Max_Power004
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- Feb 13, 2010
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This is a story of anticipation, excitement, disappointment and elation. My return to model rocketry has greatly exceeded my expectations. As trailboss put it, Its like an addiction!! I launched Sat. afternoon at about 1:30. As soon as I reached my desired launch site, two 10 or 11 year old kids walked up,
Can I launch the rocket? Can I launch the rocket? Can I launch the rocket?
Arrrggh, I wound up letting the kid launch one, and help me with retrieval. He was a great help actually. It was kind of annoying when he was digging through my stuff and wanting to run up and troubleshoot when the rocket failed to ignite, had to hold him back till I knew it was safe.
I was launching the Snapshot and the Shuttle Xpress. I added a parachute to the Snapshot for extra slow descent, and redundancy, (gotta baby the camera). First launch, Snapshot, C6-7 engine. Beautiful launch blew ejection charge just as it began the nosedive. One parachute opened but it was still a good descent, the soft muddy, swamp-like ground made for a nice cushion. Next, Shuttle Xpress, C6-5 engine, beautiful launch, nice slow glide for both gliders. Back to Snapshot. Once again, C6-7 engine, great launch, veered toward the small man-made lake. Might make for a nice picture, we shall see. Landed pretty close to launch site slowly descending on two fully deployed parachutes. Shuttle Xpress again, C6-5 engine, just like last one, nice. Wind had changed directions though, and carried the rocket and gliders fairly close to a street, yikes. OK, one more Snapshot launch before we have to go. Decided to try C6-5 to get a horizon pic, also ever so slightly pointed the launch rod into the wind, to keep it from going near the street again. Alas, the wind died right when I launched, flew in the direction of a very overgrown impassable area. Lost it in the sun! Looking, looking, looking, there it is!! NO NOSE CONE OR PARACHUTE!! Craaaaaap!! Recovered the back half of the rocket, no damage, and started the search through the sludge. No luck, had to leave. The rest of the evening I couldnt stop thinking about it.
If I would have used a C6-7, it would have been fired straight to the soft ground instead of through the air.
Left kind of bummed, but still had a great time.
Sunday, about 5:45PM. It was nearing dusk, just wanted to use my last two engines to show my girlfriend. She wanted to see it, but couldnt come yesterday. I also just couldnt stop thinking about launching! Launched the Shuttle Xpress on a C6-7 engine great flight, When you launch at dusk, you see an orange flame shooting out of the back of the rocket, nice! Last launch, C6-5 this time, same rocket. Once again, very nice flight, one glider got pretty far away from me near the thick brush, lost track of it in the air. Whilst searching for the glider, I found my Snapshot nosecone!!!!!! YES!!!!! Oh glorious day!! I just had to dance a jig. It had both parachutes attached. Found both gliders too. After 8 launches both rockets were left in great condition. I took pictures of the launches and some of the descents. Ill probably finish up the film on my next launch, if I have any good pics I will be sure and post em. Nice first model rocket weekend, eh? I may have added two more model rocket enthusiasts, my sister, and girlfriend.
P.S. Sorry for the painfully long post
Can I launch the rocket? Can I launch the rocket? Can I launch the rocket?
Arrrggh, I wound up letting the kid launch one, and help me with retrieval. He was a great help actually. It was kind of annoying when he was digging through my stuff and wanting to run up and troubleshoot when the rocket failed to ignite, had to hold him back till I knew it was safe.
I was launching the Snapshot and the Shuttle Xpress. I added a parachute to the Snapshot for extra slow descent, and redundancy, (gotta baby the camera). First launch, Snapshot, C6-7 engine. Beautiful launch blew ejection charge just as it began the nosedive. One parachute opened but it was still a good descent, the soft muddy, swamp-like ground made for a nice cushion. Next, Shuttle Xpress, C6-5 engine, beautiful launch, nice slow glide for both gliders. Back to Snapshot. Once again, C6-7 engine, great launch, veered toward the small man-made lake. Might make for a nice picture, we shall see. Landed pretty close to launch site slowly descending on two fully deployed parachutes. Shuttle Xpress again, C6-5 engine, just like last one, nice. Wind had changed directions though, and carried the rocket and gliders fairly close to a street, yikes. OK, one more Snapshot launch before we have to go. Decided to try C6-5 to get a horizon pic, also ever so slightly pointed the launch rod into the wind, to keep it from going near the street again. Alas, the wind died right when I launched, flew in the direction of a very overgrown impassable area. Lost it in the sun! Looking, looking, looking, there it is!! NO NOSE CONE OR PARACHUTE!! Craaaaaap!! Recovered the back half of the rocket, no damage, and started the search through the sludge. No luck, had to leave. The rest of the evening I couldnt stop thinking about it.
If I would have used a C6-7, it would have been fired straight to the soft ground instead of through the air.
Left kind of bummed, but still had a great time.
Sunday, about 5:45PM. It was nearing dusk, just wanted to use my last two engines to show my girlfriend. She wanted to see it, but couldnt come yesterday. I also just couldnt stop thinking about launching! Launched the Shuttle Xpress on a C6-7 engine great flight, When you launch at dusk, you see an orange flame shooting out of the back of the rocket, nice! Last launch, C6-5 this time, same rocket. Once again, very nice flight, one glider got pretty far away from me near the thick brush, lost track of it in the air. Whilst searching for the glider, I found my Snapshot nosecone!!!!!! YES!!!!! Oh glorious day!! I just had to dance a jig. It had both parachutes attached. Found both gliders too. After 8 launches both rockets were left in great condition. I took pictures of the launches and some of the descents. Ill probably finish up the film on my next launch, if I have any good pics I will be sure and post em. Nice first model rocket weekend, eh? I may have added two more model rocket enthusiasts, my sister, and girlfriend.
P.S. Sorry for the painfully long post
