For my first post to TRF, I figured I'd do one of a launch report from this past weekend. Warning: "Conan style" launch reports are pretty long -- if you want to see some of my old ones, you can do a google search on RMR using my name as the poster and see them. If they're too long for this forum, let me know and I'll adjust...
Date: 14-15 Feb 04
Time: ~1000 on (for me)
Location: Veteran's Park facility, Alamogordo NM
Conditions: (14) high thirties, mostly clear, and windy
(15) fifties, clear, calmer (some breeze)
Ground Support Equipment: club equipment from Spaceport Model Rocketry Association (NAR #488), Tripoli New Mexico-White Sands (TRA #61), and visiting clubs/individuals
Only my second time able to fly since moving here to NM a year and a half ago. Weather was chilly (especially Sat) but I had a great time and only one minor mishap.
14 Feb 04:
#1. Estes Long Shot, D12-0/B6-6, 16th flight (15th staged)
For whatever lame reason, I found myself with no C6-7s so I used the B motor upper stage. Flight was really nice, good staging, decent altitude. Had to walk some to get the upper stage but all recovered in good condition.
#2. Estes Der Red Max (clone), C6-3, 17th flight
For the same lame reason, I didn't have any -5s so I used the -3. Nice flight, but as expected a little early on ejection. Good recovery with no damage. BTW, I did a review on EMRR for this clone a couple years ago. Rocket has flown a bunch and is still in pretty good condition.
#3. Estes Satellite Interceptor (clone), C6-3, 13th flight
As usual, generated a little conversation with this one since you don't see them that often. Nice flight with a tad of corkscrew action, ejection a little early, good recovery. This one is also reviewed on EMRR.
#4. Estes Teros, B6-6, 30th flight
This is one of my "originals," built back in ~1978 during my first rocketry iteration, and is my energizer bunny (I fly it pretty much every time I go out). A very nice flight! Good altitude on a B, perfect ejection timing, good recovery.
#5. Estes Snitch, C6-0, 2nd flight
Just felt like being different today. Flew really nicely, bounced a couple times on landing then stayed upright on the landing "antennae."
#6. Centuri Two Bitz, 1/2A3-2T, 5th flight
A nice, typical flight for this one. Came in a little fast due to motor not ejecting from rocket -- but no damage.
#7. LOC Viper III, (3x) E9-6, 7th flight
Cool flight, nice altitude and straight. A little walk to recover due to drift. Find out that only two motors lit (all three igniters appear to have fired; the dud may have been pulled out before firing). Glad there was no scary flight with only two motors. No damage.
#8. Estes Big Daddy, E9-6, 2nd flight
Don't know why I haven't flown this more over the years -- only other flight was in GA on an F reload. Used the non-fired motor from the Viper III to "see if it would fire" -- beautiful flight. Drifted a ways, with a little dent on one fin tip, but everything pretty much fine.
#9. Estes Astron Birdie (clone), A10-3T, 17th flight
Nice typical Birdie flight. I rigged a mini-motor mount to fit into the "shortie" tube and recover separately rather than just spitting the motor. Birdie landed on one of the tin roofs, recovered by one of the kids at the launch. Motor mount recovered fine on streamer.
#10. Estes Trident (clone), C6-3, 2nd flight
Really nice flight. Chute stayed wadded up for about half the recovery, then finally opened. Recovered in good condition. Another conversation starter any time it's brought out.
#11. Estes Ram Jet (clone), B4-6, 5th flight
Good flight, nice timing on ejection (although I'm definitly going to have to lengthen the shock cord as I'm getting dents often). Drifted. Broke a fin on landing (mid-span -- go figure). Has already been repaired...
15 Feb 04:
#1. Estes Long Shot, D12-0/C6-7, 17th flight (16th staged)
Well I restocked my launch box with motors overnight so I have longer Cs to use today. Thought about using an E-C combination, but no E9-0 on hand... Great flight! Good staging, sweet altitude, nice recovery fairly close to the pads.
#2. PML Small Endeavour, I218R-Long, 7th flight
First HPR launch in over two years, so I took my time building the motor and prepping the rocket. Kevin Smalls (Here and Beyond Industries) was a life saver ensuring I had all the delay components handy. Just a flat-out awesome launch with major altitude. Everyone pretty much lost it over apogee. About the time I'm wondering about losing my casing (Millenium Edition) it's sighted about halfway down on a good chute. A seriously long walk to recover, but everything in great condition. The redline was sweet! And my first ever I motor. Woo hoo!
#3. LOC Viper III, (3x) E9-8, 8th flight
Another awesome flight. Nice altitude, a lot less drift than previous day. Everything recovered in good condition.
#4. Estes Teros, B6-4, 31st flight
Great flight as always. Really gets a better flight profile on upper stage long delays, but didn't have on in a B. Good recovery.
#5. Rogue Aerospace Interdictor, C6-5, 6th flight
Cool flight, but with a lot of corkscrew. Generated a lot of nice comments. Good recovery (actually caught it about 50 feet from the pads).
#6. Estes Heliocopter, C6-5, 10th flight
Very nice flight, straight up. Booster recovery normal. Helicopter nose cone just kind of fluttered down -- rubber bands pretty much worn out and will need replacement...
All in all, I had a great weekend and enjoyed flying with the NM clubs and the visitors from CO. Felt wonderful to finally get out and do some major flying again ... especially getting the HPR going again after so long without incident. Lots of others had great flights, including several new NAR records over on the contest pads. Maybe someone will chime in with details there. Thanks again to Kevin Smalls for helping with the I-motor reload components!
Enjoy,
Date: 14-15 Feb 04
Time: ~1000 on (for me)
Location: Veteran's Park facility, Alamogordo NM
Conditions: (14) high thirties, mostly clear, and windy
(15) fifties, clear, calmer (some breeze)
Ground Support Equipment: club equipment from Spaceport Model Rocketry Association (NAR #488), Tripoli New Mexico-White Sands (TRA #61), and visiting clubs/individuals
Only my second time able to fly since moving here to NM a year and a half ago. Weather was chilly (especially Sat) but I had a great time and only one minor mishap.
14 Feb 04:
#1. Estes Long Shot, D12-0/B6-6, 16th flight (15th staged)
For whatever lame reason, I found myself with no C6-7s so I used the B motor upper stage. Flight was really nice, good staging, decent altitude. Had to walk some to get the upper stage but all recovered in good condition.
#2. Estes Der Red Max (clone), C6-3, 17th flight
For the same lame reason, I didn't have any -5s so I used the -3. Nice flight, but as expected a little early on ejection. Good recovery with no damage. BTW, I did a review on EMRR for this clone a couple years ago. Rocket has flown a bunch and is still in pretty good condition.
#3. Estes Satellite Interceptor (clone), C6-3, 13th flight
As usual, generated a little conversation with this one since you don't see them that often. Nice flight with a tad of corkscrew action, ejection a little early, good recovery. This one is also reviewed on EMRR.
#4. Estes Teros, B6-6, 30th flight
This is one of my "originals," built back in ~1978 during my first rocketry iteration, and is my energizer bunny (I fly it pretty much every time I go out). A very nice flight! Good altitude on a B, perfect ejection timing, good recovery.
#5. Estes Snitch, C6-0, 2nd flight
Just felt like being different today. Flew really nicely, bounced a couple times on landing then stayed upright on the landing "antennae."
#6. Centuri Two Bitz, 1/2A3-2T, 5th flight
A nice, typical flight for this one. Came in a little fast due to motor not ejecting from rocket -- but no damage.
#7. LOC Viper III, (3x) E9-6, 7th flight
Cool flight, nice altitude and straight. A little walk to recover due to drift. Find out that only two motors lit (all three igniters appear to have fired; the dud may have been pulled out before firing). Glad there was no scary flight with only two motors. No damage.
#8. Estes Big Daddy, E9-6, 2nd flight
Don't know why I haven't flown this more over the years -- only other flight was in GA on an F reload. Used the non-fired motor from the Viper III to "see if it would fire" -- beautiful flight. Drifted a ways, with a little dent on one fin tip, but everything pretty much fine.
#9. Estes Astron Birdie (clone), A10-3T, 17th flight
Nice typical Birdie flight. I rigged a mini-motor mount to fit into the "shortie" tube and recover separately rather than just spitting the motor. Birdie landed on one of the tin roofs, recovered by one of the kids at the launch. Motor mount recovered fine on streamer.
#10. Estes Trident (clone), C6-3, 2nd flight
Really nice flight. Chute stayed wadded up for about half the recovery, then finally opened. Recovered in good condition. Another conversation starter any time it's brought out.
#11. Estes Ram Jet (clone), B4-6, 5th flight
Good flight, nice timing on ejection (although I'm definitly going to have to lengthen the shock cord as I'm getting dents often). Drifted. Broke a fin on landing (mid-span -- go figure). Has already been repaired...
15 Feb 04:
#1. Estes Long Shot, D12-0/C6-7, 17th flight (16th staged)
Well I restocked my launch box with motors overnight so I have longer Cs to use today. Thought about using an E-C combination, but no E9-0 on hand... Great flight! Good staging, sweet altitude, nice recovery fairly close to the pads.
#2. PML Small Endeavour, I218R-Long, 7th flight
First HPR launch in over two years, so I took my time building the motor and prepping the rocket. Kevin Smalls (Here and Beyond Industries) was a life saver ensuring I had all the delay components handy. Just a flat-out awesome launch with major altitude. Everyone pretty much lost it over apogee. About the time I'm wondering about losing my casing (Millenium Edition) it's sighted about halfway down on a good chute. A seriously long walk to recover, but everything in great condition. The redline was sweet! And my first ever I motor. Woo hoo!
#3. LOC Viper III, (3x) E9-8, 8th flight
Another awesome flight. Nice altitude, a lot less drift than previous day. Everything recovered in good condition.
#4. Estes Teros, B6-4, 31st flight
Great flight as always. Really gets a better flight profile on upper stage long delays, but didn't have on in a B. Good recovery.
#5. Rogue Aerospace Interdictor, C6-5, 6th flight
Cool flight, but with a lot of corkscrew. Generated a lot of nice comments. Good recovery (actually caught it about 50 feet from the pads).
#6. Estes Heliocopter, C6-5, 10th flight
Very nice flight, straight up. Booster recovery normal. Helicopter nose cone just kind of fluttered down -- rubber bands pretty much worn out and will need replacement...
All in all, I had a great weekend and enjoyed flying with the NM clubs and the visitors from CO. Felt wonderful to finally get out and do some major flying again ... especially getting the HPR going again after so long without incident. Lots of others had great flights, including several new NAR records over on the contest pads. Maybe someone will chime in with details there. Thanks again to Kevin Smalls for helping with the I-motor reload components!
Enjoy,