March 5th make-up day launch report
Monday, March 14, 2022 at 8:17PM Make-up Launch, Saturday, 5 March 2022, Post-Launch Report.
Overall, the day was much better than we were expecting.
The forecasted heavy cloud overcast disappeared sometime after 10:30. It was so gradual I didn’t even notice it until I was getting pretty warm and removing shirt layers, and then by the end of the day people were asking if anybody had brought any sunscreen. Also, by the end of the day, we were starting to drag as we realized we were not used to the sun and heat anymore since last year.
The minor wind was mostly toward the northwest slowly moving north and then a bit to the northeast. Of course that wasn’t constant. The breeze moved around a bit, but unless you had a real high deployment subject to drift or a rocket just decided to take-off in a particular direction, everything made a field landing. I think we had one tree landing recovered and one not. And one powerline tangle, and only one Kato with a Estes E15 exhaust nozzle failure. But, NO Fires.
Ken Allen of Performance Hobbies,
This Not being our regular scheduled launch, Ken was at another scheduled launch in Virginia I believe.
LOST AND FOUND
Check the box for a few nose cones, and a few other odd items.
As a note, when you are walking across the fields, keep your eyes open on the ground for anything. Not all motor casings look alike. Also there are mini altimeters, nosecones, motor retainers, ect.
Pictures. Check the Gallery for launch photo’s. We see everyone is taking photo’s. Lets Get them onto the ROCC Club WEB Site Gallery.
Just contact Doc Russell at rocketrycarolina@gmail.com, “or” as some have done, pass it on a disk, memory card or flash drive
ROCC Club Membership covers the costs of maintaining the launch equipment, supplies and our association fees with the “National Association of Rocketry” and the “Tripoli Rocketry Association” covering our insurance.
For memberships, check it at the launch site. We also now have new envelopes with a membership form that can be picked up taken home and mailed back.
ROCC Club “T” Shirt’s, are limited right now but can be purchased as the supplies last until a new source is obtained. Check on styles and colors available at the launch.
(Remember, the Donation Box goes to the Land Owner. Please Donate.)
Saturday, 5 March 2022
We had 11 fliers, and flew 43 flights and burnt 54 motors.
This includes all clusters and multi-stage flights
A= 4, B= 8, C= 10, D= 8, E= 10, F= 4, G= 7, H= 2, I= 1, J= 0, K= 0.
Remember, what I write is influenced by your penmanship and spelling.
John Kruger, Took most the morning with Doc Russell to prep his “Aqua IV” with a CTI H152-9 with apogee deployment for his L-1 Certification flight. It was a great liftoff and flight but the apogee deployment left it really up there drifting to the north east. Luckily it passed Mr. Simpsons to land alongside Tines Rd but laid over the roadside powerline. And then we discovered the numbers for the power people to come out (we’ve done this before) in the field book were out of date, so Monday was the earliest contact could be made. OH, the Cert flight is considered a success.
Mark Bartkowiak, flew his large Big Bertha looking “Golden Snit” on a Estes F15-6 for a normal first flight of the day, but the second flight attempt resulted in a exhaust nozzle failure just as it was clearing the rod. We thought we were going to have a grass fire but the fuel burnt itself out without providing thrust with no fire.
Doc Russell spent most his time assisting other fliers and electrical launch issues, but did get a chance to fly his cool looking scale jet fighter looking “X-717” on a Quest C12-4. Good flight and recovery, looked impressive under powered flight.
“Rocket” Ralph Roberts flew his scale “Patriot” on a C6-7 and then it was eventually found on the ‘right ’ side of the runway. We were so sure it landed on the “left side”. Duh! His yet primer painted Estes “Red Nova” flew normally on a D-12-7 for its 3rd test flight before putting the time in to paint it. His decades old “Cosmic Staff of Azul” (Monty Python Fan) flew on a CTI G131-8ss with a Jolly Logic deployment at 300ft, as one of the two last flights of the day.
Dan Rushing flew a yellow/black pattern Estes “V-2” on a D12-5 and a somewhat new Estes mini kit, “Lunar Scout” twice on a mini A10-3t that ejects the motor and is supposed to tumble recovery. The down scaled two staged “Hyper Bat” flew on a A8 to B6-6. Its felt the boost was under powered but survived. A scaled “1262 AIM” missile flew well on a D12-5. Dan also flew a Estes “Patriot” scale missile but on a underpowered B6-4 into a low flight that ejected after it had darted in the field. Just like in the cartoons. And with no damage, so it will be back.
Matt Rushing flew the “Tazz” on C6-3’s. The Tazz lifts like a regular rocket then at ejection the motor returns with a streamer and the fins change angle to return the rocket by Auto-Gyration (helicopter) safely to the ground. His “Der Red Maxx” flew well on a Quest C12-6fj. The “Air Mail” flew first on a C6-5 then a Quest C12-6fj.
So, the Quest C12 is a 18mm motor? That would open up possibilities.
Roy Potter, I was mostly busy at the launch table but Rocket Ralph filled in so I was able to get more flight time than Doc who was more occupied. My Rear-Ejection flights were the “Blue-3” on a F32-4, “Orange-4” flew on a G74-4, “White-7” flew on a “G79-4” and the “T-4” flew on a H135-4, all good poop-chute-ing flights. I did have a regular chute deployment flight of my old “Union Jack” on a G40-4 that ‘zippered’ it bad enough that I will have to decide to repair or replace. (that’s why I really like my rear ejection system) My “ARCAS” with a ‘zipper-free design’ flew on a F44-4 as the second flight of the last rack for the day. The F44 was underpowered so only made maybe 400ft before the Jolly Logic deployed the chute at 300ft where the chute actually opened maybe 50ft off the ground just in time. Need to work on that.
Ron Crosier flew his two stage “Shrike-D” (Jim Z Clone kit) first on a B6 to B6-6 (that was on the launch slip) underpowered but safe, then on a D12 to D12-6 much better. A Jim Z clone “Big Bertha” flew on a low test flight B6-4 then on a C6-5 with a much better flight. His Jim Z kit , “Avenger” two stage flew on a B6 to B6-6 well as the kit is fairly light.
Paul Kraemer had the most flights for the day at eleven. His Giant “Super Big Bertha” flew on a I140-7w with a high apogee deployment but still had a close landing in the field. The “Mini Cobra III” flew a cluster of three E31-8wt motors with a really fast takeoff and a high altitude. The “Ultimate” flew with a cluster of three G80’s quickly with a great altitude and a good dual deployment at 500ft.
His nicely built “Cosmo” flew on a E12-4, the “Arrow” flew also on a E12-4 and a very nicely done scale “Little Joe” flew on a E20-4. The two stage Russian scale missile “Sasha” flew with a E12 booster and a C11-5 sustainer. Unfortunately it turned off to the creek/bridge area and ended up wrapped around a tree limb out of reach. Bummer, it was a good paint and decal job. His cloned Mars Snooper kit “Snoop Dog” flew better than I expected on a B6-4. The “Big Red” flew on a E12-4. The “Antar” and the “Explorer” both flew well on D12-5’s.
Ella Walter flew a mini “Pink Mosquito” on a mini A10-3t, (it just disappeared ) the A10 motor has a good kick and can really get a small rocket up pretty high. Her Canadian “Door Knob” scale test rocket with a parasite camera was flown with her Dad on a E12-6.
David Walter, Ella’s dad, flew a Estes “Protostar” scifi design on a E12-6 then he flew his Estes “Big Daddy” also with a parasite camera (maybe we should have smiled) on a D12-5.
Watch the Facebook postings and web site for future launch’s.
Just remember, keep the pointy end up and your exhaust nozzle clear.