PAH
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- Joined
- Aug 25, 2002
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It was a foggy morning when we left for the hour or so drive to Whitakers, NC. By the time we arrived most of the fog was burned off and sunny blue skies were starting to take over. The ground was still wet with dew as we helped set up the club equipment. The weather was forecasted for a mostly to partly sunny day in the low to mid 90's with a 30% chance of isolated thunder storms. After looking around and watching a few flights from other flyers, my son Ian and I prepped and launched my Lil'Nuke with an F40. Always a good flight from this rocket.
After procrastinating for way too long, I decided it was time to get my Tripoli level two certification. After lunch I approached Alan Whitmore with my request who was more that willing to put down his lunch to administer the exam. After passing the test I moved down the line to Ken Allen of Performance Hobbies and purchased a Pro 38 J285 motor and rented a Pro 38 five grain case.
I prepped my BSD Horizon 54 with a Transolve P5 altimeter, all the necessary recovery and loaded the motor. After a short wait until the increasing cloud cover opened up a bit, out to the pads we went and pointed the Horizon 54 skywards and the altimeter was armed. By now that 30% chance of isolated thunder storms was looking more like 80% from the look of the skies back over the flight line. The count down was given and the button pushed. Shortly after apogee the airframe separated and it tumbled down to 800' where the main was deployed, landing in the cotton field just behind the flight line.
No damaged was found when recovered and the altimeter was reporting a 4,120' peak altitude. After Alan Whitmore looked over the recovered rocket my paperwork was filled out and signed. About 20 minutes went by as we watched other flights and I cleaned the Horizon 54 after its' flight. I heard a few drops of rain on the tent and knew it was time to pack everything up. The rain came just as we pulled the car out of the field for the trip home.
Sorry, no pic's. I don't know what was I thinking?
A big thanks to Alan Whitmore and Ken Allen for aiding me in my L2 flight.
Paul
After procrastinating for way too long, I decided it was time to get my Tripoli level two certification. After lunch I approached Alan Whitmore with my request who was more that willing to put down his lunch to administer the exam. After passing the test I moved down the line to Ken Allen of Performance Hobbies and purchased a Pro 38 J285 motor and rented a Pro 38 five grain case.
I prepped my BSD Horizon 54 with a Transolve P5 altimeter, all the necessary recovery and loaded the motor. After a short wait until the increasing cloud cover opened up a bit, out to the pads we went and pointed the Horizon 54 skywards and the altimeter was armed. By now that 30% chance of isolated thunder storms was looking more like 80% from the look of the skies back over the flight line. The count down was given and the button pushed. Shortly after apogee the airframe separated and it tumbled down to 800' where the main was deployed, landing in the cotton field just behind the flight line.
No damaged was found when recovered and the altimeter was reporting a 4,120' peak altitude. After Alan Whitmore looked over the recovered rocket my paperwork was filled out and signed. About 20 minutes went by as we watched other flights and I cleaned the Horizon 54 after its' flight. I heard a few drops of rain on the tent and knew it was time to pack everything up. The rain came just as we pulled the car out of the field for the trip home.
Sorry, no pic's. I don't know what was I thinking?
A big thanks to Alan Whitmore and Ken Allen for aiding me in my L2 flight.
Paul