May 15th & 16th Update Wednesday evening:

Hi everyone...  the last few days have been challenging to say the least for all of us. 

First, work from Kip is that the barley (?) in the north fields is budding out and is now very fragile. That means that the winds would have to be PERFECT for us to be able to fly. 

Second, the Colonial Pipeline gas situation. We had a briefing earlier today (Wednesday) with the CMPD and they're saying, as is the state government, that all un-necessary travel should be avoided right now. I had a conversation with a buddy in Spartenburg that has a contact at the fuel terminal for the western side of NC and they're essentially dry. Not expecting to get re-fuled until early next week. Pumps in CLT are running dry quickly, Raleigh area is the same. Lines are around the few stations that still have gas and it's getting a bit crazy out there. Shades of 1975 all over again (yes, I was an even-day car driver) and from my observations we're generally not the most fuel-efficient folks, what with the cars I see at the field, me included. 

All this is leading me to be the bad guy again. 

It's not the weekend to fly in Midland this weekend and we're looking at the Midland field being closed down for some time unless we can get lucky and get in between the north crops getting harvested and the south crops not being up too far. That's life on the farm. 

On the bright side, SC in looking at a new, larger field right now. Saturn up in Huntersville is flying probably all summer, and we could use help cranking up in Monroe to get a Mercury capsule up to showroom condition. 

That's all for now... if the situation changes in the next few weekends maybe we'll try and get a launch in but it'll be a thin chance. 

Thanks everyone for your understanding. 

dr

May launch???

According to the calendar we're supposed to fly at the Midland field on May 15th & 16th, but the crops are coming up FAST because of all that rain we got earlier in the season. 

I've sent a note to Ralph to check in with Kip to see if it's a possibility but I'm thinking probably not. If you were out there in April the north fields were already at lease knee deep. 

I'll post as soon as I hear anything.

dr

ROCC April 17-18, 2021 launch report

One of our rare 2-day launches where the weather cooperated and folks had a good chance to get to fly. Roy has sent over his take on all the launch cards, deciphering the cuneiform scratches that we leave him to figure out. Click the "read more" link to get the whole story. Thanks Roy!

Click to read more ...

Saturn Rocketry 4/24 Launch in Huntersville postponed

Just a reminder, the Saturn Rocketry Club launch scheduled for April 24th has been postponed due to almost certain rain all day. So don't go to the field, stay home and build some rockets!

dr

UPDATE 4-15 PM - April 17th & 18th launch weather looking good

Updating Thursday PM..., we're still looking good for Saturday & Sunday. Weather looks to be good for both days. Highs in the upper 60's, realatively light winds. 

Saturday I'm going to concentrate on rocket retrieval, we've got at least 4 rockets in the treeline that I'm going to try and get back for folks.

Set-up I'll set for 9:30, launch commencement at 10:30.

Please remember your social distancing and mask control. We're not out of the woods yet. A longtime friend of mine currently has 4 different family members either in the hospital, on a ventilator, or at home with it, we're certainly not over this whole thing yet. Stay safe, stay vigilant. 

See ya there!  - Doc R.

Monday morning, I'm looking at weather for the upcoming weekend, April 17th & 18th, it's looking good.

Highs in the upper 60's & low 70's, reasonable cloud cover, decent winds and low rain possibilities all week. 

We'll check back in a couple days but hopefully we'll have a great weekend. Ken is scheduled to be with us on Saturday only, he's going to MDRA on Sunday (Drive safely Ken!)

dr

March 21st launch report

Sorry I'm a bit late with getting this posted, I finally got an evening off and found some time to post Roy's launch report from our March 21st flights. Click the Read More button to get the whole story... dr

Click to read more ...

March 20 & 21st possible launch conditions Updated FRIDAY

UPDATE Friday Morning...

Launch update for this weekend... Friday is very windy but lots of clouds according to the weather folks, so we're going to give the field an extra day to get over all the rain and wind. We'll FLY SUNDAY ONLY.

It's supposed to be a bit warmer and the wind looks to be a bit less intense. It is at least supposed to be away from Simpson's, going toward the southwest.

Ken will be with us this time so bring your shopping lists. I'll set up the NOTAM and we'll start set up at 9:30.

March 6th & 7th Launch reports:

Roy has come through again with the launch reports, deciphering all of our chicken scratches and clay tablets to come up with March 6 & 7th's (February's) launch report. He has one word for all of us... Penmanship! Don't forget to hit the "Read More" link to read the hot skinny.

Click to read more ...

March 6th & 7th are GO at Midland field

ROCC's March 6 & 7 at Midland NC launch is a go. I think we have enough folks that we can pull off a 2-day launch. Thanks for folks that have said that they can be available.

Set-up at 10 am, fly by 11 am.

Again, Ken will be in Virginia this weekend, so if you have extra motors you want to barter with or some items to sell to the rest of us this might be a really good weekend to set up a boot sale. We can make it like a swap meet kind of thing, put out whatcha got and see if you can flog it.

Weather is still looking good for both days, Saturday cloudy but no rain and upper 50's, winds SE at about 5 mph. Sunday is almost no clouds, upper 50's again but winds are higher, SE at up to 11 mph by 4 pm.

I have 4 folks that have said they want to take the NAR L2 exam, there's no set time, just catch me Saturday and I'll set you up with a test. We'll grade it on the field so you know if you passed or failed.

See you all on the field!!

dr

Feb 27th & 28th Weather update

Weather update 2/25/21 PM

Looking at the forecast for Friday 2/26th afternoon into the night and then the weekend, there's about .65 - .75 inches of rain late Friday and into Saturday morning early. Thick cloud on Saturday and then more rain on Sunday. Sunday also has wind speeds up to about 15 mph heading right at Simpson's farm. I really hate to say it but I suggest we hold again. Looking at weather long range for the 3/6th w'end there's very light rain on Thursday but almost nothing on Friday the 5th and Sat the 6th.

Check out the weather report over on Facebook.

dr