Freedom Launch review

Hi everybody. Well it's been a week since Freedom Launch Weekend in Orangeburg. And I just finished unloading my van. It was well stuffed and I only had the energy to take out only a few things at a time and put back into my overstuffed hobby room as I remade room for it. Overall, the weekend was pretty good. True, it was damp, wet and a heavy rain moved into the area Saturday about 3:30 making it unflyable for the rest of the day for me. I don't know if anybody got a flight in after the rain cleared after 5:30. Sunday was sunny and clear, and a bit breezy to windy at first (I myself lost 2 ejection charges to the wind and had go borrow some) but became very tolerable as the day later progressed. Everyone there got in at least a few flights each. All us level ones had to get them in Sunday as Monday was L-2 and 3. Monday was almost perfect, just a little breezy. I don't have a flight listing so I only know some of the ones that caught my immediate attention. Besides getting flight's in of my own we ROCC club members made good showing for the whole weekend. Besides myself, there was: Ralph Roberts, Doc Russell, Brad Shea, Mark Capaneia (who comes out a lot), Bob Bernatchez, Corky Story, Terry and Melanie Baucom, our old member and Prefect Bob Schonner, Emily Nelson, Mark and Louise Ferrell, Tony and Claudia Stitt, Jim Eddings and family, Tim Durbin and his dad, Mike Scicchitano, David Deason, Doug Knight and Todd Harring. A pretty good showing. There were two vendors, Ken Allen of "Performance Hobbies" was there making sales and delivering orders. And a new one to me, Dennis Tinney with "Road Runner Rocketry" from Kingsland GA. (website here, or email), with a lot of good merchandise. His single use engines have molded engine stops so you don't have to tape it in and a wide selection of kits and accessories. What he didn't have he made arrangements to ship. Everything posted at good prices. There are a lot of story's about the weekend, some of us went out with the SOAR club Sat night for a Mexican dinner, then most of the ROCC group went out to Ruby Tuesday Sunday night. Monday, Tony and I started out first thing in the morning helping Corky find his Black Brant that drifted into the woods Sunday and while Corky ended up finding that, Tony and I just happen to be in the right place in the woods to recover the first HP flight of the morning. The "Wild Thing" came down and landed within a few yards of Corky's backpack and climbing gear in a tiny clearing, and we freed the "Wild Thing" with a couple of tugs. Marks "Carolina Nike", I think, was the second flight for Monday, we heard it go up as we packed up the "Wild Thing" and Mark spent the rest of the day getting it back from a different set of trees. He did get a standing ovation upon his return. There were a lot of great flights, Corky's "Wac Corporal" two stage flew a flawless flight, but did require a search to bring it back. Saturday a guy flew a GIANT 1930 style Buck Rogers style space ship on a skidmore engine that was just a picture perfect recreation of the old black and white Sat morning sci-fi tv shows. It was rigged to return in one piece horizontal with the chute deployed from the crew cabin. But it looked so cool cause the residual gasses kept a burning flame coming out of the exhaust all the way to landing. There were a few "Instantaneous Decompositions" also of course, no injuries, safety was stressed at all times. But lots and lots of great flights. I do plan to go back next year. Hope to see you in October, our first chance to get back out to the farm and fly. Take Care. Roy, ROCC Sec.

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Man, What a Weekend

Well you could see those tie-dyed t-shirts all across the sod farm and man, did it look GREAT! There were so many ROCC flyers at Orangeburg this past weekend that you'd have thought it was one of our launches. Fantastic to see all of you folks down there and really pleased to know there were so many "level" attempts going on. Also great to catch up with so many old friends that we don't see often enough. I think that all that saw it are going to be talking about the Dragon-Flyer for a long time to come. I'd love to post the photos from down there if we could, so send 'em in if you've got 'em along with a brief description and we'll get 'em up. Send to: rocketrycarolina@gmail.com THANKS! DR

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Possible Launch site in the Uwharrie National Forest

Brian Helms and I visited the potential summer launch site for the club off Hwy 109 in Montgomery County last Saturday. The site is right off the Highway between the towns of Eldorado and Uwaharrie. The good thing: it is in the middle of nowhere, the bad thing: it is the middle of nowhere. I hope to have a photo real soon I will try to scan a print out of both the Williams farm and this site side by side. The main field that has the best promise is a patch of land in from of this Trading Post right off the Highway. It is currently a Horse pasture but according to Chris and his Grandmother (The Land Owners) they would be moved the days of the launches. The site would have ample parking at the edge of the field and we would set up pads around the field to take advantage of the wind. The trading post offers plenty of supplies, gas(BP), food, etc. The only bad thing was I did not get good cell phone reception there with Verizon, that can be good though. The field is about the equivalent to the North field, from the road to the ditch at Williams farm. (The field between the White house and Simpson's house.) My main concern is the highway, Hwy 109 (Speed Limit - 55mph) right beside it. If the winds are out of the East - Northeast, everything will recover toward the highway. Also with the Trading post across the highway, a lot of folks stop in and would also create a hazzard if models float across the road. Ideally we should keep it a "D" and under field. The field is about 1 hour 15 minutes from UNC Charlotte up Hwy 49, past Albemarle. It was almost 60 miles from my house in East Charlotte. Would everyone be willing to drive to that field to fly D and under models? Everyone pipe up and send a comment or question or call me. I am curious what you all think. I want to thank Brian and his wife for finding this possible site, it was nice of them to take 3 hours of their time to show me around and introduce me to the family. There are pictures after the jump.

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More about the Freedom Launch

Mondays Experimental launch is open to both TRA (Tripoli only) Levels 2 and 3 for Commercial and research motors. Also, got a request from Doug Knight, our favorite collage professor. Doug is looking for a room mate to share expenses. Anyone with a room or hasen't gotten one yet, and who wants to share the cost give him a E-call at dougchar@yadtel.net. I have it on good authority that he has broken the mold of the typical Prof, and is actually quite tidy and dosen't eat much.

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Freedom Launch questions

For all you Rocket Junkies who are getting a nervous tick, don't worry, we can all get our fix at Orangeburg this Labor Day Weekend. I've gotten a few E-questions. Yes there is a Freedom Launch web site, go to www.tripolisc.org, and click under the great picture of our very own Ralph Roberts Patriot pictured at ignition on a redline engine. Good shot. For us visiting fliers, there is a $20 a day flight fee, or $55 for the 3 day weekend. Sat and Sun is regular "Sport" rocket launch's, all engines you're certified to fly. Monday is the "Experimental" launch day "Tripoli cert level 2 and 3" only. As I understand it, Cert Level 2 can fly certified engines only. Level 3 does the experimental launch's. Check out all the prize's listed for the raffle. Buy tickets. See the rules for the "Mile High" competition. Go for it. Because of the sprinklers that roll through the Sod Farm, it is suggested that you don't set up your shade shelters until Sat morning if you get there early, and be prepared that you may have to remove them in the evening. Anouncements will be made. The sprinklers and site rules also mean that there is NO overnight camping and NO open fires of course. You can still check with the Days Inn across the street, but be quick, Ralph is pretty sure that it will fill up soon if it hasen't already. 1-803-534-0500. OK. Take care, hope that takes care of you immediate questions. See you there I hope. Roy, ROCC Sec.

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Meeting Brian Helms at 9:00am Saturday to visit Potential launch site

Everyone: Anyone interested in checking out the new potential summer launch site that is East of Albemarle is welcome to Join myself and Brian. We will be meeting in Locust, NC at the Food Lion (On Hwy 24/27) parking lot at 9:00am. The site is a 30 acre site across or behind a trading post on Hwy 109 just east of Baden Lake. The land owner also the owner of the trading post is excited about having us come out. Apparently they don't have a lot going on down their and we would provide some entertainment and possibly be able to recruit new flyers in the area. I thought of doing a demo launch, however do to the extremely dry conditions maybe we should just meet and greet this time. If interested, call me today or tonight. Much thanks to Brian in locating this spot, hopefully we will find it suitable. Thanks, Ralph Roberts ROCC Prez C-704-560-0147 H-704-568-1070

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ROCC Aug 2007 Weekend - No official events plan, however.....

Everyone: I hate to say I dropped the ball about getting up with Doc regarding a build session at his shop and I apologize. (Doc, could we do this say in September if we don't fly?) However, Brian Helms has found us a potential alternate site, however, it is past Albemarle and on the other side of Badin Lake on Hwy 109. I have ask him if we can go look at it this weekend. My thoughts were maybe we could meet at Williams farm or somewhere, whom ever is interested, then head out there to view the site. The key is we have landowner permission already! I let you know when I her back from Brian, may be could plan on a mid-morning time to avoid some of the heat? We could also make it a launch equipment clean up day. Since our stuff will be down over the summer I figure we can give it a good cleaning/painting and lubricating to be ready for the fall. Ken, from Al's Hobbies was shipping the motor orders yesterday, so I have a feeling they may get here soon, so if you ordered something you will have Magazine buisness anyway. Note: Freedom launch is fast approaching in Orangeburg, they have the official annoucement up on www.tripolisc.org. I know a lot of you are going so keep busy working on those projects. Anyway, if interested in meeting Saturday please email Ralph at roccprez@bellsouth.net ASAP. Sincerely, Ralph Roberts ROCC Prez and Prefect.

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Orangeburg launch cancelled this weekend

Word by way of our prez, The good folks at Tripoli SC have decided to cancel this weekend due to the very high heat. Their notice

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Court Hearing Postponed

Received from Ken Good, president of TRA. As many or most may have heard by now, Judge Reggie Walton's office contacted TRA/NAR legal counsel Marty Malsch at about Noon on July 26, to notify him that the hearing of July 27 was canceled, and the court would get back to him on rescheduling. No further information was provided, and it is not always expected that the staff person who called would be able to do so. Mark Bundick and I were already in transit to Washington when Marty was able to get in touch to let us know. We therefore met with Marty for a dinner meeting, in which we discussed what this may mean and also future strategic steps we may take, depending on the outcome of the case. In brief, Marty could not say for sure why the judge canceled, although it is possible that he recognized that this status hearing (for which date he had previously expressed that he would be able to render the court opinion on the cross motions for summary judgement) was not required, and he has enough documentation to rule from the bench in the very near future. This is speculation on our part at the moment, but Marty (after conferring with our senior counsel, Joe Egan) did express that this could be a positive sign. In any case, Marty's best assessment was that he did not expect the judge to delay for very long whatever he was going to do, whether it is to reschedule a hearing for oral arguments or issue rulings. I know we were all waiting in great anticipation of an outcome on July 27 or shortly thereafter, and believe me, Mark Bundick and I share everyone's frustration that this has not yet occurred. As soon as we receive any further information from the court, I will pass it along to the membership. Ken Good

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Launch Report for Saturday July 22 2007

Again, Welcome, Welcome to all you Rocket Scientists, young and old, male and female, nerd and geek. It is good to be a Rocket Science Geek. As you already know Saturdays launch was PACKED. We had the 22 Scouts with family members and friends plus many of our regular fliers. Again, thanks to Mr. Brad McLelland and Mr. David Hutchinson with Cub Scout Pack 214 of Matthews for the kind Thank-You letters. Like Ralph, our clubs Prez said, we really enjoyed having you come out, consider yourself welcome any time. We found 4 rockets we think are Scouts by end of Sunday. So you got to come back. Sunday the 22nd of July was suppose to be better than Saturday but it to was a bit breezy. Not as bad but it did not really get dead calm till later in the afternoon early evening. The attendance was quite a lot lighter and many didn�t arrive till after 1pm so we had a non-rushed, fly�em when your ready routine for most of the day. Everyone was able to take their time with prepping and fly when they were ready.

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