Successful Level 3 Flight!

[loopy]

After a couple of launches of disappointment (e.g. heading out getting things prepped, then having to stand down because of not getting continuity on all my ejection charges which led to completely re-wiring the altimeter bay and then heading out two weeks later only to have to stand down due to high winds), Skinwalker #46 finally got off the pad and got me my Level 3 cert! Skinwalker on an M1297W to just a touch over 6000', staying in visual range the entire flight. Very calm winds meant it landed quite close, and you can see the smoke trail just hanging out on the on-board video as the rocket descends. Such an amazing day! Thanks, everyone!

 

[Fattbank64]

Congratulations!

 

[cwbullet]

congrats

 

[-Slick-Ice]

Wahoooooo!

 

[darrenf]

Congrats!

 

[rfjustin]

Congrats on the L3 and great video!

 

[SteelyEyed]

Congratulations Loopy!

 

[kjhambrick]

Congrats @loopy !

Thanks for the great video !!

-- kjh

 

[MarsLander]

If it is not in your signature, @loopy, it didn't happen.

Congrats!

 

[bad_idea]

Congratulations!

 

[FredA]

Nice flight and great video.
Despite what looked like high winds, I like how the boost smoke trail remains in the image so you can see the takeoff point while spinning in the air.
The camera position after it fell is SO LUCKY - that was great and in focus too.
Nicely done.

 

[kjhambrick]

Nice flight and great video.
Despite what looked like high winds, I like how the boost smoke trail remains in the image so you can see the takeoff point while spinning in the air.
The camera position after it fell is SO LUCKY - that was great and in focus too.
Nicely done.

Yes, and speaking of lucky ...

if I hadn't seen the video of your rocket landing in the plowed field in part I of your video, that creek rolling in-n-out of the onboard video would have made for a VERY exciting cliff-hanger

Congratulations again, @loopy !

-- kjh( whose rockets seem to have an uncanny ability to land in the worst possible places at the launch site )

 

[jsdemar]

Wow, that's one of the best L3 videos I've ever seen! Way to go @loopy !

 

[loopy]

If it is not in your signature, @loopy, it didn't happen.

Congrats!

Yeah yeah yeah...I'm working on that...lol...

 

[loopy]

Nice flight and great video.
Despite what looked like high winds, I like how the boost smoke trail remains in the image so you can see the takeoff point while spinning in the air.
The camera position after it fell is SO LUCKY - that was great and in focus too.
Nicely done.

The winds were actually pretty calm. 5-10MPH at ground level. I also love how lucky I got with those videos...seeing the smoke trail, and the padcam being able to see it climb out.

 

[loopy]

Yes, and speaking of lucky ...

if I hadn't seen the video of your rocket landing in the plowed field in part I of your video, that creek rolling in-n-out of the onboard video would have made for a VERY exciting cliff-hanger

Congratulations again, @loopy !

-- kjh( whose rockets seem to have an uncanny ability to land in the worst possible places at the launch site )

The creek is REALLY narrow, but it has claimed a few victims through the years. I've only had one splashdown (knocking on wood), but others in the club have made a habit of it...lol

 

[TheTank]

Great job!!!

 

[Art Upton]

Wow, that's one of the best L3 videos I've ever seen! Way to go @loopy !

I also liked how the Pad Cam fell over and got the tail end of the rocket up on the whole flight !

 

[loopy]

Wow, that's one of the best L3 videos I've ever seen! Way to go @loopy !

Thanks! I appreciate that. Spent a lot of time on that video...lol

 

[Zeus-cat]

Congrats again Loopy. Great launch and a great video.

I was there and it was a beautiful launch. It was his third attempt over about 4 weeks. The first launch was cancelled about a month earlier for altimeter issues. The second launch was called off several weeks later due to high winds at the field. The club scheduled our last high-power launch of the season on a Thursday as the weather forecast was great and the farmer was planting in a few days, so we would lose the field until fall. Thanks to our club president, The Slightly Honorable Dave, for arranging the launch; great call.

In addition to the L3 cert we also had an L2 cert and an L1 cert. Congrats Barry on your L2. I don't remember who did the L1.

The creek does pose challenges at times. After the first few launches of the day, we get a pretty good idea of how to play the wind to avoid the stream. The bigger problem is that the stream can only be crossed with waders about half the time as the depth varies widely depending on the snow melt and/or recent rain. It was rather low for this launch, so waders worked. Some launches it is too deep and we forbid people from even trying. A bridge is not an option. The only other option to wading is to drive out to the road, cross the bridge and drive down the very narrow and bumpy grass strip on the other side. People that wade or drive over there usually collect multiple rockets to return them.

 

[Huxter]

Did you see the look on that rocketeers face! That's why I fly right there! Big CONGRATS!

 

[rcktnut]

Picture perfect flight!! Enjoy L3.

 

[messedupryan]

Congrats! Has to feel great

 

[pondman]

One of the best, if not THE best Level 3 flights I have ever witnessed! Blessed and honored to be one of your TAPs. N motor?????

 

[troj]

Congrats!

And your friends should be taking the pictures for you, so you can just enjoy the flight!

-Kevin

 

[krislhull]

Very nice flight! Congrats!

Welcome to the club!

 

[Onebadhawk]

Congrats on the cert..
It sure feels great when it all happens, right ??

Teddy

 

[DAllen]

This thread pleases me

 

[KenECoyote]

Very cool, congrats on a great cert flight! I love that rocket!

 

[Hobie1dog]

awesome video, congrats