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.

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Monday
Apr072008

March 22nd Make-up launch report

Welcome All Ye Rocketeers to the ROCC makeup launch of March the 22nd.

Well�. After a few days work, a few days in Atlanta accompanying my wife to a business conference, (a mini-vacation for me) a few more days work, and now it�s time to get out a post-launch report for the 22nd.

I remember that it was a pretty good day overall. Some breeze, some light winds that only were a problem if your rocket flew down wind or caught a thermal like Bob�s D. Region Tomahawk.

The TARC teams used every minute to get up practice and qualifying flights before their April deadline. Ken Allen did a lot of business and we gave him a lot of business after we broke some of our toys.

We had 23 actual fliers, more visitors and family members and we had 93 documented flights.

Please, READ MORE...

Roy Potter, I flew my new Loc/Precision Isis kit renamed �Atomic Red� for its first MP flight that cato�ed both the exhaust and ejection ends of the single use motor without damage. The Econo-Jets come two to a pack and the second flight was fine. Enough that I wanted to �Up-it � a little so went to a higher MP that cato�ed blowing the fin section apart. That will be a rebuild job. And Todd Haring offered to photograph everything so I can send in the info to Aero-tech for replacements. Thanks Todd. Then I flew my �Stars and Stripe�, my Estes 4 inch �V-2�, �Orange Dwarf� and Sci-fi �Pulse Fighter� on MP. The Pulse Ftr nose and chute separated and drifted far off across the trees past Simpson�s farm, but when Bob B came back from retrieving his Tomahawk, a farmer had draped it across a fence where we could pick it up. We do have some good neighbors out there.

Ralph Roberts spent most the day helping others and prepping his �Freedom Express� for a dusk HP Skidmark flight. But on the last rack of the evening it experienced a blowby suffering extensive damage. Ralph remarked that it was a good excuse to retire it so he could build another better one. We all do that, building can be more creative.

Mark and wife Louise Ferrell came out, Mark flew his LOC �Aura� and a �HV Arcas� on MP. Louise, you want to take care of April�s launch? We are switching back and forth allot.

Kelly Jenkins was busy with a Aero-tech �Astro-D� and �Aeurea Arrow� on MP. He also flew a �Deep Space Transport�, the �Mickey Mouse Storm Caster� for it�s first flight, a classic �Der Red Max�. a �Patriot� and the paper rocket of �Evel Knevel Sky Cycle� all on LP. Ask him about downloading and printing paper rockets.

Todd Haring, when he wasn�t taking fantastic pictures of our rockets at liftoff, or of my Cato�s, flew his Performance Rocketry �Gizmo� on HP for the 3rd flight of the day.

Wayne Hill wanted to test fly a competition glider on LP but snagged the rod and took it with it on launch. No damage I think. He also flew the �OSO�. A �Viking-1�, the �Type 30� and a paper �Gremlin� all on LP. Then the �MR-1� and a �Flying Saucer� on MP. That was a impressive height for a saucer.

Mike O�Hara flew a Aero-tech �G-Force� and modified �Big Daddy� on MP for several flights. We still haven�t found his Executioner.

Corky Story flew the �Wild Eye� and a �Black Brant� on LP, an �Interceptor E� upscale of the smaller Estes kit on MP a few times and his big impressive �Honest John� scale military missile on HP for a great flight.

Bob Bernatchez brought out his space fleet, so many to chose from. He flew the new Estes �D Region Tomahawk� on LP twice, first flight great, second it caught a light wind combined with up drafts that took it well past the Simpson Farm. He eventually came back with both his rocket and my nose cone and circular chute from earlier. He also flew the �Matra Magic R550� French missile and �Initiator� on MP, �Side Winder� on LP, a TLP �AGM 78� on LP, then on the last rack of the evening a �Big Brute� on MP.

Jay Cruse, Pack 91 Concord. Flew his �Yankee� repeatedly thru the day on LP.

Grant Weisel, Pack 91 Concord, flew his �Puma� also on LP thru the day.

Hayden Weisel, Pack 91 Concord, Flew his �Puma� on LP thru the day on LP.

Adam Harris flew a modified Estes �Rock-it� caveman rocket on LP that was installed with a digital recorder. I think he has to take it home to download the images. Did everyone smile?

John Bergsmith flew a �Little Ivan� and a �Maxi-Streak� both on LP and a Aero-Tech �G-Force�, a �Little John� and a �Eliminator� on MP.

Sandy Houston flew his �Callisto� on MP to fall drougless at apogee with chute deployment 17 seconds later. I don�t know if the timer was triggered by ignition or separation but in either case it was too long but was saved first by the soft farm ground, but was lost in the trees the second attempt. In the search for it we did find a large PML HP rocket that had been suspended for at least a year, in good condition. It was made of the PML plastic tubing material and fiberglass fins. The only damage was from the wood in the engine mount swelling and probably freezing causing tiny cracks in the body. Ralph is pretty sure who�s it is.

Steven Ayers flew a LP �Gemini�s Forge� at least twice.

Thomas Ayers flew his �Metalizer� on LP at least twice also.

Mark Eastery flew a nice 3-inch �Horizon� on MP and one named �Binder Stealth 38� on HP.

Tommy Propst flew a Estes �Bandit� on LP, the �Rainbow Ninja� on LP and a Estes �Phoenix� on MP I think twice but the engine burned thru the side of the Estes case thrusting the rocket sideways and burning part of the engine section on the last flight. Bummer Dude.

Brad Shea flew one named �AAh-Choo, I sneezed� on MP with a different parachute ejection system. A Slim Shot in the nose with a flashbulb to eject the chute. I think it flew more than once.

Doug Knight came out with his students and TARC team, but got some recreational flights of his own. He flew a LOC/Precision �Aura� on MP in a 29mm drag race VS nobody, cause nobody would race against him, it was a great flight with a large streamer. He flew his �Callisto� on MP and a Dynastar �Grappler� on MP for a first flight.

SCS Rocket Team on the last rack flew a scaled NASA test flight of a system of burning a LP engine in the nose to blow the air away from the rocket as it is propelled up thru the less denser air wave ahead of it by a MP engine. Kind of cool, now to get some recorded data to compare with normal flight acceleration. They also flew a �Un-named� rocket on MP and a AV �Grampus� on MP. I�m not sure if they were also part of any study.

I think they were also flying the �A Knightillator� on MP for good qualifying flights and one simply named �The Most Superbly Fabulous Rocket ever Built� on MP.

James Lowry was the listed flier of some TARC practice rockets on MP with eggs to see if everything was working right.

Caleb was the listed flier for more TARC practice rockets.

(Both teams learned the importance of creating pre-launch check-lists. One flight each member thought the other inserted the ejection charge, Nope. A later flight proved that nobody loaded a chute. Yes, check-lists do serve a purpose, especially if a number of individuals are involved in prepping a rocket for launch. You don�t know what the other guy did, or didn�t do)

Vance was the listed TARC flier for the �My Teenager� MP flights with eggs and altitude and times for qualification flights.

Paul Phillips flew the �Don�t Blink� twice on MP and didn�t loose it, Amazing. And the �Phoenix� (not the military rocket) on MP, named after rising from it�s own ash�s. Must have been a spectacular prior flight.

OK, that was it for our Saturday only make-up launch on the 22nd.

I had fun, damage and all, others had fun, the TARC teams got their flights in, and we are all looking forward to April�s launch on the 19th and 20th.

Keep in mind that Ken is not scheduled to be here due to a schedule conflict if you need anything Low Power to the higher Mid Power, the best local source is the �Hobby Town USA� out at 3710B WT Harris Blvd at the Sugar Creek intersection shopping center down from the Good Will center. They have a wide selection of single use and reloads at reasonable prices and many discounts as much as $5 under retail price, especially longer delay engines. They have Estes, Squirrel Works, Custom Rockets, PML, LOC and other kits.

OK, have fun in the meantime and lets either bribe or threaten the weatherman for April.

Take care and remember to keep those exhaust nozzles clear.

Roy.
ROCC Sr. Sec.
We live to serve.