The Captain's personal launch report, SARG Launch 042217

[qquake2k]

It was a beautiful day at Gibson Ranch Park. A little breezy and cloudy, but nice nonetheless.

 

[qquake2k]

The first of mine was the Meaner Machine, this time on a G76 Mojave Green. I had the Chute Release set at 500ft, but I lost sight of the rocket in the clouds, and didn't see the recovery. But according to spectators, the chute released perfectly. Apparently it was a really good flight.

[YOUTUBE]furDgqAZTPI[/YOUTUBE]

 

[qquake2k]

The second of mine was 5 Times A Fool version 2.0, on an H165 Redline. I had the Chute Release set for 500ft again, and saw the entire flight. Everything looked perfect!

[YOUTUBE]2rhJD9N-YB4[/YOUTUBE]

 

[qquake2k]

Since I didn't see the entire first flight of Meaner Machine, I decided to launch it again. I had a G64 White Lightning reload with me,
so I loaded it up. I saw the entire flight, and everything looked good, except the chute didn't pull out of the body tube right away. I had put the chute in first followed by the harness, but in the future I'll put the chute in last. Regardless, the chute did come out, and it was a successful recovery.

[YOUTUBE]d5eXJc4UGmM[/YOUTUBE]

 

[qquake2k]

Got a small zipper in the coupler of Mean Machine on the last flight. Never seen that before, and not sure how it happened.

 

[qquake2k]

Nathan's hot dogs for lunch!

 

[qquake2k]

This is Kit's fiberglass lil Goblin on a Blue Thunder something or other. Cute little thing!

[YOUTUBE]mj6M-rjnxBM[/YOUTUBE]

 

[qquake2k]

I want to thank my good friend Hanna for all of her help and her awesome launch photos!

 

[scsager]

Another excellent launch report!! Thanks for sharing the photos and videos. That Chute release really works great, doesn't it!

 

[Woody's Workshop]

Excellent Jim!

 

[Madison Alum]

Thanks for the great launch report, pictures and videos! I have only been able to get to one launch this year so far and it was too windy to launch anything I had with me, but we had a few new members with kids who loved chasing their rockets.

 

[o1d_dude]

For the sake of clarification, my Madcow Lil Goblin F/G 29mm went up on an Aerotech SU F50-6T. I particularly like the photo where Lil Goblin hasn't quite left the rail yet. Can't recall ever seeing one like that before.

BTW, the last photograph where Hanna is sitting down eating shows my daughter and her friend in the background to the right. She is responsible for me becoming a BAR back in 2008 or so and attends a lot of the local launches to watch.

 

[qquake2k]

For the sake of clarification, my Madcow Lil Goblin F/G 29mm went up on an Aerotech SU F50-6T. I particularly like the photo where Lil Goblin hasn't quite left the rail yet. Can't recall ever seeing one like that before.

BTW, the last photograph where Hanna is sitting down eating shows my daughter and her friend in the background to the right. She is responsible for me becoming a BAR back in 2008 or so and attends a lot of the local launches to watch.

You can see that the ignition wire hasn't hit the ground yet in that one, too.

Was the young girl there your granddaughter?

 

[qquake2k]

Another excellent launch report!! Thanks for sharing the photos and videos. That Chute release really works great, doesn't it!

I was glad I had the Chute Release. The rockets all drifted a long ways in the breeze, I can't imagine how far they would have gone without it.

 

[o1d_dude]

I didn't spot the dangling ignition wire!

Yes, that was my granddaughter (number 1 son's daughter). The rest of the grands are boys.

 

[o1d_dude]

​Something happened to my font size...

 

[qquake2k]

I didn't spot the dangling ignition wire!

Yes, that was my granddaughter (number 1 son's daughter). The rest of the grands are boys.

Hanna guessed it was your granddaughter.

 

[LW Bercini]

Got a small zipper in the coupler of Mean Machine on the last flight. Never seen that before, and not sure how it happened.

That looks like an impact point. I would guess it is the equivalent of the classic "Estes Dent"

 

[qquake2k]

That looks like an impact point. I would guess it is the equivalent of the classic "Estes Dent"

I'm thinking it was the quick link.

 

[robbdm]

Nathan's hot dogs for lunch!

Makes me hungry looking at your posts... you should be the food vendor!

 

[John Beans]

The first of mine was the Meaner Machine, this time on a G76 Mojave Green. I had the Chute Release set at 500ft, but I lost sight of the rocket in the clouds, and didn't see the recovery. But according to spectators, the chute released perfectly.

As you gain confidence in your folding and bundling with Chute Release, you can choose lower release points so they'll drift less. Once the parachute inflates, your rockets will slow to landing speed in about 10-20 feet. So releasing at a higher altitude really just means more drift. I typically choose 300 or 400 feet for a new rocket on a windy day, and 200 for rockets that I've flown reliably before and have lots of confidence in.

 

[qquake2k]

Thanks for the input, John. I'll try a lower altitude at Snow Ranch this Saturday.

 

[o1d_dude]

Thanks for the input, John. I'll try a lower altitude at Snow Ranch this Saturday.

Whoops!

LUNAR email update today said the May launch at Snow Ranch has been canceled. Next scheduled launch is November.

We have officially entered Building Season. Launch Season appears to be over...unless through some freak rain storm drenches Gibson Ranch and SARG puts on a launch. Lotta 90 degree days between now and then...

~sigh~

 

[qquake2k]

Whoops!

LUNAR email update today said the May launch at Snow Ranch has been canceled. Next scheduled launch is November.

We have officially entered Building Season. Launch Season appears to be over...unless through some freak rain storm drenches Gibson Ranch and SARG puts on a launch. Lotta 90 degree days between now and then...

~sigh~

Well damn. I was looking through my old photos, and LUNAR had May launches in 2010 and 2012. I was hoping for 2017.

 

[o1d_dude]

Well damn. I was looking through my old photos, and LUNAR had May launches in 2010 and 2012. I was hoping for 2017.

I remember Bill flying a big kite at the May 2012 launch. Crazy windy in the month of May most years and it's been very windy this week. Hot and windy, bad for grass fire issues.

 

[qquake2k]

...

 

[o1d_dude]

...

That would be the one.