February 2007 Post-Launch report

Welcome to the 17 February post-Launch Rocket report, the short version.

The Short Version, because, due to the projected high winds, we only had a one day Saturday launch.

We already knew, because of the weather/wind forecast for Sunday, that it may turn-into a one-day launch. We had to make a weather decision that Saturday evening based on what we knew at that time in order to answer everyone�s request for a decision. And then have time to get a message out for people to see Sunday morning ether by e-mail or checking the ROCC Web site at WWW.rocketrycaolina.org.

Now this is why ROCC Prez Ralph checked with Mr Kip Williams about permission to let us come back out again next weekend, 24 and 25 Feb for a Make-Up launch weekend. So make some plans, especially those who didn�t make it out there this past weekend.

For those who came out Saturday, you know it was windy, overcast and cold. We had a shelter and firepit to help keep warm. Then Brad Shea and Doc Russell both had stopped by a Duncan Donuts for donuts and coffee for everybody. Not only great rocketeers but generous gentlemen to boot.

We like to thank Tim from �Giant Leap Rocketry� and Ken from �Performance Hobbies� for coming out and braving the cold to insure that our rocketry supply needs were met. Even if I�m not in dire need of anything, I still like looking over their merchandise, it�s like walking through a mans toy store.

Besides some spectators who heard about us and braved the cold to see what we do, we had 16 flyers sign in and put some rockets into the air, and 44 flights made it up into the air, with some landing a bit further than one would like. We also had BSA Scout Troop #701 out there who wanted to watch and get a few scout launches in themselves.

Roy Potter, I was keeping the fire pit going and distributing the coffee and donuts but did get my �li�l Green Alien� and the rear ejection �Whistler� up on a couple of low-power flights.

Wayne Hill from Durham, flew �lil Ivan�, a flying �Saucer�, then a very interesting spinning rotor blade recovery rocket called the �TeePee Twister� a couple of times and then another interesting recovery system rocket called the �Maple Seed� where a large fin separates and mono-rotate spins to earth and the main body does a tumble recovery, and last the �Battle Boro Big Daddy�, all on low-power.

Doc Russell, besides providing the hot coffee, flew two flights with the �IO� and the �Nomad� on mid-power.

Steve Bumgarner actually had the most flights per flier for the day with 7 flights on his own. The �Orange� rocket flew twice, the �Astra II�, the �Lighting� and �Tri-Delta� all on low-power and the �Chucker� (a new one?) and the �Yellow Jacket� on mid-power.

Dale Mason from Fort Mill, his son Even, flew one flight of �No Name� on low-power.

William Wilson from Reidsville, son I believe, flew a rocket named �Blue Star� on a low-power.

Bob Bernatchez, who usually brings out a fleet of scale model rockets scaled back his launch to only the �Path Finder� on low-power and his �Big Brute� on mid-power.

Doug Knight, our favorite collage educator flew a �Blue Ninja� and a �LOC Arora Xtended� both on mid-power and one named �Free Bird� on low-power. I never guessed Doug for a Lynard Skinard fan.

Keith Biddinger, of Indian Trail, got one flight up on mid-power named �Pent Black�, not sure of the spelling, cold shaking finger of the writing hand I bet.

Team Statesville, a school competition team effort, test flew their rocket for a targeted altitude flight for two flights in different configurations on high-power. An altimeter was on board to record the exact altitude to see how close it got to the calculated target altitude.

Brad Shea, also besides providing box�s of donuts and coffee flew a �Spool� rocket, a �Big Daddy� and a �Flechette 60P�, a BoRocks kit on low-power. The same �Big Daddy� was then flown on a mid-power engine that took 4 attempts to light that ended turning a sharp right past the Simpson farm. Don�t know if it was recovered.

Paul Phillips, who designs some really sci-fi/organic influenced rockets flew a �Dragons Tooth� and �Bumble Bee� on high-power. A level two certification flight was attempted with the �Python Fighter� on high-power. The lift-off was beautiful, strong and straight, sounded great, but there was a malfunction with the deployment resulting in a failed test. Minimal damage though, he can have it ready next week probably.

SCS, TARC Team, Team America Rocket Challenge. This competition team was test flying their rocket the �Twitch III� with a couple of mid-power flights to see how close they can get to the targeted altitude computing thrust vs weight.

Doug Wilson with the Scout Troop 701 flew a �Blue Rocket� on low-power.

Tim Parks of Eden, flew the �Orange Juice�, the �Yellow Thunder� and the �Wacky Wiggler� on low-power.

Ralph Roberts, even spending an hour recovering a wind blown lost rocket managed to get the �no. 2 Sky Writer� on low-power and the �Sugar Cherry� on high-power.

I think there may have been a few more flights that I don�t have slips for. The wind had caused a few to get blown around and not all of them may have been recovered.

OK, hope you all can come back out this weekend. I�m trying to see who can put in the double triplicated paperwork into the right agency to insure that it will be both clear and calm for the weekend. Weathermen, watch�ya gona do.

The vender from Hobby Town USA of Moresville is going to try to come out for us, so drop by his trailer, and because he is also a full category hobby store, he can also assist you in other hobby categories.

Other than that, that�s everything, except we do need a good donation to cover the cost of the Porta-John and the site fee to the land owner in appreciation for the use of his land.

Anybody needing to get information about certification flights, contact Ralph, ROCC Prez and Tripoli Prefect, so arrangements can be made. roccprez@bellsouth.net, rocketralph@bellsouth.net.

OK, hope to see you on the flight line, and remember to keep those exhaust nozzles clear.

Roy, ROCC Sec.