ROCC launch news...

Looking ahead to next weekend and weather. It is slated to turn bitterly cold on Friday evening, dropping to 15 degrees overnight and then a high of just above freezing on Saturday. Sunday is supposed to be a heat wave, getting up to 36. Winds are 10 mph on Saturday.

All this adds up to a weekend that folks around here are not used to standing out in a field and not getting hypothermia.

We've checked with Ken and he's available the next weekend, the 27th and 28th.

Therefore we are pushing back the next launch date to that next weekend, January 27/28 with hopes of a bit better weather.

Launch report for December 30, 2023

We had a nice new years launch on the 30th, it was good to see some regulars and some long lost friends. I'm filling in for Roy in deciphering all the flight cards to generate the launch recap. Please hit the "Read More" link to see the whole thing.

Click to read more ...

New Years (Kinda) launch 12/30/2023

Hey ROCC'ers, we've got decent weather for Saturday 12/30 for an end of year launch. 

Set-up at 10AM so it warms up a bit, fly 11 - 4:30 or so. 

Ken WILL be on site. 

See ya there!

Roy's Rocket Report for December 16, 2023

Another launch is in the bag and Roy's done it again, writing up all of our flights, deciphering our chicken scratches into something readable. So settle in, warm up that bowl of rice pudding or Christmas cake and read on my friends...

Click to read more ...

Saturday 12/16 Launch update

Hey fellow ROCC'ers...

Upcoming launch this weekend, Saturday 12/16, looks like decent weather. Sunday looks like it will be a washout with 1.5" of rain predicted. The earlier on Saturday we fly probably the better, winds are predicted to be low and mostly down the runway.

Setup at the usual time, 9:30, flying by 10:30.

Ken is at MDRA in Maryland this weekend, so if you have spare motors floating around, or anything else you want to flog, bring it out. Since he won't be with us we can make it a mini swap meet.

In other news, please think about nominations for club officers for the new year. We haven't had a proper election in way too long and several of us would love to shed some load. We'll see if we can do the elections over email.

See you all on Saturday!

TB/dr

Our First 2023 “Post Crop Season” Launch at the Farm !

Roy has gone through all the launch slips and figured out our chicken scratches to bring you the first 2023 Midland Launch Report! Please click the "Read More" link to read all about it.

Click to read more ...

Update Friday 10 AM... Saturday SCRUB due to winds & fire risk.

Hello ROCC'ers... We hate to do this at this late date, but it's one of those things that just can't be helped. With Saturdays winds now predicted between 10 - 15 mph, our section of the state under a burn ban and Ken in SC for the day we are SCRUBBING Saturday.

The management just felt that with the high winds, dry conditions (we were really hoping for some rain tonight) and danger of fire rapidly spreading it was the prudent decision.

Please, everyone spread the word.

We'll see you on Sunday.

Update on November 18th & 19th

Just wanted to update folks, weather for the weekend looks good, winds look good, slightly better for Sunday than Saturday right now, but that's subject to change. Saturday has winds up to 12 mph at 1 pm, dropping away for the rest of the afternoon. Sunday is supposed to be much calmer.

South Carolina had to postpone from last weekend to this, so they will be flying the same weekend as we are.

Which brings us to Ken Allen with Performance Hobbies. He'll be with South Carolina Rocketry in Dalzelle on Saturday, then with us in Midland on Sunday.

Setup about 9:30, Figure on us getting set up by 11 since it's the first weekend back, it usually takes a bit longer to get set up the first weekend.

Fire risk. Mecklenburg county is included in the burning ban, so a few ground rules... First, NO Metal or Sparkie motors of any kind or power rating. Second I'd like to see nothing larger than a J motor. Kip is OK with us flying but lets not push our luck.

See you on the field!

TB/dr

ROCC 2023-24 season set to open November 18th/19th.

I heard from Ralph yesterday (11/4) about the farm status, according to Kip the corn and soy beans are cut and off the field so we are cleared for a launch window on November 18th & 19th. 

Field setup should start at 9, flying should start by 10 and field should close about 4 to close up before sunset. 

Ken Allen from Performance Hobbies is scheduled to be with us on Saturday the 18th. 

Visitors are always welcome, but remember this is a working farm with machines and barns and equipment, so if you have small children please keep track of them. There's lots they can get into if you're not alert. 

Once we get a bit closer and the weather is a bit more predictable we'll publish an update on that with winds and temps. 

Fingers crossed!!

dr

Midland field closed for the rest of the summer.

I was hoping for one more launch but it's not in the cards. The Midland field is closed for the season. We will resume flying there in the fall.

The crops are gaining too much ground with the perfect growing conditions so we will not be launching there on any weekends until further notice.

I heard from Barn Tobin that the Henderson field is also closed for the near future, they need to relocate to a new field.

Currently that leaves us with ROSCO in Dalzell, SC. More information on ROSCO can be found here: https://www.rocketrysouthcarolina.org/