February 24th, 2007 Post-launch report

Welcome, Welcome all you Rocket Geeks to the Post Rocket Launch for our February 24th make-up Saturday launch.

(Besides being in a computer or chess club, this is one of the only organizations where everyone is proud to be a Nerd or Geek.)

It�s great when we can have a second chance to fly because the weather gods chose our regular scheduled weekend to drop rain and blow strong winds.

First point = The weather was almost 100% perfect. It quickly moved from a cool morning to a almost hot afternoon when most of us were down to ROCC T-shirts. About 4:30 it started cooling down and by 5:30 we had put our light jackets or sweatshirts back on. But for most of the day there was little wind and a number of thermals. Especially at the beginning. My �Sounder� just hung there till Ralph almost fell asleep at the launch table waiting for it to stop floating over the launch area.

Second Point = Our new brightly colored Tie-dyed ROCC T-shirts were in and they really look great. I really like the way the tie-dye colors swirls into and surrounds the colored ROCC logo on the back.

We have a list of T-shirt IOU�s for members who got the $20 memberships that come with a �T� and wanted to wait for the new shirt.

Separately purchased, small thru extra large are $13 and the extra-extra large at $15.

Third Point = The ROCC Rocket Raffle is on a great start. The club treasury was really low and we boosted the balance by the 55 tickets sold that Saturday.

I�ve got e-messages requesting not to hold the drawing until others have had a chance to buy tickets themselves. I originally planed to sell tickets for more than one launch, so I plan to have the rocket out at Aprils launch and do the drawing on May�s launch. That way everybody should have had a chance to buy tickets. And we do appreciate that.

Many weekends we have to back-up the farm site fee and porta-john from the treasury. Then the Tripoli Assoc and Insurance annual fee came. So we were down to double digits again. But between the ROCC memberships and separate �T� sales along with the raffle, we are comfortable again. Thanks to the lot of ya.

Forth Point = I like to always take the time and effort to thank the venders who, them selves take the time and effort, to come out to the launch�s to provide us the logistical support of having kits, parts and supplies on hand to meet our rocket launching needs. Last weekend, Ken Allen of Performance Hobbies and Tim Durbin of Giant Leap Rocketry were out to keep us happy and I hope we made them happy also.

This time, Brent Johnson of HobbyTown (htumooresville@windstream.net), USA, his store in up-north Mooresville, just off I-77 at exit 36 was able to spend the day out with us, and I think we all did well. Because his is a all purpose hobby store, he can provide anything you need that may be used in the rocketry arena. Like in my case looking at a RC unit to control a large upscale �USAF Bomark� glide return rocket. Wouldn�t want that to glide into someone�s car in free flight.

OK, the launch figures were = we had 26 listed flyers and 96 recorded flights for the day. There were a number of visitors and spectators so there was quite a crowd overall.
Flyers were =

Roy Potter, flew the �Sounder� on midpower and just hung there on the chute Steve made out of a colorful umbrella, and a small �R.E.� on lowpower.

Joel Simpson flew the �STR� on midpower and both the �ABMX� and the �Zippo Raid� a number of times on lowpower.

Brian Eagle, a born again rocketeer form Charlotte, flew his very old but still serviceable �Big Bertha� and �Ionizer� on lowpower.

Jason Czelusniak drove all the way from Chilhowie, VA. To fly. We were the closest to his location. Glad to be there for you Jason. Jason brought along his �Initiator� that flew a few time as midpower.

Steve Bumgarner is one of those who always brings a fleet out and then has to decide what he wants to fly first. Here he flew the �Tar Tar�, and the �Maxi Icarus� on midpower. On lowpower he flew the �36D Square� 2 engine cluster design, the �Flaming Arrow�, the �Full Moon� and �Tri Delta�.

Ralph Robert flew his �Blue Knight� on lowpower and his �Initiator� on midpower. The popular �Fear Factor� went up on highpower with separation at apogee, then free fall to 500ft for main chute deployment. And it went off perfectly.

Amanda Roberts flew her �Sky Writer�, the �UFO Saucer�, the �USA�, the �Screaming Banshee� and the �High Flyer Girl� on lowpower flights.

Kevin Cook flew the �AGM 256 Pitbull� that he had been working on with a midpower engine.

Ryan Cook flew the �Oracle� on lowpower.

Mathew Cook flew the �Vista� on lowpower.

Bob Bernatchez, also one to bring out a fleet of rockets flew the �Space Ship One�, the Mercury Redstone� on lowpower. He had two gliders, a �Dragon Fly� and the contest winning �Mini Manta Glider� on lowpower boosters. �Matra MagicR550�, the �NCR Quasar�, the �Mercury Atlas� and the �NCR Orbit�, all on midpower. One of the treats of the day was Bobs Russan �Cosmodrome Vostok� on highpower. It was indeed a spectacular flight.

Dave Hobson flew a Estes �Cosmic� rotor return on lowpower and then the photographic �Semroc Vega� a few times on lowpower. With and without film for pictures. Smile.

Tim Franks, who builds custom launch control systems, (we are full of creative members) flew a �LOC IV� and the �Am Ram� both on midpower. The he got out his big �Honest John� that went on a great flight on highpower. Then the �Horizon� went also on highpower followed by another highpower flight of the �Apache� with altimeter controlled seperation and then main chute deployment at 300ft.

Sara Plemmons had a number of flights with just her �Ninja� and �Purple Bullet� on lowpower.

Mindy and Dave Bolduc, a new rocket flying couple, both flew �Lil Nuke�s� on midpower individually and in drag races. Mindy won.

Sandy Houston flew a Flis kit �Corona-2� two stager, a �Ranger� 3 engine cluster, a �Patriot�, a �Big Daddy� and a �Sizzler� (the only non recovered tree landing I think) all on lowpower. Then she flew the �G-Wiz� on midpower.

Todd Haring, flew his upscaled 3 inch �Der Red Max� on midpower and the impressive �Risky Proposition� on highpower with altimeter controlled separation with main chute deployment at 500 feet.

David Deason flew his �Dragon Flyer� on a lowpower flight, then the modified? �Tyerdactyl� went up on a highpowered flight.

Mark Ferrell flew his �Lil Nuke� and the �Green Ghost� on midpowered flights.

Doug Knight, collage teacher, getting test flights for altitude and time duration checks flew the �Oracle�, the LOC �Aura X-Tended�, and then the �Astro Bee D� on midpowered flights. The �It�s a Start� had its first flight on highpower and then the �Phobos� made its highpower flight.

David Clancy flew his �Out Law� on several lowpowerd flights.

Mark Canepa came out with a collection of highpowered flights. The crowd pleasing �Seen Better Days� went way up on highpower with a altimeter separation a main chute ejection at the last setting which turned out to be 1000 feet. But it was still a short walk. The �Seen Better Days� ether flew a couple of other times or he has more than one with the same name. Some on midpower and some with highpower.

Bob Strauss, never to leave the field with a bored audience did not fail us. Bob likes to build complex multi-phase action rockets. Not especially large, powerful or fast, but where each phase of its action must perform correctly for the whole of it to be successful. He takes that as a challenge and is successful more than not. The �Titania� is a lowpower cluster two stage with additional drop-off SRB side boosters, each with its own chute, space shuttle style. One of the side boosters failed to ignite so it sent sideways. I have seen it work, and it was so space shuttle booster like. The �Metaluna� is a two stage with a midpowered booster with three lowpower engines to ignite the 4 engine cluster of the upper stage. This worked and looked so cool. The �Galaga� is another two stager with a lowpower 3 engine cluster booster that ignites a flash powder that then ignited another 3 engine cluster to the upper stage, which was too powerful and separated the stages without ignition. The �Uranus� (no jokes if you�ve been there) is another two stage rocket that has a 4 engine cluster booster that burns out using 4 mini A�s to jump the 4 engine cluster of the 2nd stage with a flash powder ignition. I forgot if that one worked or not. His two simplest flights were the �Blue Thunderbird� on a midpower engine and the �Atreyu� also on a midpowered engine. Feel free to ask him about them if you are curious.

SCS TARC Team, (Team America Rocket Challenge) consisting of a number of collage students was test flying their two versions of their competition rocket. The �Node to Norris� on midpower and the �Twitch III� also on midpower. They won last years national competition.

Team Statesville TARC, also test flew their rockets for reaching the targeted altitude and flight duration with the �Pen � 15� and �Worst Case Scenario� on midpower engines.

That covers all the launch�s and the only thing I can add to it is that everything was great, everyone had a marvelous time and the weather was to wish for.

Next month�s launch should be on the regular 3rd weekend of the month which will be by coincidence St. Patricks Day Weekend. Does that mean there will be a greater number than usual of Green rockets? Green Gorila engines? Green shirts, pants and 4 leaf clovers? Some thing to think about.

As always, anybody who wants to coordinate to do a Level One or Two Certification, e-mail Ralph, ROCC Prez and Tripoli Prefect, (can organize NAR Certs) at rocketralph@ bellsouth.net, or roccprez@bellsouth.net. Or any questions.

The new colored �T��s will be there, and ROCC Raffle tickets.

Take care for now, and remember to keep those exhaust nozzles clear.

Roy, ROCC Sec.