May Post-Launch report from Roy

This is the Post-Launch report for a windy 19/20^th of May 2012 

Sorry it took so long, I got Saturday done then ended with a long break due to work, school graduations and a few minor crises’ that drew my attention.

It was a sunny and light to moderate windy and breezy launch weekend.

Most of the rockets on parachute recovery went toward the trees were caught in a up draft from the wind blowing up against the tree line and were then carried over into the field on the other side.

Except for a Estes “Leviathan”, part of the new Estes Pro-Series 2 of new kits, we were able to recover everything that made it to the far field.

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

Hopefully, all those camera owners we saw at the launch contacted Doc.

I see we already have some pictures from the Launch, 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.

Also remember, ORANGEBURG Labor Day Weekend, East Coast Launch, three days of radical ultimate rocket launches. More will be announced, as we get closer.

The 19 – 20^th of May’s Special Launch Category was the “Der Red Max” or “Goblin”.

A lot of you already had some version of a Der Red Max or Goblin on hand.

Check the Gallery for pictures of the various Max’s and Goblins.

I thought the “Fred Max”, (Fred Flintstone) version was an original.

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.

Saturday 19 May 2012.

It was comfortable and sunny with light to medium winds around most of the day but most flights took that into account and were angled or just allowed to windcock if they had the tendency to do so.

The wind really didn’t slow things down much and with members of Cub Scout pack 715 from Weddington present, it proved to be a busy day. It really turned out to be a busier day than I expected. With attendance, no two weekends will be alike.

The fields beside and beyond the Wind Sock were still clear and open with new corn just about 12 inch’s tall at that time. The tall barley was in the fields behind us toward the barns.

We had 36 fliers who put up 111 flights burning 115 engines. That includes multiple flights, multi-stage and any cluster flight.

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

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

John Metcalf flew a “Mini Mag” for its first flight on a CTI Pro-38 H120-redline and a unpainted (naked) “Tomahawk” for its first flight on a F40 white lighting.

Sandy Houston flew the Fred Flintstone inspired “Der Fred Max” on a B6, a upscaled Estes “Alpha” on a C6 and a “Cherokee G” on a E16.

Erica Owens flew her “Fat Boy” on a C6.

Roy Potter, I was working a lot with the scouts so stuck with my “Red Bull Pup” on B6’s with the horseshoe streamer recovery.

J.P. Appenzeller was down from the Ohio area in town dealing with some property issues so spent the weekend with us. Nothing but LOC kits for J.P. He is a LOC representative. He flew a new LOC 5 or 6 inch “Cruise Missile” for its first flight on a J357 that got just a tad more altitude than he thought and made a tree landing down where the power lines cross the creek, but was hanging within hands reach making a easy recovery. He also flew a “Phoenix on a H268, a “SA-14” on a H143 smoky-sam and a “AMRRAM” on a I204 for a dual deployment.

Burke Wallace flew his new Estes “Leviathan”, part of Estes new Pro-Series 2 kits on a F50 but flew over and I was sure past the trees into the far field, but we never were able to find it. He also had a classic Estes “Maxi Alpha 3” that flew on a E9 and a “Red Max” on a C6 then a Semroc “Goblin” on a D12.

Adam Schultz flew his “hi Jinks” on B6’s and C6’s.

Bryce Burk flew the “Dragon Night” on B6’s.

Steve Brown flew a “Hyper LOC 300” on a I 161 white lighting for its first dual deployment flight but the shock cord separated allowing the main body to come in ballistic in Simpson’s pasture. The cargo and nose was recovered intact. His “Worm Burner” flew on a F35, a Quest “Cobalt” on a A8, the “Der Red Max” on a C11. A “level 2 attempt” went up on a J250 fast jack that deployed at apogee so high that it all just drifted well past the far field to the unknown. Brad was sure it went well past the hi-way.

Michael Hollowell blew a “Mini Bruiser” on B6’s and C6’s and a “Nuke Initiator Recycler” on a G76. His “Strong Arm” went up on a G76 but suffered a ejection failure and came in ballistic.

Brian Gossiaux flew a LOC “Expeditor” on a H152 for its first flight with dual deployment with main at 500 ft, but the nose and cargo section separated and fell to be recovered intact. He flew a “LOC IV” on a H225 for a totally successful dual deployment with main chute at 500 ft.

Jason Sheldon flew the Estes “Cross Fire, Tiger” on B6’s.

Malcolm Smith flew a “Mini Max” on a 1/2A3, a Semroc “Goblin” on a C11 and a 38mm “Cinco” (5 sided saucer) on a H178 dark mater engine. See the pic’s on the gallery.

Devon Tomkinson flew a “Super Baby Bertha” on a D12.

Courtney Tomkinson flew a Estes “Patriot” on a B6’s.

Doc Russell flew his 1.5 upscaled “Sprint” on a D12 and his big “John Deer” on a I 211.

Jeff Jones flew a really nice (Talon looking) ”Velociraptor” on a I 200 with a dual deployment and main chute at 400 ft. He flew the “Flying Guillotine” on a slowwww burn J90 white lighting with deployment at apogee by altimeter. The “Lil Diter” flew on a G54 also on a altimeter apogee deployment.

Brad Shea flew his “Not Another Nike Smoke” even though it kind of looks like one, on a J270 with a dual deployment with main chute at 700 ft. His “Der Mini Max” flew on a A3-T.

Tyler Deaton flew a “Astra III” on B6’s and a “Tracer” on a C6.

Kelly Jenkins flew a Estes “Patriot” modified to fly on a D12 and another “Patriot” on a C6. A “Der Red Max” flew on a D12 and then a “Mini Red Max” on a C6.

Dean kokatnur flew a old Estes egg carrier, the “Scrambler” on a cluster of three B6’s then three C6’s without the eggs.

Josh Kokatnur flew a Estes “Cross Fire” on B6’s.

Spencer Walden flew a “Mosquito” on a B6, a “Big Bertha” on a C6, a “F22 Raptor” on a C6, the “NASA Experimental” on a C5, “Star Ship Excalibur” on a C6, “Sparta Spaceship” on a B4, the “Argosy” on a B6, the “Trans Star Carrier” on a B6, a real old “X-15” on A10-T’s and a “SR-71 Black Bird” on a C6.

Ryan Mathers flew a Estes “Baby Bertha” on B6’s.

Patrick Husak also flew a Estes “Cross Fire” on B6’s. One of these two was unpainted.

John Bergsmith flew a “Initiator” on a G40, a “G Force” on a G64, a “Patriot” on a D12 and for his Max’x, he had a “Mini Red Max” on a mini A10-T, a Semroc “Goblin” on a D12 and then a stock Estes “Der Red Max” on a C6.

Ryan Bergsmith flew the “Bulls Eye” on a B6, then his “Star”, “Flying Pizza”, a “Snitch” and a “Red Max” all flew on C6’s.

Proff Doug Knight flew a Estes “Cherokee D” on a Cessoroni F85 and did indeed get it back. I think his was the last flight for Saturday.

Jeremy Stokes, scout leader for Pack 715 of Weddinton had the following scouts.

Eric Durkee flew a “Twin” on C6’s.

Keith Stokes flew a silver “Monarch” on a C6 that was later found across the far field.

Kyle Stokes flew a “Nitro” on mini A3-T’s.

Finn, flew a “High Flyer” on a B6.

Carter Sequine flew a “Taser Twin” on a C6.

Ralph Delcampo flew the “Rip Tide” on C6’s.

Tayler Luke flew a “US Army” on C6’s.

Tache Brady flew a Estes “Yankee” on C6’s and was also later found.

Sunday, 20 May 2012. 

The weather was sunny and with a light to moderate steady wind 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.

Also, again the rockets on chutes would catch the updraft at the tree line and make it to the other field. A few others and I made a few trips over to perform Search and Rescue operations.

We had 16 fliers who put up 54 flights burning 57 engines. That includes multiple flights, multi-stage and the occasional cluster flights.

A= 6, B= 5,   C= 20,   D= 13,    E= 3,   F= 3,   G= 4,   H= 2,   I= 1, 

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

Roy Potter, I flew my orange and white “Test III” on D12’s and the small “Red Bull Pup” on C6’s just to show off my Horse Shoe streamer.

Michael Hollowell flew a “Expediter” on a H123 on a dual deployment with a drogue at apogee and main deployment at 500 ft. His “Mirage” flew on a G76 and a “Mini Bruise” on a C6.

John Bergsmith, our ROCC El Presidente, flew a AeroTech “G-Force” on a G64 and a Estes “Maxi Alpha 3” on a E15.

Ryan Bergsmith flew a Estes “Sky Trax” on a C6, a normal sized Estes “Mosquito” on a mini A10, a Estes novelty kit that looks like a small “Flying Pizza Box” on C6’s, the “Square One” and his “Snitch” both flew on C6’s also. The “Star” flew on a B6.

Sid Haynes flew a Estes “Big Daddy” on a C11 then a D12, a “Blue Max” also flew on a C11 and a new Der Red Max” also again on a C11.

Larry Barker flew his new Estes Pro Max 2 series, “Leviathan” on a G40 with only a base paint job before he decides pretty it up with more paint.

Sandy Houston flew a AeroTech? “Arrow” on a E28 with a drag race with Brads Long Tall Sally.

David Reid flew a classic Estes “Cork Screw” on a twisted flight on a C6, a “Sea Hawk” went up on a D12 with a two chute recovery and a “Space Probe” and “Fat Bastard” up on a D12’s. He also flew a old Estes North Coast Rocketry “Phantom 400” up on a G80 and a 100 ft spool of red streamer clearly made it easy to see as it descended.

J.P. Appenzeller continued showing his LOC Precision line of rockets in flight. His Loc “AmRaam” went up on a H566 on a dual deployment with a drogue at apogee and main deployment at 500 ft, which drifted past the tree line far into the other field. His “I-ROC” on a I 243 did the same but by using a compass I brought from home, I was able to shoot an azmith, so I trusted the compass and walked a straight line out and found them just a bit down wind of the compass line allowing for continued drift after they disappeared over the tree line. And I was lucky.

Devon Tomkinson flew a LOC “ONYX” on a F22 and a Estes “Big Daddy” on a D12.

Ralph Roberts, our Tripoli Prefect and head guru flew Amandas “UFO” saucer on a D12.

Brad Shea flew his Estes “Blue Ninja” on a E15. Brad also flew his “Long Tall Sally” on a fast F120 against Sandys Arrow. I have to believe that Brad had Sandy in acceleration.

Kelly Jenkins flew a AeroTech “Wart-Hogg” on a F26 and then the “Cluster Foxtrot” on a cluster of four D12’s for a successful first flight. I think he spent part of Saturday fixing it for this.

Spencer Walden (I think) flew the “Black + Blue” on a A8, a “Nova Payloader” on a C6, a “Big Bertha” on a C6, a “Argosy” on a B4 dragging against his “Dare Devil” also on a B4. He flew his old “X-15” on A10’s, a “No Name” on a C6, a “F22 Raptor” jet fighter on a C5 and a old “Scout” on a A8. He was pretty busy out there.

Samuel M ? Flew a “Comet Chaser” on a B6 for its first test flight.

Erik Evens flew “my Mom” on a B6, “the Rocket that fly’s” on a C6 and then the “Nothing 123” on a C6. OK Erik, time to work on a naming program.

OK, the weekend was a woozy, and it may have to hold us through until maybe September before we cam breath rocket exhaust fumes again.

Also remember, ORANGEBURG Labor Day Weekend, East Coast Launch, three days of radical ultimate rocket launches.

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.