May 6th launch report from Roy

Welcome to the Post-Launch report for Sunday, 6 May 2012

This was like a one day “Catch-up” flight weekend for those who could come out for a non-regular scheduled flight day. A chance for those who missed the last launch, get in some flights before Crop Season runs us out, and just for the heck of it.

Hopefully, if all those camera owners we saw at the launch contact Doc, we will have pictures from the Launch, if so check it out in the photo Gallery.

For our embarrassment and your entertainment, any pictures you have from a recent launch that you would like to get posted on the web site for everyone to see, just 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.

This launches special category was  “Bertha-Poloza”.

Any rocket built as a “Big Bertha” or any other brand look-a-like, all size’s and colors.

We had almost a full rack of “Bertha” look-a-likes, all sizes and colors, check the list below for all the Bertha’s launched.

Mays regular launch, the 19 – 20^th of May’s Special Category is “Der Red Max” / “Goblin”.

We know that a lot of you already have some version of a Der Red Max.

Both models look alike so you can build one and name it either way. Again, all sizes.

We continue 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.

New Insurance Procedures: In order to comply with the Tripoli Rocketry Association and the National Association of Rocketry insurance requirements, our Club, “R.O.C.C.” has chosen to register our scheduled launches under the NAR flight regulations and for the insurance coverage that best meets our needs.

(NAR recognizes TRA membership and covers them under their blanket of coverage)

R.O.C.C. will still be registered as a joint TRA and NAR associated club and Tripoli flights and certifications will continue as normal.

Joining the National Association of Rocketry is quite easy.

You will find a application form in every Estes rocket kit you buy, or you can even join on-line at WWW.NAR.ORG. There are 4 yearly annual memberships.

Junior, 15 and under =$25,   Leader, 16 –20 =$25,   Senior, 21 and up = $62.

Family = with one regular Senior and $12 for each additional family member.

This membership completely covers you for liability, damage and injuries at our launches.

Sunday, 6 May 2012. 

The weather was pretty much good, some steady breeze toward the creek, but most flights took that into account and were angled or just allowed to windcock if they had the tendency to do so.

There were only a few long walks or dreaded tree landings.

We always advise “Choking” down your chute and streamers if your rocket can take it when we have a breezy day, or down sizing your motors for a lower altitude.

The fields beside and beyond the Wind Sock were still clear and open with new corn shoots just only a few inch’s tall at that time. The tall barley was in the fields behind us toward the barns.

We had 22 fliers who put up 73 flights burning 79 engines. That includes multiple flights, multi-stage and the occasional cluster flights.

A= 6,   B= 9,   C= 37,   D= 7,    E= 10,   F= 2,   G= 5,   H= 3,  

Who flew what? Remember your penmanship influences my spelling of what I can read. 

Roy Potter, I made a test flight of my “Thumper” on a E20 to see if it the “E” was good enough to lift the   21 ounces it weight, so I would know that a E20 or E30 could lift the Big Bertha upscale named “Long Sword” for its first flight. Almost too high, it was closest to the trees without actually getting into them.

Doc Russell flew a unpainted “Special” on a F20, a 1.5 upscale “Sprint” on a C6, the “Double Nickel” on a C6 and his Bertha entry, the “Bertha-Esque” on a D12.

John Bergsmith flew a scale “Honest John” on a C6 and a classic “Big Bertha” on a C6 in a drag race with his son Ryan. They crossed on take off then stayed pretty parallel.

Ryan Bergsmith flew a Estes “Sky Trax” and a cool looking “Bulls Eye” on C6’s, a “Dragonite” on a B6, then his “Bertha” entry on a C6 drag racing his dad. Its always a toss as to who wins these.

Keith Biddinger flew the “Mystic” on a CTI-E75, that is a fast burning “E” motor! He also flew a “X-Calibur” on a G71-R and for the last, or almost last flight of the day on a G69 Skid-Mark sparky motor.

Dan Mathers flew a “Baby Bertha” as his Bertha entry on a B6.

Chad Sides flew a Estes “Alien Invader” for a flight on a C6, and a multi colored, poka-dotted large “V-2” on a G115 for its 1^st flight. It didn’t come with a motor retaining system, so our “Rocket Ralph” showed him a improvised system for now.

Conner Sides flew a Estes “Mean Machine” on a E9 that went too high and made the dreaded rocket munching tree landing directly over the creek. His “SR-71 Black Bird” did much better on C6’s along with his “Alien Invader” flight also on a C6. Conner also made a first flight of a Aerotech “Initiator” on a F26 for a successful fight.

Erica Owens flew a “Bertha” look-a-like on a C6 for her bertha entry.

Sandy Houston, in-between plotting our next rocket contest, flew a “Cherokee” on a E23 and a yellow/black pattern “V-2”. Most V-2’s were yellow/black, they just looked Black/white in the old B+W photos from that time period. His Bertha entry was a “Ranger”, a bertha look-a-like from SimRoc? It flew on a cluster of three C6’s and managed to miss the trees.

Kelly Jenkins flew a Estes “Deep Space Transport” and a Estes “Patriot” missile on C6’s and a “Der Red Max” modified to fly on a D12. It originally flew on 18mm motors but now they can come in many versions.

Brian Gossiaux flew a Estes, modified from a 188mm to 24mm, “Venus Probe” for a standing landing on a C11. It is heavy enough to need that extra thrust. He flew his “LOC IV” twice on a H152 to show-off his dual deployment ability with a separation at apogee with a small drogue chute to fall to 500 ft for a successful main chute deployment well into the right field away from any trees. Then he cooled down with a Estes “Condor” on a A8, I forgot, is that a glider?

Burke Wallace, his entry in the Bertha flight was a classic Estes “Big Bertha” on a C6 then flew a “Fire Cat” and a original Estes “Interceptor” on a C6 for a cool looking flight.

David Reid flew a rocket named “Mini David” on a A8 in a drag race with Harrison. He also flew a Estes Star Wars “Tie Fighter” on a C6 but his big black and white “Bomark” on a G77 was what I was waiting for. That really was the Wow Factor. He also flew a LOC “Mini Mag” on a G185.

Harrison Reid flew his “Mini Harrison” against Davids in a drag race also on a A8. He also flew a Estes “Screaming Mimi” whistle rocket on E20’s, a Estes “Silver Comet” on a D12, a “Sea Hawk” on a D12, a “Goliath” on a C6 and a “Snitch” on a B6.He had a Quest “Glider” fly on a C6, a “Fat Man” on a D12, then a “Fat Boy” on aC6, a scale “Bull Pup” on a A8, a “Cork Screw” twisting rocket on a C6 then a “Banshi” on a B6.

Bryson Smith flew a custom rocket with homemade decals named “Buzz Light Year” on B6’s and a Estes Viking named “Natalie” on a A6 and a “SR-71 Black Bird” on a C6.

Terry Baucom brought out that giant D-Cell battery of his, the “Dura Cell” and flew it on a H180.

Matthew Baucom flew a Estes “Big Bertha” on a C6 as his Bertha entry.

Ralph Roberts flew his Estes caveman rocket, the “Rock-it” on a D12 and a “Big Bertha” on a C6 for his Bertha entry.

Sid Haynes flew his “MLAS” on a B6 for its 1^st flight followed by a C6. His really nice “Saturn V” flew for its first flight on a C6 and then later again on a C6 for a sufficiently high altitude. He also flew a stock Estes “Der Red Max” on a C6 followed by the larger “Der Dred Max” on a D12 for its first flight. I believe one of the Max’s lost a nose cone and chute to the trees. It’s a curse.

Davis Cook also had a Estes “Snitch” and flew it on a B4.

Victory Christian Central School “TARC” team, with Brady Lister acting as team leader flew “The McCullough” on a F50-6T and a F26-6T on practice flights with 2 eggs and for a 800 ft target altitude. They were successful with the eggs and a 783 ft altitude.

Way to go guys. They have already made their qualification flights.

Thanks to everyone who helped out.

Many times some asks “Who makes that rocket?” so I’m trying to identify the kit maker in the reports so interested fliers know what kit to look for.

Hope to see you on the pads and remember to keep those exhaust nozzles clear.

Roy, ROCC Sec.