KenParker
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This is a launch report for the Low Power / Mid Power launch that we had in Salisbury, NC today.
Jason Myers and I arrived at Craig Ritchie's (aka Milo) house about 1:15PM. After a tour of Milo's very plush home theater which included watching the Pod Racing scene from the Star Wars movie we headed over to the launching field.
When we got to the field, we decided not to set up in the usual place because we are going through draught conditions here in North Carolina and the grass was dead, very brown, very dry, and we were afraid the launch exhaust would start a fire. After a brief examination of options, we found a spot with cleared dirt where we felt it was safe to launch. We quickly set up the pads and launch controller.
Flight 1 - Jason Myers got the first flight off with his Estes Flash on a B6-4. It definitely "flashed" off the pad.
Flight 2 - My Estes Python on a C11-5. Here's a little tip from your Uncle Ken: If you have a Python, and you decide to fly it on a C11, use a C11-3. With the 5 second delay it got the chute out about 10 feet above the ground. Way too close for comfort.
Flight 3 - Myers' Estes Mercury Redstone on C6-3. It is such a nice looking rocket that I took a picture of it just sitting on the pad and also got one of the liftoff.
Flight 4 - Myers' scratch built LSR on a D12-3. Nice rocket, nice flight.
Flight 5 - My Estes Longshot on a C11-5. For a C11 it got pretty darn good altitude.
Flight 6 - My Aerotech Cheetah on an E9-4. It was a neat flight. I probably wouldn't use an E9 for this bird if there was very much wind. Just for fun, I also snapped a pic of it while it was under chute.
Somewhere about this time Phil Gerringer showed up with his son and daughter in tow.
Flight 7 - Jason got the first RMS powered flight up with his Launch Pad Sparrow on an E28-4T 24mm RMS.
Flight 8 - Gerringer's LOC Aura on an E28-4T 24mm RMS. Monkey see, monkey do.
Flight 9 - Myers' Estes ARV Condor on a B6-4. All three pieces recovered safely but they were very close to trees.
Flight 10 - Myers' scratch built LSR again, this time on an E11-3J 24mm RMS.
Flight 11 - Gerringer's Estes Super Shot again, this time on a D9-7W 24mm RMS. The Super Shot was recovered just fine, but Phil discovered that it was sans the RMS hardware. I have two words for you, Phil: masking tape.
Flight 12 - I decided it was time to break out the Combat Jet. It went skyward on an F40 White Lightning 29/40-120 RMS. Phil got a great pic of the liftoff.
Flight 13 - Gerringer couldn't make it through the day with just an RMS hardware sacrifice to the rocket gods. He decided to donate his Estes Super Shot, too, so he loaded a single use F32-10W into it and pressed the button. Goodbye Super Shot !!!
Flight 14 - Myers had a great flight with his Estes Executioner on an E9-4. It was a beauteous flight. We all liked the long burn motor.
Flight 15 - I closed the day out with a final flight on the Combat Jet, this time on an F37W 29/60 RMS. I picked up a bunch of these little RMS reloadswhen I was up at Magnum Rockets in April, and I have been dying to try them. The F40 29/40-120 load that I normally use to fly the CJ is an 80ns motor, and these little F37's are 50ns. The thrust curves are similar, the F37 is just a shorter burn motor. I figured I would get about half the altitude on the F37's, and I was right. It's nice to have options.
I have pictures, and I have already prepped them - they have been reduced in size, given the proper orientation, and stored with short but descriptive names. I have to download some new software to use to upload them to the forum, and I hope to get that done tomorrow.
As usual, the participants had a great time. Thanks Milo for arranging this local event.
Oh yeah... in case any of you were wondering where Mark was.... he *said* he had to take his kids to Pennsylvania for their annual summer visit with his parents. Some people will go to any lengths to create an excuse to miss a local launch.
The next launch report that I file will hopefully be the Whitakers launch report at the end of June on the 29th and 30th. I can't wait !!!
- Ken
Jason Myers and I arrived at Craig Ritchie's (aka Milo) house about 1:15PM. After a tour of Milo's very plush home theater which included watching the Pod Racing scene from the Star Wars movie we headed over to the launching field.
When we got to the field, we decided not to set up in the usual place because we are going through draught conditions here in North Carolina and the grass was dead, very brown, very dry, and we were afraid the launch exhaust would start a fire. After a brief examination of options, we found a spot with cleared dirt where we felt it was safe to launch. We quickly set up the pads and launch controller.
Flight 1 - Jason Myers got the first flight off with his Estes Flash on a B6-4. It definitely "flashed" off the pad.
Flight 2 - My Estes Python on a C11-5. Here's a little tip from your Uncle Ken: If you have a Python, and you decide to fly it on a C11, use a C11-3. With the 5 second delay it got the chute out about 10 feet above the ground. Way too close for comfort.
Flight 3 - Myers' Estes Mercury Redstone on C6-3. It is such a nice looking rocket that I took a picture of it just sitting on the pad and also got one of the liftoff.
Flight 4 - Myers' scratch built LSR on a D12-3. Nice rocket, nice flight.
Flight 5 - My Estes Longshot on a C11-5. For a C11 it got pretty darn good altitude.
Flight 6 - My Aerotech Cheetah on an E9-4. It was a neat flight. I probably wouldn't use an E9 for this bird if there was very much wind. Just for fun, I also snapped a pic of it while it was under chute.
Somewhere about this time Phil Gerringer showed up with his son and daughter in tow.
Flight 7 - Jason got the first RMS powered flight up with his Launch Pad Sparrow on an E28-4T 24mm RMS.
Flight 8 - Gerringer's LOC Aura on an E28-4T 24mm RMS. Monkey see, monkey do.
Flight 9 - Myers' Estes ARV Condor on a B6-4. All three pieces recovered safely but they were very close to trees.
Flight 10 - Myers' scratch built LSR again, this time on an E11-3J 24mm RMS.
Flight 11 - Gerringer's Estes Super Shot again, this time on a D9-7W 24mm RMS. The Super Shot was recovered just fine, but Phil discovered that it was sans the RMS hardware. I have two words for you, Phil: masking tape.
Flight 12 - I decided it was time to break out the Combat Jet. It went skyward on an F40 White Lightning 29/40-120 RMS. Phil got a great pic of the liftoff.
Flight 13 - Gerringer couldn't make it through the day with just an RMS hardware sacrifice to the rocket gods. He decided to donate his Estes Super Shot, too, so he loaded a single use F32-10W into it and pressed the button. Goodbye Super Shot !!!
Flight 14 - Myers had a great flight with his Estes Executioner on an E9-4. It was a beauteous flight. We all liked the long burn motor.
Flight 15 - I closed the day out with a final flight on the Combat Jet, this time on an F37W 29/60 RMS. I picked up a bunch of these little RMS reloadswhen I was up at Magnum Rockets in April, and I have been dying to try them. The F40 29/40-120 load that I normally use to fly the CJ is an 80ns motor, and these little F37's are 50ns. The thrust curves are similar, the F37 is just a shorter burn motor. I figured I would get about half the altitude on the F37's, and I was right. It's nice to have options.
I have pictures, and I have already prepped them - they have been reduced in size, given the proper orientation, and stored with short but descriptive names. I have to download some new software to use to upload them to the forum, and I hope to get that done tomorrow.
As usual, the participants had a great time. Thanks Milo for arranging this local event.
Oh yeah... in case any of you were wondering where Mark was.... he *said* he had to take his kids to Pennsylvania for their annual summer visit with his parents. Some people will go to any lengths to create an excuse to miss a local launch.
The next launch report that I file will hopefully be the Whitakers launch report at the end of June on the 29th and 30th. I can't wait !!!
- Ken
