February 2008 Launch Report

Welcome, welcome everyone to the February Post-Launch Rocket Report, being brought to you by Louise Ferrell, Assistant Secretary.
The forecast for the entire weekend was cold, windy and rain, but, fortunately once again the reports were in error. The weather overall was very good but we had winds that varied from almost calm to strong gusts which made predicting rocket course at times difficult. (Roy�s Note: I myself had two MP flights come in ballistic behind the flight line so we need to take extra care on
a rockets angle and try to take into account the effect of �wind Cocking�.)
Roy�s note: Remember that Louise and I are limited by how well we can read your writing on both the flight slips and the sign-in sheet.
Ben Godness (spelling?) see Roy to collect your new Loc/Precision 4 inch, �LOC IV� kit you won in the ROCC Rocket Raffle.
Team America Rocket Challenge (TARC) was represented at our rocket launch. This is the 6th Annual Team America Rocketry Challenge. Participating teams will try to design, build, and fly a model rocket carrying 2 raw eggs and return them safely to the ground while staying aloft for exactly 45 seconds and reaching an altitude of 750 feet. Local qualifying scores must be submitted to AIA by Monday, April 7, 2008 to be eligible for the National Finals. Teams whose score is one of the 100 best will be invited to compete for a share of the $60,000 prize package at the 2008 National Finals at Great Meadow, in The Plains, Virginia, on Saturday May 17, 2008. AIA and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) are proud to sponsor the annual Team America Rocketry Challenge, the largest model rocket showcase on the planet.
On Saturday we had 30 actual fliers and 91 launches and on Sunday we had 31 actual fliers and 88 launches.
LP = Low Power, MP = Mid Power, HP = High Power.
Roy Potter, flew a number of flights but unfortunately his �Sounder� on MP hesitated on takeoff, and rose sluggishly and went off course and almost crash landed into the Port-a-Pot. (Roy�s Note: not salvageable this time) He also flew the new �Pulse Fighter�, a nice sci-fi job, the �Stars and Stripes�, the �USAF�, and the �White Dwarf�, all on MP.
Charlie Ogino, experimenting for the TARC, Team America Rocket Challenge, flew his "TARC" rocket on MP. He had an official flight that went 759 feet (target is 750) gaining him 19 points. Good luck Charlie! He also launched the TARC 2 on MP five additional times. One launch didn't seperate open and it came in ballistic. (Roy�s Note: While looking for a ejected engine casing,
Charlie�s people found Prof, Doug Knights 29/360 engine casing from 2 months ago. I took it home and cleaned and lubed it)
Guy Ogino launched the �Goldfinger� on MP and it was the 1st flight for the �Aspire� on MP.
Bob Bernatchez had an extremely busy weekend, as usual. He flew his �Patriot�, �Nike Apache�, the new Estes �D Region Tomahawk� (really cool new rocket kit), �Space Ship One�, a �Battle Star Galactica Colonial Viper� (Roy�s Note: that Viper was one of the original Estes kits and is over 30 years old and still looks and flies great), the �Pathfinder� and a �Sidewinder� all on
LP. He launched his �Orbit�, �Initiator�, the �Mercury Atlas�, and his �Matra Magic� French Missle on MP.
Ralph Roberts, our awesome President, (Roy�s note: Ralph spends a lot of his time assisting others so dosen�t get a lot of flights in himself) launched his cave man �Rock It� on LP and launched his crowd pleasing �Fear Factor� on a HP Redline.
Tony Stitt is congratulated on achieving Level 2 certification, go Tony! He launched his �Black Heat�, which is an original scratch design with a L2 HP Redline, main deployment was at apogee, nice job.
Steven Ayers, flew his �Alpha Red� and �Starhawk� both on LP for first time flights.
Thomas Ayers, flew his �Buzz Probe� on LP. Wayne Hill, had a busy Saturday launching his �Stonebreaker� on MP and the �
Texas Firefly� (2 stage), the �VF 261�, �6 Footer�, �Type 30�, his Paper �V 2�, the �Brad Hunter Glider� and the �Rose-a-Roc� all on LP. There is a web site where you can download, copy and print out a rocket that you cut
out, glue together and then can fly. Paint job printed on the sheets.
John Bergsmith was again at the launch pad quite a bit with the prehistoric �Rock-It�, �Explorer�, the �Praetor�, another �Explorer� , �Double D� with a D cluster, a �Alpha III�, �Maxi Streak�, a �E Ninja� and a classic �Der Red Max� all on LP. He then flew the �Super Big Bertha�, the �Initiator� and the �Liquidator� all on MP. Wow, what a day!
Ashley Bergsmith also had a busy day and launched the �Explorer�, the �Metalizer�, what a cool silver rocket! �Little Ian�, what an awesome rocket, a �Full Moon�, a �Praetor�, the �Liquidator�, a �Fat Boy and then a �Big Daddy� all on LP. She launched a �Liquidator� on MP twice. Wow, Ashley takes after Dad!
Mark Easterly flew the �Aspire� on MP and finally launched his �Arreaux� on MP and launched his �Stealth� rocket on HP. Very Cool looking rockets!
Brad Shea ,our dutiful Vice President launched his most creative �Colgate� Whirly Gig spinning wing on LP and MP.
Hope Shea, daddy�s little girl, had a busy fun day launching her �Spirit Fly�s� for it's 1st flight and The �American Flag� on LP and �Bluebird� and the �Blue Sky� on MP.
Keith Biddinger launched his �Silly Spool� on LP. A kit spool or a scratch spool?
Macey Biddinger launched her �Firestreak� on LP.
Sandy Houston, launched his �Callisto� on MP and a non-flight static deployment test on the �Callisto� as well to test if the ejection charge was sufficient to eject the nose and chute.
Corky Story always has some really cool rockets and launched his �Big Black Brant� on a HP AMW (cool), a Big �V-2� on HP, a smaller �Black Brant� on LP and the �Strong Arm� on MP.
Jimmy Koehler, launched �Sareh�, the �Triton X� and a �Screaming Mimi� on LP, that's some fun stuff!
Nicky Koehler, enjoyed the day and launched his �Seeker� and �Fiesta� on LP.
Andy Koehler had fun and launched the �Seeker�, �Flash�, and the �N.A.J.� on LP.
David Clancy launched the �Mad Marven� on LP.
Todd Haring, launched his �Just Cuz�, an original scratch design, on a HP.
Maddy Haring, once again stuns the crowd with her spectacular flights including a classic �Der Red Max�, �Blue Ninja�, �Fat Girl�, �Stripes� and the �Pinky� on LP. �Pok a Dot� on MP and the �Mad star� with a Cesaroni HP.
Mark Ferrell, launched his �Green Ghost� on MP with unfortunate results and his �HV Arcas� on MP.
Lance Stewart, had a very exciting day launching his �Blue Ninja�, �Clipson Tigers� (?), �Quark� and �Hi Jinks� on LP, what fun!
Keegan Beachin (?), launched the �Stardart� on LP and the �MR� on MP.
Charlie's Mom,? launched a �Patriot� on MP for it's 1st flight, yeah!
Brian Eagle, launched the �Weasel� and the �Horizon� on MP.
Emily Nelson, always has cool rockets but unfortunately had problems with her Bast, an original which was being launched for the first time. The ejection failed to eject the nose or chute. It �poofed� instead of Banged! Wind cocked for another near port-a-john impact. She also launched her �007 Silver Bullet� on LP and her �Catwoman� successfully on MP.
Terry Baucom, launched his �HV Arcas� on MP.
Braden Michael, launched for the 1st time his �Blue Ninja�, the �Heatseeker�, �Metallizer�, and the �Arrow� on LP, busy day!
Jake Donofrio, launched the �Patriot�, a boost �Glider� and the �Poison Dart� on LP.
Vic Duniec, launched the �John McCain� (Roy�s Note: a political statement Vic, what if it crashed?) on MP.
Elizabeth Duniec, launched her �Blue Ninja� (lots of Blue Ninjas this weekend), �Skywriter� and �American Flag� on LP.
Brad Duniec, launched his original �Satellite Interceptor�, �Skywriter� and �Cluster Bomb� 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 March 15 and 16th. Hope to see everyone there; we are expecting a big crowd!
Remember to keep those exhaust nozzles clear; see you on the flight line
Louise Ferrell, Assistant Secretary.