March (the real one) post-launch report

March Launch Report. 21 – 22 March.

Well, after a number of months, due to a lot of random weather restrictions, we FINALLY had a regular 3^rd weekend of the month, full two day weekend launch.

And it was great. Sunny, warm, T-Shirt weather all day Saturday with minimal winds. There was a possible threat of bad weather on Sunday but the forecast had it below Charlotte so we went with it and it also turned into a great day. High overcast dark clouds started the day then went away leaving us with, again, t-shirt weather, almost calm till about 3pm when light winds came in but still we had a lot of short to medium recovery walks.

Ken Allen of Performance Hobbies, Was there for Sundays launch delivering orders and keeping us supplied with our rocketry needs. I myself suddenly needed some 5min epoxy. There was so little wind that my “Coca-Cola” went up on a G and came right back down landing on the metal sawhorse Low-Power pads cracking a fin.

Jason Pettler had the grill up and putting out hotdogs and burgers by request, chips and drinks. Jason was also busy recruiting people into our new 2015 ROCC Membership.

LOST AND FOUND.

Still have a 4inch (LOC?) round tip nose cone, heavily weighted, painted black and white like I would see on a V-2 nose cone was found at the 31 Jan- 1 Feb launch.

Rodney Earp flew and lost a black/white V-2 at the Jan 1^st New Years launch, so it could be his.

Holly Lewis, we found your “Blue Phantom” in perfect condition.

2015, Annual ROCC ROCKET RAFFLE.

The last Raffle Rocket, “Three Seas” with a three 18mm motor cluster was won by Gary Pfister  and can pick it up at a upcoming launch.

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone who participated. The funds go into the club treasury to help cover the operational costs.

Pictures. Check the Gallery for launch photo’s, sometimes with captions.

Remember, for our embarrassment and your entertainment, any pictures you have from this or any 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, memory card or flash drive. We can always get it back to you. That’s how I do it.

Keep a look at the Web Site for information about the April over-night campout and Night Launch.

 Saturday, 21 march, 2015.

Winds were very light to calm till about 3 or 4 PM then light with a few gusts. Temperature was T-shirt warm and sunny all day.

We had  37 actual fliers  who put up  118 flights burning  127 engines.

That includes all clusters and multi-stage flights.

A’s= 10,  B’s= 9,  C’s= 28,  D’s= 7,  E’s= 16,  F’s= 26,  G’s= 14,  H’s= 12,  I’s= 5,  J’s= 0,  K’s= 0.

(Remember, what I write is influenced by the penmanship/spelling of the writer.)

Charles Long flew his Estes “Big Daddy” done up V-2 style on a D12-5. He flew his tubular “Green Machine” on a F25-4 and then a F50-6. The “Screamer” flew with a cluster of two C6-5’s and the “Red Stripper” flew on a F25-4.

Brandon Jackson flew a Public Missiles “Pterodactyl Jr” on a H163-7wt, a stars and stripes flag like “Old Glory” went up on a E18-5. A Public Missiles “Phobos” flew on a G64-7w and his “Aldebaran” went up on a H165-7r.

Doc Russell flew a nice extended “Talon-II” on a G64-5. His cluster driven “Laser-X” on two E12-6’s. The “Pinky” flew on a D12-5 and his Scottish Plaid “Shamrock Express” went on a F20-7.

John Bergsmith flew a (Mad Cow Kit?), “Cow-a-bunga” on a H123. A LOC “Mini Magg” flew on a I-285r which should have really shot up. His mega mosquito looking “Mozzie” flew on a F40-7.

Ryan Bergsmith flew a Flis-Kits Triskelion “Star” on a C6-5.

Lucy Franzen flew a “Top Shot” on a D12-3 and a Estes “Sky Writer” 3 times on C6-5’s. A Estes “Bandit-1” on a mini A3-4t and the “Athena” flew twice on B6-4’s.

Eric Franzen flew the “Top Shot” on a D12-3.

Eleanor Franzen flew a Estes fleet with a “Blue Ninja” on a C6-5, a “Heat Seeker” on a B6-4, a “Cross Fire” on a B6-4 and a “Hi Jinks” on a B6-4.

Larry Becigneul flew a Estes “Gnome” on a mini A3-4t, a “X-Flyer-2” flew on a A8-3 in a drag race with Shawn. A Estes Pro Series-II “Ventris” flew on a G76-7g.

Shawn Becigneal flew the “X-Flyer-1” on a A8-3 in a drag race with Larry, who won? His “MK-109 Stingray” flew on a B6-4 and a Estes “Speed Freak” on a B6-4 which can tell you “just how fast did it go?”

Matthew Stecher flew a “M-104 Patriot” on a H160-7 Skidmark for a L-1 Cert flight that looked good. A “Mega Mosquito” flew on a D12-5, a Estes Pro-Series-II “Argent went on a G64-7w and a Estes “Leviathan” on a G80-7t.

Steve Batten is a movie title punster and flew a mini Bull Pup “Pup Fiction” (get it?) on a A8-3 and B6-4, then flew a Strong Arm “Strakes on a Frame” (get it?) on a G88-8ss.

Andrew Mogge flew the “Red Rocket” on a C6-5, the “Iron Man” on a F50-6t and a Estes “Mean Machine” on a E9-6.

Mark Mogge flew a nice “V-2” on a C11-5, a “Black Brant” on a H123w for a good looking L-1 cert flight. His “Jericho” flew on a F50-6t.

Charles Ogino  flew one of his custom built rockets, the “Carbon Cowboy 38” on a H123 for a successful dual deployment. His “Sky Wolf 38” flew on a G79, his “V-2 on a F42. His really nice “Punisher 3inch” went up on a powerful I-115 for a successful dual deployment at 500ft.

Joe Pettler flew the “Arua” on a E16-6, a “Der Red Max” on a C6-5 and a Estes “Duces Wild” on a cluster of two C6-5’s of which one failed to ignite but came out OK.

Jason Pettler, between serving dogs and burgers, he got up a large “Bull Pup” on a H238 and a “sea Wolf” on a I-285r. It angled over the Simpson pasture which he was able to recover fine, but the nose cone, with 2lbs of weight broke free and apparently buried itself in the soft soil and could not be found.

The East Alexander Middle School TARC team made eight test flights of the “O.J.” Orange rocket on F36-5 blue streak motors going for a 800ft altitude, a flight time of 46 – 48 seconds and a undamaged egg cargo. Getting the flight weight and flight drag to get the desired goal takes a lot of flights.

Michael Hollowell flew the LOC? “Nuke Initiator” on a G76-4g and his half naked (topless) Public Missiles? “Thunder and Lightining” on a I-366r for a successful dual deployment at 500ft.

Roy Potter. I flew my “Thumper” on my last two F24’s that have been in my motor box way too long. My “Stars and Stripes” flew on a H238-6 but the ejection compression had too much resistance between the chute piston and the motor so blew the fin canister off. It fluttered down without damage and the chute deployed normally so I can glue it all back together later. My “Coca-Cola” went up on a G40-4 from the HP pad to come down on a chute landing on one of the LP pads cracking a fin. No drift at all. The “Target Drone” went up and pooped its chute (rear ejection system) for a perfect nose first landing. The “Pepsi” rocket flew on a G71-4r and my LOC extended 4inch “V-2” also flew on a G71-4r but the momentum caused both of them to fly into the chute partially deflating the chute for a flat but surviving landing. Pepsi also ran into its chute but fell out of it.

Randy Hewat flew a Estes “Scout” on a A8-3 and a “Star Light” on a C6-5.

Jonna English flew a Estes “Purple Crayon” on a C6-5 and a Aero Tech, long and tall “Mirage” on a G76 for the last flight for the day at 5:57.

Steve Brown flew a scratch built rocket, the “Gremlin” on a C11-5, a Quest “Novia” on a A8-5. His LOC “Forte” clone flew on a long burn H73-8j, I love those dark smoky motors.

Scott Pennington flew his Mars Snooper clone, the “Mars Snoop Dog” flew on a C6-5, a classic NCR “Archer” flew on a G40-7, a “Harpoon” went on a E9-4, a Estes Cosmic Interceptor “Cosmo” flew on a E9-4, a Estes Black Star Voyager “Black Star” also flew on a E9-4 while a LOC “Weasel” flew on a F15-6. The “Three Amigos” flew on a cluster of three C6-5s. The “Purple Magic” flew up on a H410-7dm. his Estes Pro-Series-II “Ascender” flew on a F15-6 while the Estes “F15 Eagle” jet fighter flew on a C6-5. It looks so cool under thrust.

J.R. Devine flew a Estes three stage “Comanche” on a D12 to C6 to C6-5. His Estes “QCC Explorer” went up twice on E9-4s which looks good considering it is a difficult kit to build. His “Phoenix” flew on a couple of E9-4s also while the “Black Knight” flew on a C6-7.

Malcolm Smith flew a classic Aero Tech “Mustang” twice on E16-4s.

Avery Walden flew a Estes “Bandito” on a mini A10-3t, the “A.F. Air Force?” flew on a C6-5. The “Tran-star Carrier” flew on a C6-5.

Spencer Walden flew his LOC “Forte” on a H100-8dm with a sport camera. Anybody smile?

Logan Wood flew his Rocket Raffle prize of a Estes “Graduator” for two flights on F16’s.

Owen Teague flew a Estes Pro-series-II “Ascender” two stage version on a F15 to F15-8. His scratch built “Yellow Jacket”, with cardboard fins, flew two times on F15-8s while the “Flying Colors” flew on a C6-5 in a drag race with Mike W.

Dave Popkin flew his, get this, the “Mini Toy Box” on a G250-14 long seconds.

Bonnie Gordon flew a Estes two stage “Solar Flare” on a B6 to A10-3t.

Mark Bartkowiak flew a Estes “Super Neon XL” on a E9-6 that kato’ed but I think it came out damage free.

Mike Wolschon flew a Estes “Fly Colors-II” on a C6-5 in a drag race with Owen T.

Courtney Tomkinson flew a Estes “Big Bertha’ on a D12-5.

Devon Tomkinson flew a LOC “Mini Magg” on a I-212-7ss. I think this was the neon green Magg that made a tree landing on the far side of the tree line where another 10 feet and it would have cleared.

Sunday, 22  march, 2015.

Started grey overcast but soon cleared up, very calm and t-shirt weather for the rest of the day.

We had  27 actual fliers  who put up  71 flights burning  73 engines.

That includes all clusters and multi-stage flights.

A’s= 4,  B’s= 7,  C’s= 18,  D’s= 5,  E’s= 11,  F’s= 11,  G’s= 8,  H’s= 5,  I’s= 3,  J’s= 1,  K’s= 0.

(Remember, what I write is influenced by the penmanship/spelling of the writer.)

The East Alexander Middle School TARC team made seven test and some qualification flights (they burnt 15 motors this weekend) of the “O.J.” Orange rocket on F36-5 blue streak motors going for a 800ft altitude, a flight time of 46 – 48 seconds and a undamaged egg cargo. Getting the flight weight and flight drag to get the desired goal takes a lot of flights.

Spencer Walden flew his LOC “Forte” again on a G115-6 then went supersonic I think on a H400-10 and yes he got it back after landing not to far away.

Avery Walden flew his “Navigator” on a D12-3, then on a E9-4 in a drag race with his “Executioner also on a E9-4 which was pretty good. His LOC “IV” (Mini?) on a C6-5, the “A.F.-1” flew on a C6-5.

Micah Epps flew a LOC “Fantom” extended kit bash on a I-280dm with a zipper-less design and dual deployment at 500ft for what looked like a good L-1 cert flight.

Doug Knight, mentoring the EAMS Tarc team also flew his, made in the bathroom, “Toilet Tubes Rolls of Terror” on a G33. It has 13 tubes acting as tubular fins. It’s flown before and it flew fine again. He can be a conservative flier also, he flew a stock Aero tech “Mustang” on a F50 sparky.

Anna Grace Knight flew a “Black Lighting” on a C6-5.

Kaitlin Pettler flew her Estes “Freedom” on a C6-5 and her original flying pig, “Peppa Pig” on a C6-5 that had a surprising kato that looked like it suffered no damage.

Joe Pettler flew a “Forula 54” on a G64.

Jason Pettler flew what I was waiting for. His giant 71/2 inch yellow and black “V-2”. It flew up on a J381 skidmark. We all held our breath when the body continued up over and laid over the chute and looked like it was going to be bad, but it rolled off the chute letting it inflate for a safe recovery.

Steve Brown flew his “Runt” on a F35-7w. He flew the bottom section of his “Big Nuke” on a H242-7t then relaxed with a Estes “Sizzler” on a C6-7. His ready to be retired “North Star” survived another flight on a C6-3. His scratch built “Gremlin” flew again Sunday on a E9-8.

J.R. Devine flew his “Black Knight” twice on D12-7s, his “Phoenix” flew twice on E12-8s and his Estes “QCC Explorer” on a E9-4 then a E12-8.

Roy  Potter, I reflew my “Target Drone” poop-chuter on a H128-6w that made a few people ask, “How’d you do that?” “Pepsi” flew again on a G71-4 where the LOC “V-2” made a better flight on a G64-4w than the G71.

Shawn Becigneal flew his Estes “Sky Writer” on a C6-5 in a drag race with Avery. A Estes “Der Red Max” flew on a C6-5 and a classic Estes “Alpha-3” on a B6-2. A “Mega Mosquito” flew on a D12-3.

Larry Becigneal flew his Estes Pro-Series-II “Ventris” on a F22-5j and Pro-Series-II “Argent” on a G64-7w.

Keith Biddinger flew his (Public Missiles?) “Endeavor” on a I-800 with a dual deployment at 500ft for what looks like a good L-1 Cert flight.

Ryan Bergsmith flew a bigger “Blue Crayon” on a G64-4.

John Bergsmith flew his big LOC “I Roc” on a I-470-9, nice big and loud.

Andrew Lewis flew a two stage Estes “Mongoose” twice on a B6 to B6-2. His “Black Panther” flew on C6-7s three times. His “Top Shot” flew on a E9-6.

Holly Lewis flew her Estes “Phantom Blue” twice on C6-7s and was lost but we found it later. We will have it out at the next launch. Her “humdinger” flew twice on A10-3ts.

Jonna English flew her Aero Tech “Mirage” on a G64-5 and a Estes “Purple Crayon” on a C6-3.

Stephane Smith flew a Estes? “Magician” twice on E9-6s.

Natalie Smith flew a “Mini Max” on a A8-3 then a C6-7.

Brandon Smith flew a Estes “Cross Fire” on a C6-7.

Bryson Smith flew a Estes “Baby Bertha” on a C6-5.

Mark Ferrell flew a skinny “Vagabond” on a F24 that had a impressive dual deployment system that deployed the chute at 400ft.

Michael Hollowell flew his LOC “Expediter” on a H178dm and again on a H123-6w. His “Mini Bruiser” (scaled down version of the biggie) flew on a B4-4.

Pete Brennan flew “Pinky” on a A3-4 and the “Aero” on a F25-9.

Hope everyone had fun and will be looking forward to our next launch, till then, remember to keep your exhaust nozzles clear.

Roy. ROCC Sec.