Upcoming Launch Schedule

ROCC 2023-2024 Launch Schedule:

All launches are at the Midland, NC site unless otherwise stated.*

Mar. 30, 2024

Apr. 20 & 21, 2024

May 18 & 19, 2024

Jun. 15 & 16, 2024 (Field Permitting)

Here are some other launch opportunities in our area:

ICBM & ROSCO, better known as South Carolina Rocketry, flies near Dalzelle, SC., Just NE of Shaw AFB.  More information can be gotten at their site HERE

The Saturn Rocketry Club in Hendersonville is currently switching their launch field. As soon as we know where they land we will post it. Their FB site is HERE

NC Rocketry flies at Bayboro, NC in the northeast part of the state, information is HERE

 Set-up starts at about 9:30, launches commence about 10:30. Field closes about 60 min. before local dusk so we can clean up. Watch the site front page for specifics. Also visit us on FaceBook. You can also check for the FAA NOTAM at https://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSearch/nsapp.html#/ and using KCLT (Charlotte) as the location. This will give you the starting and ending times for HP flights. 

* If field is available due to crops, etc.

« February 2008 Launch Announcement | Main | Winter Meet Contest Standings »
Sunday
Feb102008

January post-launch report

Welcome, welcome everyone to the January Post-Launch Rocket Report, being brought to you by Louise Ferrell, a young and intrepid, budding secretarial Rocket Scientist.

The forecast for the entire weekend was cold and windy and for the most part it was accurate. Did the cool weather scare folks off? No, dedicated rocketeers and their families made it to the pads both days!

Actually, The January Make-up Rocket Launch weekend was probably better than most had anticipated. Defiantly better than the prior regular 3rd weekend which was a cold, dark and rainy weekend.. The Farm had experienced a considerable amount of rain the weeks leading up to the launch so ground conditions were pretty fire safe and ideal considering the morning near frozen state. It was a bit windier and cooler on Saturday but flying conditions were still good. Weather conditions improved on Sunday and by the end of the day the skies were much calmer with a beautiful blue sky.

Please, use the "Read More" button...

We knew it was going to be a challenge, so we planned with a fire pit, small portable heaters and layers of warm clothing. A variety of activities were under way to help keep us warm during the weekend including free door prizes, raffle tickets for the LOC IV, the NAR Rocket Contests and Doug Knight and his students' NASA project.

Thanks to Julie B for recording the results for the NAR competitions which included the C Eggloft Duration (any rocket with a "C" engine capable of carrying an egg), the B Streamer Duration (any rocket with a "B" engine and a Streamer return), the Set Duration (50 seconds, any rocket that will lift and land at exactly 50 seconds), and the 1/2 A Parachute Duration (any rocket with a "1/2 A" engine and a chute).

Doug Knight's (our favorite Collage Mad Professor) group is doing a class NASA project which includes studying how the exhaust stream of another rocket motor using reverse thrust affects the rocket near MACH speed. Unfortunately the second attempt to light the reverse thrust didn't work and the group will have to attempt this again in February.

A number of "really cool" door prizes were given out to mostly kids and a few adult kits and large chutes for the adults.

The winner of the LOC IV raffle drawing was Ben Godsell. Yeah Ben!!! He is scheduled to come out in February to grovel before Louise in order to collect his prize.

On Saturday enough ROCC members were present that we were able to have an election. This is what was decided:

Ralph Roberts will continue to be President, he could not pay anyone else to enter into the race

Brad Shea will be the Vice President; this is a new position in the Club

Roy Potter will remain as Secretary and Louise Ferrell (ME!) will serve as his assistant, learning the "tricks of the trade".

On Saturday we had 30 actual fliers and 110 launches and on Sunday we had 39 actual fliers and 125 launches.

LP = Low Power, MP = Mid Power, HP = High Power.

Roy Potter, flew a number of competition flights including the B Streamer, Set Duration, 1/2 A Chute Duration and of course the Eggloft; unfortunately the last egg was scrambled. He also flew the Sounder on MP, the Snowhite on LP and the Estes V-2 on MP.

Charlie Ogino, experimenting for the TARC, Team America Rocket Challenge, flew his "TARC" rocket on MP. He had a number of beautiful flights during the weekend unfortunately their last launch on Sunday resulted in the rocket and altimeter getting lost high in the trees at the far end of the property. Good luck! Believe us when we say, We Feel Your Pain.

Bob Bernatchez had an extremely busy weekend with the NAR Contest, and involved with the B Streamer contest, Chute Duration, Set Duration and the Eggloft Duration. He also flew his Astro I, Patriot and Pathfinder on LP and his Orbit, Big Brute and Mattra Magic on MP. Bob flew his Juno I commemorating its 50th anniversary.

Ralph Roberts, participated in the B Streamer and the 50 second contests and flew his USA I and the Nike Smoke on LP and he attempted a 3 way drag race with the Patriot.

Steven Ayers, flew his Michael Jordan on LP; what hang time!

Thomas Ayers, flew his No Name on LP.

Wayne Hill, had an extremely busy weekend and was fully involved in the 50 Second Duration, the B Streamer, the 1/2 A Chute Duration, and the Egg Loft competitions. Wayne also flew his Nike Smoke, the Stonebreaker, the Mark II, the Tomahawk, the Scorpion, the 050, and the Cici Glider all on LP.

Kelly Casey, had a busy day flying her Quibit, Cinco (twice), the Sunrise, and the Venus Venture on LP and the Honest John on MP. What a day!

Doc Russell was very active and participated in the 50 Second Duration and the B Streamer contests. He flew his very own Testor # 1 twice on LP and his Testor # 2 on LP.

John Bergsmith was at the launch pad quite a bit with the Full Moon, Razor (twice), Vanguard, Patriot, Big Daddy, Cluster Bombs, Stormcaster, Mimi-Bertha, and Der Red Max on LP.

Ashley Bergsmith also had a busy day and launched the EZ Payload (twice), Outlaw (twice), Full Moon and the Black Diamond on LP.

Mark Easterly flew the Aspire on MP.

Brad Shea had as always an interesting weekend. His most current invention the Grassfire was quite successful with a variety of LP and MP motors. Brad was active in the B Streamer, 50 Second Duration and the Chute contests.

Doug Knight, had some interesting and at times unfortunate flights involving his original Attack where the chute didn't deploy resulting in a core sample, his Seeker on LP, the LOC Aura Extended on MP an the PML Calisto on MP.

Joe Kernan (?) flew his Orange Pen- 15 on LP.

Andrew Torey (?) launched his Slash on LP.

Brian Eagle launched the Horizon and Weasel on MP and the Big Bertha on LP.

Keith Biddinger launched his X-Caliber on MP.

Macey Biddinger launched her Blue Hisser on LP.

Sandy Houston, was busy all weekend and participated in the B Streamer and the 50 Second Duration contests in addition to launching his Big Daddy and Sunfire on LP and his original Sh Arrow on MP as well as the Big Daddy on MP.

Corky Story launched the Phoenix on HP.

Steve Koehler launched the Seeker of Truth on LP.

Tommy Propst, participated in the Eggloft competition despite, '' I hate eggs" and also launched his Phoenix on LP for it's first flight.

Guy Ogino launched the Baby Blue twice on LP.

Erica Owens launched the Fat Boy on LP in the 50 Second Duration contest.

Caleb Moss flew his original White Lightening on MP with a TARC Altimeter and Test 1 TARC Practice on MP.

Weston Faulkner launched the Black Diamond and the Astron Outlaw on LP.

Tim Durbin flew his reliable Chester Cheetah both days on MP.

Jimmy Koehler, launched the Triton X and Screaming Mimi on LP.

Russ Kirkley (?) launched the Black Hawk Down on MP and the Grip Tape Rocket on LP.

Nicky Koehler, had fun launching the Feista at least 3 times on LP.

Keegan B (?) flew the Mr. Rocket on MP.

Andrea Koehler launched the Flash on LP for it's first flight.

Brandon Jackson had a beautiful flight with the Aldeboran with a HP Redline and the IO on MP Blue Thunder. Brandon also flew his original Scrapper on LP and the Seeker on LP.

Tori Jackson launched the Flying Pyramid, the Baby Bertha and the Big Daddy on LP.

Curtis Jackson launched his original Green Slime, the Shadow, the Patriot and Big Bertha on LP.

David Clancy launched the Outlaw Returns and the first flight for X-Classified Test on LP.

Tony Stitt was of course both original and cheap with his made from scrap, Scrap II on MP, and the Super Big Bertha, MRC Rocket and Big Bertha on LP.

Terry Baucom launched his ever-dependable Fat Boy on LP and 2 Up on 2 D 12-3's. What fun!

Drew Baucom launched the Whistler on LP and participated in the 50 Second Duration contest.

Maddy Haring, launced some really cool rockets including the Red Dragon, Pinky and Big Dawg on LP. The Pokadot Mania on MP was a perfect flight with the main at 300 feet.

Brian Helms launched a No Name on LP with rear chute deployment.

Jay MIchael launched the Patriot on LP in a 3-way drag race and flew the Crossfire, the Ansari-X and G Whiz on LP.

Steve Bumgarner, great seeing him back out on the flight deck after being the prisoner of his job for so long. He was involved with the B Streamer contest and launched his original Trident on MP.

Kyle Casey launched the Buster, Cluster Bomb, Selta Flying Saucer and Paveway on LP.

Rachel Clancy, Rachel was sick but she wanted Marvin the Martian on LP to get home.

Heidi Casey launched Mom's Snapshot on LP a number of times; smile!

Kelly Jenkins launched the Patriot on LP in a 3-way drag race and flew the Deep Space Transport on LP and the Warthog on MP (Black Jack).

Jim Weisel launched his original Gold Dome and Chrome Dome Mod on LP.

Matthew Helms flew the ESTES NSA on LP.

Ben W launched the Gold Dome twice on LP.

Sarah launched the Hi Flier on LP.

Michael Braden launched the Poison Dart on LP.

Thanks to everyone who attended and helped out for making this launch a truly great time for all! Please remember that we are always looking for volunteers to help with setting up and tearing down. Please see Prez Ralph, Louise or Roy if you would like to sign up to help; sign up sheets are available at the sign-in table at each launch.

Our next scheduled launch is for February 16th and 17th. Hope to see everyone there!

Remember to keep those exhaust nozzles clear; see you on the flight line.