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When I launch I have my binocs around my neck. Helps my old eyes keep track of launched rocket.
Yeah, I used to use my binocs...when I had my kid with me 20 yrs ago....he push the button and I would track it......I figure it might be too much for one man to do but I might as well try it...push button..and hold binocs up to the eye.
 
Yeah, I used to use my binocs...when I had my kid with me 20 yrs ago....he push the button and I would track it......I figure it might be too much for one man to do but I might as well try it...push button..and hold binocs up to the eye.
@jrap330 I usually have my reclining lawn chair with me. Push the button, lean back & track. Saves on the neck.
 
Wow never expected to still get post s in response to my post. I did launch it on a B6-4. Small fields it happens and I know. Time to build more
 
...... And don’t put a big honking motor in a new immaculately painted rocket! One is surely going to lose it on the first flight. Do it in a beater rocket that’s been flown hard, cracked off and repaired fins, paint (or whatever is left of it) all scuffed up and raunchy looking. I’ve purposely done that in a beat up Apogee Aspire and believe it or not, cracked fins and all, I recovered it from four F10-8 launches. Three from a relatively small field too.
Murphy’s law in reverse I guess.;)
Some rockets just seem “luckier” than others. I like to build rockets out of scraps so they’re more appreciative and want to come back,
 
I'm primarily a glider flier, and it goes without saying that they're extremely prone to going permanently AWOL. Maybe because I put so much time into carefully airfoiling, balancing, trimming, tissuing, and "decorating" for visibility, watching my first two "masterpieces" soar off on thermals was...well, maybe not all out traumatizing, but it sure turned my day into a downer. My only consolation was imagining whoever found them would be stoked and give them a good home. Now 3 years in and 7 gliders fewer, I've become a bit more numb and accepting when it happens (though that silly little kid inside still insists on getting all teary).
 
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I'm primarily a glider flier, and it goes without saying that they're extremely prone to going permanently AWOL. Maybe because I put so much time into carefully airfoiling, balancing, trimming, tissuing, and "decorating" for visibility, watching my first two "masterpieces" soar off on thermals was...well, maybe not all out traumatizing, but it sure turned my day into a downer. My only consolation was imagining whoever found them would be stoked and give them a good home. Now 3 years in and 7 gliders fewer, I've become a bit more numb and accepting when it happens (though that silly little kid inside still insists on getting all teary).
Yes, based on great chance of it being lost..I never wanted to try and build a glider.
 
Yes, based on great chance of it being lost..I never wanted to try and build a glider.
Something about the satisfaction and beauty of watching a rocket turn into a soaring glider makes the risk so worth it. Beats the brief whoosh-pop of a 4FN any day (unless it's an HPR launch).
 
I live in Michigan. It was launched from a park less than a mile from the Detroit river. Canada is on the other side. I was surprised to get it back after it drifted out of sight. Never saw the second stage but recovered the first booster.
 
I live in Michigan. It was launched from a park less than a mile from the Detroit river. Canada is on the other side. I was surprised to get it back after it drifted out of sight. Never saw the second stage but recovered the first booster.

Ha ha! I thought you were joking. Being that close to Canada as an "international" destination I can see how this is a real story. That's great! Guess the jokes on me. 🤪
 
I feel your pain...had to buy some mini-standard adapters so we can fly our LPR in our small field w/o losing them. 1200' on a C-engine Yankee is cool, but trying to find the little guy on the way down is tough. Been using 1/2's and A3's to launch our small guys, and have been saving our MPR's for the larger field.

I've seen those noise emitters advertised, not sure if they work well.
 
What’s especially fun is launching a Comanche on all Cs with your address written on the parachute...

...then getting it in the mail four weeks later with international postage. 😉

Now that's one I hadn't heard before, not many people checking off that box in rocket bingo.
 
Yeah, I've lost a rocket or two. This is my most current list of ornaments, fence posts and barbecue starters.
Balsa Machining Service - Astron Invader
Bo-Mar - Alpha-B
Canaroc - Tornado Two
Centuri Engineering Co. - Aussie Eagle
Centuri Engineering Co. - S.S.V. Scorpion
Centuri Engineering Co. - Scram Jet
Centuri Engineering Co. - Scram-Jet
Centuri Engineering Co. - Vector V
Centuri Engineering Co. - Vulcan
Custom Rockets - ATW
Custom Rockets - Ion Pulsar
Custom Rockets - Metrix
Custom Rockets - Stealth Interceptor
Custom Rockets - TriStar
Custom Rockets - Venture
Empire Rockets - Bomarc
Enerjet - 1340/20 Sounding Rocket
Estes - 220 Swift
Estes - 220 Swift
Estes - A.R.V. Condor
Estes - AIM-120 AMRAAM
Estes - Alpha
Estes - Amazon
Estes - Astron Drifter
Estes - Astron Farside X
Estes - Astron Invader
Estes - Astron Sky Hook
Estes - Astron Spaceman
Estes - Beta
Estes - Beta
Estes - Big Dawg
Estes - Cherokee-D
Estes - Condor
Estes - Estes Aerospace Club Viper
Estes - Flutter-By
Estes - Goblin
Estes - Goonybird Cloudhopper
Estes - Manta
Estes - Manta Bomber
Estes - Mini Bomarc
Estes - Mini Max
Estes - Mini Shuttle
Estes - MK109-Stringray
Estes - Monarch
Estes - Nike Arrow
Estes - Ninja
Estes - No. 2 Sky Writer
Estes - No. 2 Sky Writer
Estes - Patriot M104
Estes - Patriot M104
Estes - Prowler
Estes - Scamp
Estes - Screamer
Estes - Sizzler
Estes - Solar Sailer II
Estes - Solar Warrior
Estes - Space Hauler
Estes - Sprint
Estes - Star Wars Darth Vader Tie Fighter
Estes - Star Wars Mini Naboo Starfighter
Estes - Star Wars X-Wing Fighter
Estes - US Army
Estes - Wildfire
Estes - Wizard
Estes - Wizard
Estes - X-Ray
Estes D.O.M. - Argus II
Excelsior Rocketry - Der Goony Max
Excelsior Rocketry - Goonybird Zero
Fishhead Rocketry - Beacon
Fishhead Rocketry - Cherokee E
Fishhead Rocketry - Dart
Fishhead Rocketry - Dart
Fishhead Rocketry - Groove Tube 1.76X
Fishhead Rocketry - Mace
Fishhead Rocketry - Mach 10+
Fishhead Rocketry - Magnum Spartan
Fishhead Rocketry - Mini Jet Freak
Fishhead Rocketry - Mostly Harmless
Fishhead Rocketry - Oscar the Grouch
Fishhead Rocketry - Phantom Cruiser
Fishhead Rocketry - Rascal
Fishhead Rocketry - Red Baron
Fishhead Rocketry - Screw Loose
Fishhead Rocketry - Sky Jart
Fishhead Rocketry - Space Twins 1.8x
Fishhead Rocketry - U.S.S. Atlantis .75x
Fishhead Rocketry - X-15
Fun Rockets - Tangent
Fun Rockets - Zoomie
Holverson Designs - Tangent
JimZ (Centuri) - Mach 10
JimZ (Centuri) - Mach 10
JimZ (Centuri) - Mach 10
MPC - Tomahawk
MRC - XR-20
NAR - Jet Freak
NAR - Jet Freak 2
National Association of Rocketry - Jet-Freak
Quest - Intruder
Quest - Q E-Z Boost Glider
Quest - Tracer
Rockethead - Baby Blink
Rockethead - Papa Blink
Semroc - Lil' Hercules
Semroc - Sky Hook
Semroc - Sky Hook
Squirrel Works - Red Baron
Squirrel Works - X-RV
U.S. Rockets - Hammerhead
 
I don't remember if this has been mentioned before, but A late Friend of mine uses to sail model gliders and He used a fuse of some sort that caused the tail of the glider to flip up and allow the glider to come down rather close to him. He's dead, so I can't ask him short of a séance. Hope this helps!
 
I don't remember if this has been mentioned before, but A late Friend of mine uses to sail model gliders and He used a fuse of some sort that caused the tail of the glider to flip up and allow the glider to come down rather close to him. He's dead, so I can't ask him short of a séance. Hope this helps!

What you're looking for is a thing called a "dethermalizer."
 
BlueTrane2028, Thank You for the save. I was having a "Senior" moment. It was, indeed, a dethermalizer. One might wish to work up a dethermalizer to kick in when the ship has glided as fat as One wishes.
 
I live in Michigan. It was launched from a park less than a mile from the Detroit river. Canada is on the other side. I was surprised to get it back after it drifted out of sight. Never saw the second stage but recovered the first booster.
Shooting rockets at a foreign country. Could be a prelude to war... 😄
 
I'm primarily a glider flier, and it goes without saying that they're extremely prone to going permanently AWOL. Maybe because I put so much time into carefully airfoiling, balancing, trimming, tissuing, and "decorating" for visibility, watching my first two "masterpieces" soar off on thermals was...well, maybe not all out traumatizing, but it sure turned my day into a downer. My only consolation was imagining whoever found them would be stoked and give them a good home. Now 3 years in and 7 gliders fewer, I've become a bit more numb and accepting when it happens (though that silly little kid inside still insists on getting all teary).
Do you put your name and cell phone number and “$10 reward” on them?
 
Yeah, I've lost a rocket or two. This is my most current list of ornaments, fence posts and barbecue starters.
Balsa Machining Service - Astron Invader
Bo-Mar - Alpha-B
Canaroc - Tornado Two
Centuri Engineering Co. - Aussie Eagle
Centuri Engineering Co. - S.S.V. Scorpion
Centuri Engineering Co. - Scram Jet
Centuri Engineering Co. - Scram-Jet
Centuri Engineering Co. - Vector V
Centuri Engineering Co. - Vulcan
Custom Rockets - ATW
Custom Rockets - Ion Pulsar
Custom Rockets - Metrix
Custom Rockets - Stealth Interceptor
Custom Rockets - TriStar
Custom Rockets - Venture
Empire Rockets - Bomarc
Enerjet - 1340/20 Sounding Rocket
Estes - 220 Swift
Estes - 220 Swift
Estes - A.R.V. Condor
Estes - AIM-120 AMRAAM
Estes - Alpha
Estes - Amazon
Estes - Astron Drifter
Estes - Astron Farside X
Estes - Astron Invader
Estes - Astron Sky Hook
Estes - Astron Spaceman
Estes - Beta
Estes - Beta
Estes - Big Dawg
Estes - Cherokee-D
Estes - Condor
Estes - Estes Aerospace Club Viper
Estes - Flutter-By
Estes - Goblin
Estes - Goonybird Cloudhopper
Estes - Manta
Estes - Manta Bomber
Estes - Mini Bomarc
Estes - Mini Max
Estes - Mini Shuttle
Estes - MK109-Stringray
Estes - Monarch
Estes - Nike Arrow
Estes - Ninja
Estes - No. 2 Sky Writer
Estes - No. 2 Sky Writer
Estes - Patriot M104
Estes - Patriot M104
Estes - Prowler
Estes - Scamp
Estes - Screamer
Estes - Sizzler
Estes - Solar Sailer II
Estes - Solar Warrior
Estes - Space Hauler
Estes - Sprint
Estes - Star Wars Darth Vader Tie Fighter
Estes - Star Wars Mini Naboo Starfighter
Estes - Star Wars X-Wing Fighter
Estes - US Army
Estes - Wildfire
Estes - Wizard
Estes - Wizard
Estes - X-Ray
Estes D.O.M. - Argus II
Excelsior Rocketry - Der Goony Max
Excelsior Rocketry - Goonybird Zero
Fishhead Rocketry - Beacon
Fishhead Rocketry - Cherokee E
Fishhead Rocketry - Dart
Fishhead Rocketry - Dart
Fishhead Rocketry - Groove Tube 1.76X
Fishhead Rocketry - Mace
Fishhead Rocketry - Mach 10+
Fishhead Rocketry - Magnum Spartan
Fishhead Rocketry - Mini Jet Freak
Fishhead Rocketry - Mostly Harmless
Fishhead Rocketry - Oscar the Grouch
Fishhead Rocketry - Phantom Cruiser
Fishhead Rocketry - Rascal
Fishhead Rocketry - Red Baron
Fishhead Rocketry - Screw Loose
Fishhead Rocketry - Sky Jart
Fishhead Rocketry - Space Twins 1.8x
Fishhead Rocketry - U.S.S. Atlantis .75x
Fishhead Rocketry - X-15
Fun Rockets - Tangent
Fun Rockets - Zoomie
Holverson Designs - Tangent
JimZ (Centuri) - Mach 10
JimZ (Centuri) - Mach 10
JimZ (Centuri) - Mach 10
MPC - Tomahawk
MRC - XR-20
NAR - Jet Freak
NAR - Jet Freak 2
National Association of Rocketry - Jet-Freak
Quest - Intruder
Quest - Q E-Z Boost Glider
Quest - Tracer
Rockethead - Baby Blink
Rockethead - Papa Blink
Semroc - Lil' Hercules
Semroc - Sky Hook
Semroc - Sky Hook
Squirrel Works - Red Baron
Squirrel Works - X-RV
U.S. Rockets - Hammerhead

Wow, your Mach 10s flew THAT well!
 
Yep. All I get are ransom notes. 🥺 ;)
I’m a bit iffy on putting my name on my rockets. I fly in a big local park sport complex, usually early morning when no one is around. I fly only low power and try to avoid windy days.

Even though it is a sports complex, in my case I prefer NOT to “Knock one out of the park!” If on occasion I do drop one in someone’s backyard I am not sure I necessarily WANT to be found.
 
I’m a bit iffy on putting my name on my rockets. I fly in a big local park sport complex, usually early morning when no one is around. I fly only low power and try to avoid windy days.

Even though it is a sports complex, in my case I prefer NOT to “Knock one out of the park!” If on occasion I do drop one in someone’s backyard I am not sure I necessarily WANT to be found.
I limit my newtons to B motors, with an occasional D for the really big gliders. 1 to 2 minute durations are fine with me. I think my shelf life expired a ways back, so I'm past the point where sprinting in pursuit of a thermalling glider or long hikes in the intense humidity and heat of southern summer is agreeable...or maybe even possible. These days if one goes seriously AWOL, I'll let it (reluctantly) have it's freedom. 🥺
 
I’m a bit iffy on putting my name on my rockets. I fly in a big local park sport complex, usually early morning when no one is around. I fly only low power and try to avoid windy days.

Even though it is a sports complex, in my case I prefer NOT to “Knock one out of the park!” If on occasion I do drop one in someone’s backyard I am not sure I necessarily WANT to be found.
That's what NAR insurance is for, right?

Has anyone successfully submitted a claim?
 
Yeah, I've lost a rocket or two. This is my most current list of ornaments, fence posts and barbecue starters.
Balsa Machining Service - Astron Invader
Bo-Mar - Alpha-B
Canaroc - Tornado Two
Centuri Engineering Co. - Aussie Eagle
Centuri Engineering Co. - S.S.V. Scorpion
Centuri Engineering Co. - Scram Jet
Centuri Engineering Co. - Scram-Jet
Centuri Engineering Co. - Vector V
Centuri Engineering Co. - Vulcan
Custom Rockets - ATW
Custom Rockets - Ion Pulsar
Custom Rockets - Metrix
Custom Rockets - Stealth Interceptor
Custom Rockets - TriStar
Custom Rockets - Venture
Empire Rockets - Bomarc
Enerjet - 1340/20 Sounding Rocket
Estes - 220 Swift
Estes - 220 Swift
Estes - A.R.V. Condor
Estes - AIM-120 AMRAAM
Estes - Alpha
Estes - Amazon
Estes - Astron Drifter
Estes - Astron Farside X
Estes - Astron Invader
Estes - Astron Sky Hook
Estes - Astron Spaceman
Estes - Beta
Estes - Beta
Estes - Big Dawg
Estes - Cherokee-D
Estes - Condor
Estes - Estes Aerospace Club Viper
Estes - Flutter-By
Estes - Goblin
Estes - Goonybird Cloudhopper
Estes - Manta
Estes - Manta Bomber
Estes - Mini Bomarc
Estes - Mini Max
Estes - Mini Shuttle
Estes - MK109-Stringray
Estes - Monarch
Estes - Nike Arrow
Estes - Ninja
Estes - No. 2 Sky Writer
Estes - No. 2 Sky Writer
Estes - Patriot M104
Estes - Patriot M104
Estes - Prowler
Estes - Scamp
Estes - Screamer
Estes - Sizzler
Estes - Solar Sailer II
Estes - Solar Warrior
Estes - Space Hauler
Estes - Sprint
Estes - Star Wars Darth Vader Tie Fighter
Estes - Star Wars Mini Naboo Starfighter
Estes - Star Wars X-Wing Fighter
Estes - US Army
Estes - Wildfire
Estes - Wizard
Estes - Wizard
Estes - X-Ray
Estes D.O.M. - Argus II
Excelsior Rocketry - Der Goony Max
Excelsior Rocketry - Goonybird Zero
Fishhead Rocketry - Beacon
Fishhead Rocketry - Cherokee E
Fishhead Rocketry - Dart
Fishhead Rocketry - Dart
Fishhead Rocketry - Groove Tube 1.76X
Fishhead Rocketry - Mace
Fishhead Rocketry - Mach 10+
Fishhead Rocketry - Magnum Spartan
Fishhead Rocketry - Mini Jet Freak
Fishhead Rocketry - Mostly Harmless
Fishhead Rocketry - Oscar the Grouch
Fishhead Rocketry - Phantom Cruiser
Fishhead Rocketry - Rascal
Fishhead Rocketry - Red Baron
Fishhead Rocketry - Screw Loose
Fishhead Rocketry - Sky Jart
Fishhead Rocketry - Space Twins 1.8x
Fishhead Rocketry - U.S.S. Atlantis .75x
Fishhead Rocketry - X-15
Fun Rockets - Tangent
Fun Rockets - Zoomie
Holverson Designs - Tangent
JimZ (Centuri) - Mach 10
JimZ (Centuri) - Mach 10
JimZ (Centuri) - Mach 10
MPC - Tomahawk
MRC - XR-20
NAR - Jet Freak
NAR - Jet Freak 2
National Association of Rocketry - Jet-Freak
Quest - Intruder
Quest - Q E-Z Boost Glider
Quest - Tracer
Rockethead - Baby Blink
Rockethead - Papa Blink
Semroc - Lil' Hercules
Semroc - Sky Hook
Semroc - Sky Hook
Squirrel Works - Red Baron
Squirrel Works - X-RV
U.S. Rockets - Hammerhead
ok, if true
 
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