Launch Reports May and June 2010

Welcome all Rocket Dudes and Dudettes. MAY � JUNE Launch Report.

First thing I want to mention. �LDRS�, Mondays at 9PM on the Science channel.

The �Science Channel� on cable is advertising �LDRS�, Mondays at 9PM.
I don�t know if it is a limited series or a one-time show, no details were given in the commercial. And no specific LDRS number or location is identified.
Maybe it�s a limited series showing what LDRS is and many of the flights at the LDRS events.
I�m going to check it out next Monday at 9PM.

I want to again thank those who provide us with photos of our launches. If you have any and would like to get them posted on the web site for our embarrassment and your entertainment contact Doc Russell at docr@wireknot.com or jeanr@wireknot.com. Or as some have done, pass it on a disk or flash drive. We can always get it back to you.
The last two launch�s were small and informal, but when we return to our larger launch�s we will be continuing with our Range Safety standards by making specific assignments of a RSO, Range Safety Officer to pre-inspect rockets before flights and the LCO, Launch Control Officer to check range conditions and control the launch�s in a timely and efficient manner. So far this is working fine with little to no effect on launch flow.

Check both the WEB site and at the launch for info on volunteering for LCO (Cert Lv-1 preferred, but any responsible and experienced adult can apply) and RSO (Cert Lv-2 required) shifts. It�s great for anybody who isn�t flying that day but wants to take part anyway. And it�s fun.

Second thing, lets go over the one day May launch on Saturday the 8th.
It was windy, mostly blowing the wrong way, and hot. The barley was everywhere we wanted to land at 3 ft high and thick, and young corn sprouting on the other side.
We really didn�t expect a large showing under the circumstances.
We had 9 fliers and we put up 28 flights burning 29 engines with one cluster flight.
Ken Allen was present and had all our attention at one time or another seeing how we won�t see him until Freedom Launch at Orangeburg in September.

Roy Potter, I flew the �Whistler� on E9�s, the �Union Jack� on a E15. Test flew the �T-4� on a G77 to see if it could get it up high enough for a successful chute deployment. It was good.
Bob Bernatchez flew his NCR �Obit� on a F24, the Estes �Sidewinder� on a D12, his �Initiator� flew on a E16 and his �Maniac� on a C11.
Malcolm Smith flew a LOC �Star Burst� with a cluster of two D12�s. His �Cinco Saucer� flew on a C11 for its first flight. His LOC 6in �Mini Mag� went up on a I357 for a great high flight, but a insufficient charge failed to eject the nose and chute. It landed ballistic in the tallest barley way down the field. Being unpainted, (naked) the same color as the dry barley made it hard to spot. Malcolm and Doc were directed by radio to the immediate area where Doc spotted the red chute from the mangled remains. Malcolm figures he can rebuild it from the fin canister up.
Doug Knight flew for the fun of it today. The �Black Ninja� flew on a F50, which was caught by the wind so borrowing Brads car took off to chase it successfully. The �Neon Chaser� flew on an E30. Dougs �Dads Rocket� and a LOC �Graduator� flew on Cessoroni G69 skidmores. The �Blue Bird Zero� flew on a D10 and the �Bye Bye� on a D12 which was returned.
David and Michael Strunk both came out and flew a LOC �Forte� on a H165-R (R= Redline, red colored exhaust) that was cool and a �Big Daddy� on an E9.
Doc Russell flew his �Sprint� 1.5 upscale on D12�s and his �Airel� on a H128 after cleaning it up from last months egg cargo hard landing.
Keith Biddinger flew his �Onyx� on a F27-R for the last flight at 5:15 Saturday.
Mark Ferrell flew a cool �Endeavor� on an I285-R to fall drougless with a successful main chute deployment at 400 ft.
Brad Shea flew the �Black and Blue� on a G75 metalstorm sparky. The �Venture� flew on a D12 that was never seen again after the clouds.

Third thing, now lets go over the June two day launch the 19th and 20th.
It was really hot, very little wind on the most part and a very limited narrow landing area. The barley was harvested giving us a narrow landing zone on the left side of the runway. The right side was 6-foot tall corn. There was 3ft corn on the top of the hill. Again we didn�t expect very many to arrive, but we wanted to at least provide the opportunity for people to come.
We had 5 fliers but we put up a number of 48 flights burning an equal 48 engines.
The flights for Saturday and Sunday are combined here to keep it simple.

Roy Potter, I flew the �White Dwarf� on D12�s and E9�s and the �NASA� normally on a D12, on a C6 getting a low but safe flight. I flew the �Union Jack� normally on a E15, on a E9 also getting a low but safe flight. My little �Mini Red Bull Puppy� flew on B4�s and B6�s with the horseshoe streamer. My �Whistler� flew on a number of E9�s ending in the trees for its last flight on Sunday. Anyone got some tree spikes and a belt?
Bob Bernatchez flew his �DC-Y� experimental spacecraft on a C6, his �D-Region Tomahawk� on a D12 and a D24. The BMS Canadian �Mini Bomark� flew on mini A10�s and the �Path Finder� on a D12. His Estes upscaled �Interceptor-E� flew Saturday on a F24 and spent the night in the cornfield. You know how I�m always telling you to spot a landmark and walk a straight line to your rocket? It doesn�t work in the corn. You just can�t walk a straight line in the corn when you can�t see where you�re going. So Sunday I brought a compass and on the third run I came up to it. His Estes �Patriot� flew on C6�s but made a tree landing on its last. Then his �Initiator� on a F40 also drifted into the trees. We found them but not reachable. Anyone got some tree spikes and a belt?
Ralph Roberts flew his Estes caveman �Rock-It� rocket on a D12, a �Big Bertha� on a C6, a �Patriot� on a C6 and a small �Nike Smoke� on a lot of A8�s that he wanted to burn up.
Doc Russell flew his �Sprint� 1.5 upscale on C6�s, a �Grass Hopper� on a D12, the �Gecko� on a E15, the �Pinkey� on C6�s and the �Weasal� on a E15.
Jason and son Joe Pettler flew Joe�s �Steelers� rocket on D12�s, a �Super Neon� on a B6 and a �Metalizer� on a B6.

That brings things up to date.
We aren�t too sure what chances we might have for July and then August. Next month the corn will be 7 � 8 feet and the narrow barley fields will be replanted in soybeans I think.
Keep checking the ROCC Web Site for updates.
Plan on September in Orangeburg (WWW.tripolisc.org) for the big East Coast Rocket Launch that usually functions as our September launch.

Hope to see you on the pads and remember to keep those exhaust nozzles clear.
Roy,
ROCC Sec.