Launch Report January 17 2009

So, how is everybody doing after the ROCC January �ARCTIC BLAST� launch?

We had our regular Jan weekend launch last weekend on Saturday the 17th.
It was suggested that we name it the �Arctic Blast Launch�, which seems to fit the circumstances for the launch.
The morning temperature started at 14 degrees, 8 degrees higher than the 6 degrees forecasted the evening before and then seemed warmer than the 33 degrees forecasted for the days high.
With the low breeze, clear bright sunny skies, open reflective fields and everybody dressed for the weather, everyone seemed comfortable and I heard few complaints. Those of us who were constantly on the move, walking to retrieve rockets and hustling from one place to another actually were too warm. I had to unzip the front of my radioactive orange colored cold suit. Those who sat in lawn chairs and didn�t move very much were very appreciative of the fire pit that we had burning all day. Doc Russell provided two loads of firewood that warmed a lot of hands and backsides.
We also had a scout group from the Concord area. I forgot to have the scout leader sign them in, my bad.
As has happened before with scout groups, we get so involved in assisting them get set, repairing broken fins (epoxy takes a looong time to cure in the cold) that they ended up getting up more flights than we did. We had a good time with them and hope they come back, they made hot dogs, yummy.
We had 34 listed fliers, I think 19 of them were scouts looking at the sign-in sheet.
We had 87 flights, and it looks like 58 of them were the scouts. High five guys, you did great. Many of the scouts got 2 or 3 flights in each.
We didn�t have a Sunday launch due to the weather forecast, which was a good decision looking at how damp, cold and breezy it turned out to be for most of Sunday.
LP = Low Power flight, MP = Mid Power flight, HP = High Power flight.
Keep in mind, I know everyone�s hands were probably shaking while signing-in or filling out the flight slips, but I have to be able to read them, so some miss-spelling below may occur.
Additional thanks to Ken Allen, High Performance Hobbies, who braved the elements and distance to come out to our launch and provide the things we needed.
Thanks for Louise Ferrell for coming out to balance our books. It looks like we can pay our bills now.
Doc Russell, Kudos, for taking the time and effort to run the flight control table most of the day allowing everyone else to play while he worked. He did get some time to prep and fly his �Bumble Bee� on LP.
Terry Baucom mostly came out to conduct business but took the time to get his �Big Daddy� up on LP.
Brad Shea, our new ROCC Club President, no parade or party for him, we just put him to work as soon as we could, was not the first launch for the day, I didn�t notice who was, but he did have the last launch for the day with his new �3.54� on HP for its first flight that drifted long away. While he was out looking for it, a Lady horse rancher from down the road came up in her pick-up and returned it while he was gone.
He also got the opportunity to fly �Look Ma, No Fins�, a finless design on HP for its first flight since it being rebuilt.
John ?, a scout I believe, flew a rocket named the �Air Raider� on LP.
Jonathan Garner had a old or reissued Estes �Sissor Wing� glide return rocket on LP.
Bob Bernatchez, Mr Space Fleet �R� Us, flew his �Big Brute� on MP receiving some fin damage on landing after a great flight, His up-scaled Estes �Interceptor-E� on MP for a realistic looking flight, His �Super Big Bertha� flew on MP also and his classic �Geo Sat LV� on LP.
Clark Millikan flew a �Mustang� on MP and a �ARAAM� and �Navjo� two stage on LP for a great two stage flight. They look so impressive when they work.
Professor Doug Knight, brought out some of his students again, I don�t know what his challenge was this time, he always has some kind of physics class assignment for them. He himself flew a LOC �V-2� on MP for a first flight successfully, a �Mustang� (a popular kit) also on MP and a small Estes �Eliminator� boosted up to MP for a drag race with Charlie Ogino. I think he got it back.
Robby Stegall made two attempts for a Level-1 certification. The �Knight's Pride� went up on HP with a unsuccessful first flight but made it on the second try. No damage on the first try. Just got tangled.
USLI Sekle ?, The flight slip was incomplete, flew a HP flight with altimeter controlled chute deployment. That�s what I got o the flight slip.
John Bergsmith flew the �Thundaer Bee� and a �Der Blue Max� both on LP. He had a upscaled? �Goblin� that flew on MP.
Roy Potter, I was assisting the repair of rocket fins and adding clay to nosecones to balance some of the scout rockets. But did get time to do a drag race with Emily Nelson, both with extended Big Daddys. My rocket, the �Stars and Stripes� tried to go up on MP, but misfired and had to fly solo later. I also flew my �Union Jack� on MP with a British flag paint job with matching chute. I had a good walk to get it back.
Charlie Ogino was out to mostly make test flights with his TARC (Team America Rocket Challenge) competition rocket but did get in on the drag race with Doug Knight with his �Eliminator� on MP. His igniter misfired so sat out the drag race a flew solo later.
Georga and Bridgett flew a rocket named �Oh Holy Pikachu� on LP, on the flight slip she said, �Scream, Pikachu, I chose you!�
Mike Garner flew a rocket listed as �NORAD PTO� on MP.
Todd Haring usually has something interesting, and flew his upscaled �Der Red Max� on MP and his reliable �Risky Proposition� on HP with main chute deployment at 500 ft.
Brian Couch make a level-1 cert flight on HP, no name given.
Troy Luke Cole flew a rocket called a �Transformer� on LP. I think this rocket can be changed from short to tall by removing body sections.
Dylan Kerkhoff flew a �Puma� and �US Army Patriot� for multiple flights on LP.
Tommy Propst flew his �Fat Boy� and a Estes �Phoenix� on LP.
Michael Yenik got some repairs to his custom designs, the �Kamikazee� and �Mosquito� which flew straight and stable on LP.
Ethan Willett flew his happy rockets, the �Flying Death� and �Angel of Death� on LP.
Donte Payne flew a Estes �Fire Hawk� for multiple flights on LP.
Keith Wickersham flew a �Converter� modifiable rocket on LP.
Emily Nelson took the time to fly a drag race with me with her extended Big Daddy painted and named after her hero, �Iron Man� on MP. I burned my igniter and sat on the pad while she roared off. That�s 2 for 2 for Emily. Wait till next month.
Joseph Tompkins flew, get this, I didn�t make this up, the �Doug's Pretty Pony� on HP for a level-1 certification flight. I hope he got it.
Mark Easterly flew his �Stealth� and the �Horizon� both on MP.
Chase Brown flew his �Chrome Dome� first then again as �Chrome Dome Reborn� on LP. He also flew a �Gnome� on LP.
Jim Weisel flew the �Dragonite� on LP and a �Chrome Dome� modified to carry a camera on LP.
Sarah Weisel flew a �Hi-Flyer� for multiple flights on LP.
Ben Weisel flew a rocket named the �Gold Dome from the Grave� on LP.
Stuart Samuels flew a rocket named �A Wing and a Prayer� for multiple flights on LP.
David Cruse flew a tell narrow �Mean Machine� on LP.
Jay Cruse flew a �Yankee� and a �Code Red� both on LP.

That was it for a cold but fun rocket launch day.
Keep a look at the web site for any info for any chance for a make-up launch next weekend.
www.rocketrycarolina.org.
Take Care and remember to keep those exhaust nozzles clear.

Roy
ROCC Sec.