Echoing others...a big thanks to all that made Mini Midwest Power (3?) possible! Thanks Jason, Steve, Erik, and co. for setup, tear down, running the range. Thanks Tim and Jackie for the great hospitality as always! Thanks Justin for your tireless efforts in the field with your videography skills. Thanks Richard for melting your shoes with me after Gus started the place on fire again:wink:...thanks Gus for the warning so we could be proactive! Thanks to all who came and provided great company and entertainment....only regret not being able to be there more/longer!
Here's a few photos from the day I forgot how to do rocketry!
I didn't have the camera out/assembled in time, so missed photos of Erik Cz's L3... but the Gizmo V looked great; congrats, bud! Well done! Now time for a 4" red, or the 1939W, or the 3400WT...all good!
First up, Scott Goebel and Brent Lillesand with an Arrow 4 on a K550W...I think we've drag raced these rockets...Midwest Power 5!
Thunderbird returns to Princeton for it's 13th flight. This old bird has flown at most MWP's...this was it's first MMWP. Anyway, CTI L1720 White Thunder. First igniter (stock CTI) didn't light the pyrogen and thus the motor, so took two tries, but worked great once lit! 9100'.
Drew's L3 attempt that captured the record for most trees cut down in order to recover a single rocket! After a long battle with several trees and an extra night in Princeton, he achieved his L3 today! Interesting: I saw this rocket last week and it was white, neon green, and black. This week it's blue and yellow...neat!
Gizmo XL DD + M2000 White Tundra = kaBoom! Tried something different on the forward end of the motor...didn't work so well. Looked good at this point...not so much a few milliseconds later.
Aris's L3 attempt that The Gus mentioned above. Really nice flight on an M1500 Mojave Green. Congrats on the L3, dude!
...and it recovered intact out by the road:
Meanwhile, another green motor propels a stubby creation. Think it's green anyway....
Mad Bomber Pauling on the left beats Hot Tub Griffin on the right. L3200 Vmax vs. L995 Red...I think.
Greg Olson fixed up his Dad's Rocketman Wahoo. Shown here burning some White Lightning
Good chute. Landed just to the right of the pads on a windy day. His Magnum on a J415W landed within 200' of the LCO as well; well done, Greg!
Tom's Rerailed launches on a AMW-Pro-X K535 Red Rhino.
and pulls a Carl Van Camp lefty:
Learning how to fly rockets again, I put the Magnum on the pad with a Kosdon L1650 Fast. Brutal motor...like it!
When The Gus flies rockets, he doesn't just throw them on the pad and push the button, he launches in style. The carpet is rolled out, the National Anthem sung, flyover complete, and Gus methodically builds up the impending flight. Gus's last AMW M2200 Skid goes in Red Dog, the Scooter sustainer.
Gus takes a bow, and the "Go" button is depressed. As usual, Gus lights the place on fire; my pants smelled like burning brush pile for the ride home!
Higher...
Walking back from doing the grass stompin' hoedown, a really nicely finished rocket is loaded onto the pad. Nice mirage color shifting finish is lofted on a red motor. Unfortunately, she came in hot.
Before putting away the camera, Ben "Barn Jart" W. loads up the Dark Star Jr. on a speedy white motor. No barns were injured during the production of this photo.
That's all I've got folks. Great seeing everyone, a genuine "Thanks" to all who made it happen, and we'll see y'all at the Bong and back in Princeton for MWP14!
-Eric-