booster kicked harder this time - he may have used a B or C. The sustainer came down 'way across the field and Dave's masking tape repair had held great.
Just as Kyle and I were packing to leave, another family with rockets and another rmr reader dropped by. Sorry we couldn't stay. We had a great time, and definitely want to do this again.