February 2011 launch report
Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 8:02AM Welcome all Rocket Junkies. This is the Feb 2011 Launch Report.
Yes. It’s a big one. We were happily busy out there.
Did anyone take pictures at the Feb Launch?
I always want to thank those who have provided us with photos of our launches in the past.
WE Want More.
If you have any from a recent launch and would like to get them posted on the web site for our embarrassment and your entertainment contact Doc Russell at rocketrycarolina (at) gmail (dot) com or as some have done, pass it on a disk or flash drive. We can always get it back to you.
We are 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 has worked fine with little to no effect on launch flow.
Check both the WEB site and at the launch’s for info on volunteering for RSO (Cert Lv-2 required) and LCO (Cert Lv-1 preferred, but any responsible and experienced adult can apply).
It’s great for anybody who isn’t flying that day but wants to take part anyway.
And it’s fun to push the red button.
Saturday, Feb. the 19th.
It was very comfortable, warm even, and WINDY. GUSTY. BLOWING. I have to admit I was surprised as to how many fliers came out and how many braved the winds to put up as many flights as we did.
Luckily the winds mostly blew down the runway behind us so we had more recovery room.
We all did fly using common sense precautions with angling, streamers, low altitude, choked chutes and waiting for just the right moment. We did have some big highpowered flights too.
By the end of the day, after a total of 90 flights, we only had one non-retrieved loss of a separated nosecone and chute from J.P.
TARC and USLI teams were both out making test and qualification flights. TARC, I understand almost maxed their requirements on altitude and time.
Ken Allen of Performance Hobbies was back again in attendance providing us with all our rocketry supply needs.
Rocket Ralph provided drinks, huge and regular hot dogs. It’s so convenient for him to do this.
We also had a ROCC Rocket Raffle. Saturdays winner was Alex Milliken who chose a built/painted ready to fly “Extended Big Daddy”. Sundays winner was Steve Batik who also chose one of the “Big Daddy’s” who plans picking it up at next month’s launch.
We will have the remaining 4 drawings at the March Launch.
$1.oo a ticket. There is one extended “Big Daddy”, a $40 “D-Region Tomahawk” kit in the package and two plastic “Crayons” that are popular to build into rockets.
We had 31 brave fliers with 90 flights burning 93 engines with clusters and multi-stager’s.
A= 11, B= 13, C= 19, D= 11, E= 10, F= 11, G= 11, H= 2, I= 5. Engines burned.
Louise Ferrell functioned mostly as the LCO today.
Who flew what? Remember your penmanship influences my spelling
John Metcalf, flew a “Arreaux” on a F22, a LOC “Forte” on a G88 and a “Lil Nuke” on a E30. John unfortantly lost one of the new “Altimeter 1’s” that reads the maximum altitude. They are really small, under 1X2 inch. His was wrapped in red. I have one, they are really neat.
Bob Bernatchez flew a Estes “Beta” 2 stager twice on a mini A10 to a mini 1/2A3, all recovered. His “Titan III E” on a D12, a veteran “Wac Corporal” on a F52, a “Pathfinder” on a D12 and his “Manic” on a D12.
Steve Morris flew a “Storm Caster” on a C11 and a “Firehawk” on a C6.
Kathleen Morris flew the “Sport” on a B6.
Stuart Samuels flew his rocket powered football “Go Deep” on a E9, his flying pyramid “Sunrise” on a G64 and G76, air brake return once and chute the second time. The “Scintar” went on a E9 and a hastily built “Coke and a Smile” out of a coke bottle flew on a B6 for the last flight of the day at about 5 something. The “Green Lantern” made a high flight on a I161.
Roy Potter, flew my rebuilt extended Big Daddy renamed “Red Dwarf” on E9’s and my little “Red Pup” on B6’s with the horse shoe streamer.
Doc Russell flew a “Fed Ex” stelth pyramid on a F20, a “Lazer X” on a cluster of two D12’s, a “Blue Ninja” on a D12, “Pinky” on a C11 and the “Scout” on a A8.
Mike Garner flew a two stage named the “Purple” on a C6 to A8 and once as a single stage on a C6. The “Guardian” flew on a G76.
Eddie Haith, A neat guy, flew the “Athena something” on a F52 and a “No Name” on a G79.
Sandy Houston flew a “Arrow” on a E18.
John Bergsmith also flew a “Storm Caster” on a D12, a “Deuce’s Wild” on two C6’s and a “Super Alpha” on a C6.
David Strunk flew a dual deployment “Forte-2” on a H170 with the main deployed at 500 ft.
Michael Strunk flew the “Zippy” on a C6.
David Neiman flew a “Big Daddy” on a E9, a “Blue Ninja” on a D12, the “Amazon” on a C6 and the “Prospector” on a C6.
Todd Haring flew a dual deployment, the “Madsters Revenge” on a I175 with the main at 400 ft, but after separation the chute failed to deploy and hung across the powerline in the front field. Luckily it draped to the ground, after safely cutting the line the body slipped off to the ground.
Terry Baucom flew a dual deployment, the “Little Pedro” also on a I175 with the main at 600 ft and a “ARCUS” on a G64.
Tyler Deaton flew a “Astra III” on a A8.
Prof Doug Knight and the MCC MAE USLI competition team flew a ¾ scale NASA test rocket “Mitchell Space Hornet” on a H400, a I285 and a I470. The last flight drifted way past the road and over the trees but was safely retrieved.
Doug Knight also individually flew the “Grey Mortar” on a G54, a “Phobos” on a G185 that was a bullet. Then a structurally reinforced “Storm Caster” on a F240! And he got it back. Thats Doug.
Paul Phillips flew the “Red Thing” on a G53, the nose and chute was retrieved after separating. A “Scalpel” with curved swept forward fins flew on a D15, the “Green Machine” on a E28 and the “WISB-II” (What It Should Be) on a G53.
Randy Bird flew a “Alpha III” on a A8 and a “CC Express” on a D12.
Mitchell Bird flew a Estes “Converter” on a C6. It can be taken apart and reassembled in many different configurations.
Jim Eddings and Spencer Thompson with the TARC team flew the “Schmetterling” on F52’s and “Asperagus” on F50’s for test and Qualification flights.
Brad Shea flew the “Frankly I Don’t Care” on a F59 and then a G250 for a WOW flight.
Wayne Hill flew a “Alien Space Probe” on a D12, a “Paper V-2” on a C6, the “Ricochet” on a B6, the “Penetrator” on a B6 and the “April Dancer” on a B6.
James Tanzer flew the “Goldie” on a A8, B6 and C6, the “US Army” on a B6 and a “Sky Bird” on a A8.
Alex Millikan flew a “Snitch” saucer on a C6, a “Fat Boy” on a C6 and a “Bull Pup” on a B6.
Clark Millikan flew the “Lazer-X” on a E18.
Joe Pettler flew a “Red Max” on a B4, a “Hornet” on a C6 and a tubular “Super Neon” on a C6.
J.P. Appenzeller flew a nice “Sea Hawk” on a E18, a classic “Initiator” on a F52 and a also nice looking “SA-14 Archer” missile on a G64.
Emily Nelson flew her movie inspired, airbrushed “Avatar” on a G80, she had to hike into the field across the road but it was a great flight. The gold colored “Sultans Court” flew on a E15 but the shock cord snapped and the body lawn darted with minimal damage and the nose and chute retrieved from a tree on Sunday.
Sunday the 20th was really a much better and less windy day.
Ken Allen was still there and Ralph had the drinks and hotdogs.
We had 23 fliers with 65 flights burning 78 engines with multi-stage and cluster rockets.
A= 5, B= 10, C= 8, D= 10, E= 18, F= 15, G= 6, H= 4, I= 2. Engines burned.
Who flew
Roy Potter, I reflew my rebuilt extended Big Daddy “Red Dwarf” on E9’s and my Aerotech “ARCAS” on a F50. I flew my 4inch, rear ejection, bright orange/white “Target Drone” on a H128 for it’s 3rd attempt for a correct flight and deployment with final success. It looked cool coming down on the large matching orange and white paneled huge donut chute.
Steve Morris flew a “Graduator” on E20’s and a boost glider “Condor” on A8’s.
Will Morris flew a “Baby Bertha” on a C6.
Ian Morris flew a “Fire Hawk” on a D12 with a onboard video camera. Anybody see the pictures?
Bob Bernatchez kept the LCO busy with a “Hell Fire AGM-114” missile on a F39, a “D-Region Tomahawk” on a F24, a “Juno-1” on a D13, a original “Mars Lander” on a C6 followed by a “Mini Mars Lander” on a Mini A10. With the favorable conditions he wished he had the large upscaled Mars Lander on the field. His “Wac Corporal” flew on a G64 and a “Replica 2650” with a cluster of three E9’s that did result in a long walk. His “Standard Arm” flew on a E28.
Michael Hollowell flew a dual deployment LOC “Expediter” on a H123 with deployment at 500ft. A dual deployment LOC “4-29SS” with a cluster of four F23’s with deployment at 500ft, but the altimeter failed, darn, I hate it when that happens. He also flew a Aerotech “Mirage” on a G53.
Ralph Roberts, our TRA Prefect and master of the hotdog grill, flew the Estes, So Easy a Cave Man can Do It, “Rock-It” on a D12.
Louise Ferrell took a break from LCO to fly her Rebuilt L-1 “Mini Mag” on a H123 for a perfect flight that we thought would land in the field behind farmer Simpson’s but draped across the tree/fence line and was easily retrieved. She also flew a “Onyx” on E20’s, and a “Baby Bertha” on B6’s and C6’s.
David and Michael Strunk flew a dual deployment “Forte-2” on a I357 with deployment at 500ft and than a really big, unpainted (naked) “Black Brant” on a I117 long burn fast jack for it’s first stability test flight. It looked good, so he plans on powering up next time.
Jim Eddings and the Gaston school TARC Team flew the “Asparagus” on F50’s for test and qualification reaching the 750 target altitude and 41.3 sec of the target 45 seconds.
John Bergsmith flew a nice “Honest John” on a G64, a big old bertha called “Brighton” on a F40, a “Atlas Agena” on a C6, a scaled “Titan III C” on a C6 and a “Initiator” on a F40 for the last flight of the day at 4:35 PM.
Brandon Jackson flew a “Bellatrix” on a E18 and the “Aldebaron” on a fast boosting G125.
Curtis Jackson flew a cool looking “Black Widow” on a G83 bluestreak and a Science Fair Project rocket called the “Rocket-A” on a E18. It took 3 igniters to do it but it went fast.
Joe Pettler flew the “Silver Streak” on a A3, a “Red Max” on a C6 and his favorite football team mascot rocket, “Steelers” on a D12.
Jason Pettler flew the “Viper-3” with a cluster of three E9’s, impressively equivalent to a G engine. A “Screaming Eagle” jet fighter flew on a B4.
Brian Stachwiak flew a really nice looking 35 year old “Little Joe II” on a B6.
Sandy Houston reflew his upscaled “Alpha” on a D13, very fast.
Tom Mann flew a Estes “Executioner” on D12’s.
Jayden Manns flew a “Wizard” on a B6 and a classic “Alpha” on a B6 also.
Doc Russell flew a sci-fi nice Estes upscaled “Interceptor-E” on a E9.
Jayden Markwald flew his tubular “Super Neon” on B4’s, and a bright red single stage version “Renegade” on D12’s.
Brianna Markwald flew a “Mini Mite “ mosquito on a mini A3 and found later at the end of the day. She also flew a old Big Bertha” with a egg on a B6. Not to high there.
J.P. Appenzeller flew a 4inch “Patriot” on a G64, the nose ejected without pushing the chute out but luckily sustained little damage and a new very pretty “ARMRAM 3” on a slow burning H73.
That brings things up to date.
We are still planning on our regular 3rd weekend monthly launch for next month.
Keep checking the ROCC Web Site for updates.
Hope to see you on the pads and remember to keep those exhaust nozzles clear.
Roy,
ROCC Sec.
Reader Comments (1)
Awesome launch report Roy! Thanks for that!!!
I didn't get any pictures this launch and only did slow-mo on the USLI project. I need to check with Doug to make sure posting the videos wouldn't be against any rules for the project, though, so nothing for a while.
Thanks for making ROCC a great club, guys (and gals).
Sandy.