January 2023 launch report
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 8:24PM Happy New Year!!! Our first launch for the New Year!!!
Saturday, January 21st, 2023, Post-Launch Report.
Yes, It was great. As close to a perfect launch day as I can remember. A bit nippy, but with the open fields acting like a solar collector it was “T’s” for some and light sweatshirts for others. There was a constant light to moderate Breeze that alternated from to the southwest to the southeast. Then became almost calm as the day progressed, specially about 4pm.
Farmer Kip had put up a new bright red and white ‘Aviation Runway Wind Sock’ that pointed out the wind directions at ground level. (I think it gives us a official classy look).
We did have a few tree or far field landings past the creek tree line. Not so much due to any winds, but the random chance of that rocket to decide that it was going to “GO That Way” of its own accord, under thrust, or close enough so that what breeze there was would carry the chuted rocket into the “Tree Zone”.
Ken Allen of Performance Hobbies,
Ken was here swapping stories and providing those essential items we so desperately need.
LOST AND FOUND
Steve Brown, we found your “Rascal” and your “Rocket Flight Log Book”.
Check the box, we have a lot of nose cones, LP chutes, fins and 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, the expensive Porta-Pot and our association fees with the “National Association of Rocketry” and the “Tripoli Rocketry Association” which covers our insurance.
Memberships run January to January. Membership drive starts in October.
Adult - $20. Family - $25.
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.
Flight Fee Donation Box.
Remember, the Donation Box goes to the Land Owner. Please Donate.
We have been running short on the “Rent” to the landowner the last few months.
Club Members = $10 per day Non Members = $15 per day.
Saturday, 21 January, 2023
We had 16 fliers, and flew 56 flights and burnt 61 motors.
This includes all clusters and multi-stage flights
A= 5, B= 5, C= 12, D= 6, E= 12, F= 8, G= 5, H= 7, I= 0, J= 1, K= 0.
Remember, what I write is influenced by your penmanship and spelling.
Mark Bartkowiak, test flew a new unpainted (naked) Estes Scaled mini “US Army Honest John” on a mini A10-3t. The mini A10 motor actually has a punch to it.
Allen Deal, had two good flights with his Estes “Blue Ninja” twice on a D12-3.
Mike Garner, who has flown with us in the past, flew the “Orange” two stage rocket successfully on a C6 booster to a A8-3 sustainer. His “Camo V-2” had a low level flight on a A8-3 then a high flight on a C6-5. The “White” rocket flew twice on C6-5’s. Mike’s “Thunder Stroke” flew twice on E9-4’s. Everything was recovered.
Gilbert Unk, new visitor flew a Estes “Athena” on a C6-5. Come-on-back
Jacob Gray, I always recommended fliers take a couple of blank launch slips home and print their own so they can pre-fill out their cards in advance. Well Jacob chose ‘Pumpkin Orange’ card stock paper. “I like It, it’s bright, it catch’s your eye.” Anyway he flew some test flights of his own ‘Rear Ejection’ rocket, the “Rocket-2, the roy edition” two times on a B6-4, the third got stuck on the pad. The ejections worked and I think he may upscale a little next.
His regular “Rocket-2” also flew on a B6-4. The “Project-017” flew on a Quest E35-5, his larger “Rocket-2 XL” flew on a E35-5 then a F15-6. His “Ultra-Flyer” with the fall-away rail guide flew again on a F44-8 and was lost again. His “D.O.S.” two stage flew on a C11 booster to a D12-7 sustainer. I believe that was recovered.
Doug Harsch, I think has been out here before, flew a LOC “Hyper-Loc” on a Pro-29 F36-8 that arced over southward toward the trees past the creek. Last I heard, he couldn’t find it. Bummer. His Estes “Astron Explorer” launched on a Quest E26-7 (But, I think that was the launch where the motor ignited the ejection charge prematurely, so with the chute out it kind of pin-wheeled around the chute till the motor burned out) It only sustained smoke damage I think. His Estes Russian “SASHA” two stage scale missile flew on a E12 booster to a D12-5 sustainer, and were both recovered. I love staging when it works. Doug’s LOC “Cyclotron” tubular fined rocket flew on a Pro-38 H110-7 with a good Jolly/Logic chute deployment at 300ft.
Sandy Houston, an old member and friend, came in to do a few launch’s for old times sake, (and it brings good luck). He flew a flying, three sided pyramid named “King Richard” bearing the picture of the King himself, Nascar legend Richard Petty. The King flew on a A8-0 for a low level test flight with a air drag tumble recovery. Sandy’s “Comet” flew twice on a C6-3 and C6-5 with a streamer recovery, and the “Diamond Back” flew on a C6-5 also with a streamer recovery. The “Space Invader” flew on a A8-3.
Erica Owens flew a classic Estes “Fat Boy” on a C6-5 that really got it up there and an Estes “Baby Bertha” on a B6-4
Laura Owens-Bailey, basically built her rocket on site. Her “Mr Pringles” , made from Pringles chips cans, flew its first, maybe its last flight on a G64-10. After leaving the rail, it, in a ‘cork screwed’ flight pattern, arched over to the south to disappear into the far field or the trees past the creak. Darn, I love those chips. Laura also, bless her heart, brought out fixings for a number fat beefy burgers for as far as they would go.
Scott Pennington, always brings out a small fleet to fly. His “Cosmo” always looks good when under thrust, this time on a E12-4, the “Archer” flew well also on a E12-4, then his “Tri-Fecta” flew successfully on a cluster of three E12-4’s. That looked so good. A Estes? “V-2” flew on a D12-5. His big “Suham” flew on a H550-7 with separation at apogee and a successful Jolly/Logic chute deployment at 300ft. Another Biggie, the “Raptor” also flew on a H550-7, also with a separation at apogee and a J/L deployment at 300ft. Scotts troublesome “Big Yellow Bird” finally ignited and flew on a F67-9.
Noah Piraino, a new enthusiastic flier came out with his “Zephyer” (LOC?) and flew on a H143-8 with a apogee deployment that flew high and landed softly.
Roy Potter, well like usual I played with my rear ejection rockets. “Orange-1/2” went up on a C6-3, “White-1” on a D12-3, “Yellow-2” on a E12-4, “Blue-3” on a F52-3 and the new “Orange-4” (the last one got shredded by trees last month) flew on a G74-4. I wanted to get Red-5 and Yellow-6 up also but ran out of time.
Rocket Ralph Roberts, Flew his ancient “Cosmic Staff of Azul” (you need to be in a certain age bracket to recognize the name) on a G64-4 and his Estes “Patriot” on a C6-5.
Doc Russell flew a new up-scaled 4inch rocket of the original Estes “Sprint” for its first test flight on a H123-5 after doing a live fire test of the ejection charge and shear pins earlier. It was a good low level test flight and with a Missile Works ejection system for a successful 500ft chute deployment. He has made some really pretty rockets so I knew he was sweating it out till it landed. His 3inch up-scaled “Der Red Maxx” flew on a F52-5 and the 3 inch up-scaled “Goblin” also flew on a F52-5.
David Strunk, welcome back Dave. His 4 inch (LOC?) “V-2” flew on a F20-7 and a LOC “Forte” flew on a G79-7, both flying great.
Michael Hollowell, Globe Trotter that he is, came home and we’re glad he came out to fly. He always has something grand. His 3-D printed up-scale “Quin-Star”, ( a air drag launch and spin recovery system ), flew on a G78-pluged motor. A great flight and spin recovery but he thinks its still too heavy, too prone to breakage on landing. His giant 4inch “Purple Crayon” flew on a H178-7, Dark Mater ‘Sparky’ motor, that arched southward and deploying the chute at apogee. I thought it made it all the way across the creek/ tree line and onto the far field. His 1st of two outstanding flights was his Radio Controlled, up-scaled “Arora Space Clipper” Glider on a loooonnnngggg burning H12-p. The video is on line and you can hear the ‘swoosh’ as it goes by and then making a great runway landing.
His second outstanding flight (also seen online) is his Giant Mosquito renamed the “Door-Dash Chick-fil-a” with a Chick-fil-a COW Paratrooper. It flew on a J540-8 ejecting the COW Parachutist at apogee and a Jolly/Logic chute deployment at 300ft. The flight was great, the chute jerked free and deployed at apogee so both the cow and rocket came down somewhat together. And yes, the Cow was safely herded back by Laura. It was also the last flight for the day just before 5pm.
Watch the Facebook postings and web site for the next launch.
Just remember, keep the pointy end up and your exhaust nozzle clear.