Launch report for December 30, 2023
Sunday, December 31, 2023 at 9:22PM We had our “New Years” launch on Saturday December 30 at Kip’s farm in Midland NC. Thanks to all the folks who came out and helped set up, run & strike, it really helps lighten the load. Roy took a well deserved weekend off so I’ll try and fill in the best that I can.
Ken was out with us, as well as some new folks and some old friends who were in town. I had a great chat with Charlie Ogino who was in town for Christmas. He was a stout supporter of ROCC back before he got a job in Florida. He’s working for Northrup-Grumman just outside of KSC and get this, he gets to break stuff and get paid for it! He runs a materials testing lab for them.
We had 9 flyers on the day, and 26 total flights.
Rufus Mclean flew his Zepher on an AT H-165 Redline for a perfect LEVEL 1 flight. I signed him off and now he’s into the world of high power!
Jacob Gray, visiting from the University of Iowa, flew his Project 017 on an F-15-6 BP motor, and his Rocket 2XXL on an H-165 Redline.
Ralph Roberts was there for the day and flew his bright blue Cosmic Staff of Azul on an AT G-74 Mohavie Green.
Stella Russell (no relation) was there (Girl Scouts, Represent!) and flew her Double Ringer for a cool flight on a B4-4, 3 flights of her Patriot on B-6-4’s, and 2 attempts of her Gryphon boost-glider on A10-3T’s. The glider wanted to fly but was having separation anxiety from its booster. She did have a cool support system for the glider on the pad to keep everything from getting tangled up. I'll see about posting a pix on BookFace.
Pete Howarth flew his Good Luck! (this is a 3D printed rocket that’s about 4” tall, basically a fin can for an 18mm engine) on a C6-5 and actually found it! Recovery was aided by the beautiful cork screw flight profile that it took. Perhaps just a bit longer or some slightly larger fins and we’ll see it fly straight. Next up he flew his reincarnated Iris (rebuilt from a heavy crash a few weeks ago) on a G-53 for a test flight, then flew it again on a good old AT H-180 white lightning with JL chute release. We had to go looking in the west fields for it and found it buried in the mud. He says it will live to fly again.
Our good friends David & Michael Strunk came out and flew a naked 4” Red Max upscale on a G80 for a perfect flight (like we’re used to from this pair) and then a 3D printed V2 on an E24-10 that acted like the perfect V2… it went up about 50’, turned right and acquired a target out in the North field. He recovered it, will tweak the design a bit and try again.
Scott Pennington came out and flew his Jaws, a cool winged rocket, on a D12-5, his Cosmo on an E12-4 and then, to ring in the new year really well, his Arrow which ripped off the pad on an H550 blue thunder.
Paul Kramer flew his Trident 29 (really cool LOC kit, I need to look this one up!) first on (3) F50T’s, then on (3) G-125’s. The second flight had some faulty igniters apparently and only lit one engine, causing a very short flight and some major damage. On one of the last flights of the day he flew the rebuilt Kinda Like a Warlock (see the photos from a few weeks ago for the before & afters) on a neighborhood rattling J500 for a perfect flight.
I actually got some flying in this time in between helping Rufus out with his L1 and talking with various folks, and flew my 3” scratch upscale Goblin on an F67-6, with JL at 500’, then my 3” scratch upscale Red Max twice, first on an F-52-6 and then on an F52-8, and then to finish my flying day the FedEx Pyramid on an F52-0.
Again, thanks to all who came out, and we’ll see you on January 20th & 21st weather permitting. And as Roy usually says in this space, keep the pointy end up, flamey end down, and keep those nozzles clear.
-- Doc Russell