A
Austin
...The clock was set, now it was a matter of getting some sleep for the big event. 6am came and I woke up in a flash. Brother was on the phone and gave me his 4x4 to drive to the field. I did the only thing all GREAT dad's do...quietly I snuck in the bedroom, tightly gripping two frying pan lids...
..."REVELY!!!!!" I started clacking my homemade cymbals together and made a trumpet sound that would wake up the gods! Lindsey "POPPED" out of bed and was dressed in 30 seconds! Thomas took more coaxing but finally arose. We headed to my brothers, transfered the goods and trekked out to Mechanicsburg, stopping at the local "Mickie D's" on the way out for breakfast. The thick fog made it a slow going ride; we finally got to Magnum Rockets around 8:45am as Ross was locking up to go to the field. Oh well, we can shop another time...it's time to play now! A fellow Cincinnatian, Shane, follwed us to the field and we immediately began setting up the pads and electronics. Fog is still thick but it HAS to let up sometime!
Well, 10am and still no sight of the sun, but it's getting warmer...already near 60 degrees; a regular "Heat Wave" for us in November...but we are Tripoli Mid-Ohio, we launch in 20 degree weather, we are...REAL MEN!!! I think we are "REAL NUTS"!!!!!
Time to get prepped before the fog lifts. I loaded up a H128W and prepped the Amraam 2. Fog was still thick...what's this...huh, I just noticed...there is NO WIND!!! YEEHAA!!! Time to go HIGH!!! So it was the J415W for the Amraam 4...a "Monster" of a motor that always puts on a great show and is now my favorite! Then I prepped a I161W for the Phoenix...time for a BIG second launch for it. Next was the Adept RAS2 altimeter...all the time I was wondering what secrets of flight it would record in the Amraam 4 today.
Suddenly, the sound of a H180 cracked off in the distance! I looked up and noticed some blue sky just beyond the clouds of fog. Someone yelled "Heads Up" and, as I turned, a Phoenix R/C glider flew past and up and out, unfortunately, never to be seen again. Fog not quite lifted, I sent Thomas over for some flight cards. He and Lindsey filled them out as I finished packing the Drogue and Main chutes for the A4, then...
it was time! CLEAR BLUE SKIES, NO WIND, 70 DEGREES...I asked the kids and they said I could go first. MAN, I was hurt'in bad, suffering from HPR fever and NEEDED this launch! By the time I made it to the checkin table, I was already 3rd in line..."these guys are as bad as me, they didn't waste ANY time getting to the checkin!"
Hope you all liked the naration...well, here we go! The A4 launched a perfect and awsome flight; everyone really liked it with the J415, what a combo! The fire trail looked almost as long as the rocket! Deployment was right on and I was already feeling better. It reached a altitude of 4793 feet and hit 654fps at 1403 feet...it was cooking! The cheers and many compliments of the crowd and my friends made it a launch to remember.
The Amraam 2 was next, having only flown it once on a F50 SU. It took to the skies like the original; like a BULLET on STEROIDS with the H128!!! Good landing and a proud little boy was happy to fetch. He rushed back so we could get Lindsey's LOC Nomad up for it's first flight, a H128W!!!
Yes, I was rapidly finishing the attachements of shock cords when Thomas arived with his Amraam 2. He removed the motor while I finished; I made up another H128W and into the Nomad it went. A pretty proud daughter jumped right in line an presented the prefect with her flight card on a new pink and black LOC Nomad. we waited our turn, put it on the pad and it was another excellent flight, with matching "pink" parachute , which deployed just right! We were 3 for 3. She and I went to fetch her rocket, which only landed about 75 yards away, just to the right of the pads; man you gotta love that no wind!!!
Dads turn again; the Thoy Phoenix had been sitting on a chair ready to go for a few hours now and it was time. It launched on a I161W which caught EVERYONE'S eye as it went straight up and a bit over our heads. People and I alike could not believe what happened next. As it was whistling during slowdown near apogee, it took about a 90 degree gradual right turn and continued for another second or so before deployment; REALLY WILD Looking!!! I figured it caught a small gust of wind and decided to use those big fins as wings. Then another surprise; at deployment, the nose cone seperated perfectly, taking the parachute and shockcord with it! Stunned, I watched as the body litterally tumbled vertically end over end, without chute, hoping if it hit the ground the damage would be more than splinters. The big fins seemed to keep the fall slowed and controlled which surprised me. It hit nose first, "whew, I can splice in another piece of body tube" I thought. I started the walk, then realized the nose cone must have landed too. I was so worried about the body tube, I forgot to see where the nosecone landed. Last time I saw it, the nosecone appeared to be hovering with the 36" orange chute at around 1000 feet. Well, with those wonderful "NO WIND" days, I saw it laying NEXT to the rocket, only about 12 feet away.
Well, I approached the Phoenix, and low and behold, NO DAMAGE!!! Gawd, ya gotta love fiberglass! I was the luckiest guy there today. The 1" thick elastic shock cord had snapped at ejection, so Kevlar will replace it. I lost my big Nomex heatshield, but that is an easy fix. After getting back we prepped the RAAM for it's debut flight in full length. It took to the skies on another H128W like it was on rails, straight up! Deployment was there and it landed safely. A great day for us!
In addition, we had 4 "M" class launches including one successful cert for L3! Many Redlines, J's K's and L's....lots of H and I's...I swear EVERYONE was getting their HPR fix! Magnificent launches on Baby M1315's, M1000, M1939 and more!!! One of the M's failed to eject at all , so we got to see it come in balistic at mach+ about 1000 yards away; it was whistling when it hit the ground and left one HUGE crater!
My friend Jim German debuted his 6" bird on a K700 with two air start H180's followed by 2 more H180's. It was a PERFECT launch for him...air starts hit about a second after the main K ran out, then another perfect start on the second set. He got 6400+ feet on that launch! I was really cheering him on; what fun!
Shane also had a good day as his RMS tri "cluster" performed well; it was a really cool launch!
So, it was a fantastic day, we took ALL of our rockets back home in one piece, thanks to the rocket godz, and had a blast! Considering we didn't start until nearly 1pm and the sun sets at 5:30pm, we did ok as there must have been over 200 launches Saturday! I know I was rubb'in you "southern" boys a bit (rib, rib) with our great windless weather, but I'm just trying to get you all up HERE for once!
In addition, I saw at least 5 guys go for their L2 written exam; very busy day! Hats off to our prefect Kreig Williams for his non-stop, tireless efforts to get everyone on a pad and tested!!! Oh yea, one other thing...
...we now have TWO TAP members here; they BOTH signed off on my Tripoli Cert form for the L3 build...YEEHAA, GAWD what a GREAT day!!!!!!!!!! I did watch them as they looked over my L3 dual deployment unit and smiled when one of em chuckled and said.."and I thought I OVERBUILT!!!"
Oh yes, of course there HAS to be pics, so here ya go:
One tired but happy rocketeer,
Carl
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1.jpg">Lindsey with Dad in background prepping the Amraam4<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1A.jpg">Future HPR Rocketeer and Corn Husker<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1B.jpg">Amraam4 Preped and Ready<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1C.jpg">My Amraam 4 on a J415W<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1D.jpg">Amraam4 Closeup<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1E.jpg"> After flight smile <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1F.jpg"> The Field <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1G.jpg"> Clearing the Line <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1H.jpg"> Awsome M!<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1I.jpg"> K1100 Flight <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1J.jpg"> More for the Pads <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1K.jpg"> Fiberglass Wild Thing <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1L.jpg"> M Trail <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1M.jpg"> M Post Ground-0<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1N.jpg"> Thomas 4th in Line with Shane behind him<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1O.jpg">L Flight<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1P.jpg">Jim German's K700 w/ 4 H180's, Is it straight?<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1Q.jpg">Contrail<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1R.jpg">Jim's K700 Flight<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1S.jpg">Ross Dunson of Magnum Rockets (Plaid Shirt and beard)<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1T.jpg">Thomas patiently waiting<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1U.jpg">How much longer?<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1V.jpg">The fliers left side<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1W.jpg">The fliers right side<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1X.jpg">J275W Launch<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1Y.jpg">YeeHaa its on the pad Dad<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1Z.jpg">I love this place<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2.jpg">Flightline Prep<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2A.jpg">J350 Launch<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2B.jpg">Cool BlackJack<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2C.jpg">F Launch<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2D.jpg">H180 Launch<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2E.jpg">Blue Thunder Beautiful Trail<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2F.jpg">E Launch<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2G.jpg">Another Small one<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2H.jpg">Thomas Amraam 2 on an H128..just lighting<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2I.jpg">Time to fetch the A2<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2J.jpg">Happy boy!<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2K.jpg">Lindsey and I just finished setting up her new LOC Nomad(Great Photo and my favorite with the lighting. For an 8 year old, Thomas ought to be a Photo pro!<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2L.jpg">Lindseys Nomad with an H128W on the Pad<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2M.jpg">BlackJack Launch<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2N.jpg">Lindseys Nomad Launch on H128W<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2O.jpg"> Nomad on the Chute <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2P.jpg">Dad and Lindsey in background fetching Nomad<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2Q.jpg">Another round for the pads<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2R.jpg">More Bigguns<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2S.jpg">Dads turn walking with Thoy Phoenix<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2T.jpg">Rods are full<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2U.jpg">A small Blue Thunder<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2V.jpg">My Thoy Phoenix Launch on a I161W<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2W.jpg">My Phoenix Launch Closeup<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2X.jpg">Someones bad luck<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2Y.jpg">K Landing<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2Z.jpg">Our RAAM Launch on a H128W<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/3.jpg">Thomas said...Over 200 rockets in that Trailer!<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/3A.jpg">Tired Kids<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/3B.jpg">RAAM After flight rest<br></a>
..."REVELY!!!!!" I started clacking my homemade cymbals together and made a trumpet sound that would wake up the gods! Lindsey "POPPED" out of bed and was dressed in 30 seconds! Thomas took more coaxing but finally arose. We headed to my brothers, transfered the goods and trekked out to Mechanicsburg, stopping at the local "Mickie D's" on the way out for breakfast. The thick fog made it a slow going ride; we finally got to Magnum Rockets around 8:45am as Ross was locking up to go to the field. Oh well, we can shop another time...it's time to play now! A fellow Cincinnatian, Shane, follwed us to the field and we immediately began setting up the pads and electronics. Fog is still thick but it HAS to let up sometime!
Well, 10am and still no sight of the sun, but it's getting warmer...already near 60 degrees; a regular "Heat Wave" for us in November...but we are Tripoli Mid-Ohio, we launch in 20 degree weather, we are...REAL MEN!!! I think we are "REAL NUTS"!!!!!
Time to get prepped before the fog lifts. I loaded up a H128W and prepped the Amraam 2. Fog was still thick...what's this...huh, I just noticed...there is NO WIND!!! YEEHAA!!! Time to go HIGH!!! So it was the J415W for the Amraam 4...a "Monster" of a motor that always puts on a great show and is now my favorite! Then I prepped a I161W for the Phoenix...time for a BIG second launch for it. Next was the Adept RAS2 altimeter...all the time I was wondering what secrets of flight it would record in the Amraam 4 today.
Suddenly, the sound of a H180 cracked off in the distance! I looked up and noticed some blue sky just beyond the clouds of fog. Someone yelled "Heads Up" and, as I turned, a Phoenix R/C glider flew past and up and out, unfortunately, never to be seen again. Fog not quite lifted, I sent Thomas over for some flight cards. He and Lindsey filled them out as I finished packing the Drogue and Main chutes for the A4, then...
it was time! CLEAR BLUE SKIES, NO WIND, 70 DEGREES...I asked the kids and they said I could go first. MAN, I was hurt'in bad, suffering from HPR fever and NEEDED this launch! By the time I made it to the checkin table, I was already 3rd in line..."these guys are as bad as me, they didn't waste ANY time getting to the checkin!"
Hope you all liked the naration...well, here we go! The A4 launched a perfect and awsome flight; everyone really liked it with the J415, what a combo! The fire trail looked almost as long as the rocket! Deployment was right on and I was already feeling better. It reached a altitude of 4793 feet and hit 654fps at 1403 feet...it was cooking! The cheers and many compliments of the crowd and my friends made it a launch to remember.
The Amraam 2 was next, having only flown it once on a F50 SU. It took to the skies like the original; like a BULLET on STEROIDS with the H128!!! Good landing and a proud little boy was happy to fetch. He rushed back so we could get Lindsey's LOC Nomad up for it's first flight, a H128W!!!
Yes, I was rapidly finishing the attachements of shock cords when Thomas arived with his Amraam 2. He removed the motor while I finished; I made up another H128W and into the Nomad it went. A pretty proud daughter jumped right in line an presented the prefect with her flight card on a new pink and black LOC Nomad. we waited our turn, put it on the pad and it was another excellent flight, with matching "pink" parachute , which deployed just right! We were 3 for 3. She and I went to fetch her rocket, which only landed about 75 yards away, just to the right of the pads; man you gotta love that no wind!!!
Dads turn again; the Thoy Phoenix had been sitting on a chair ready to go for a few hours now and it was time. It launched on a I161W which caught EVERYONE'S eye as it went straight up and a bit over our heads. People and I alike could not believe what happened next. As it was whistling during slowdown near apogee, it took about a 90 degree gradual right turn and continued for another second or so before deployment; REALLY WILD Looking!!! I figured it caught a small gust of wind and decided to use those big fins as wings. Then another surprise; at deployment, the nose cone seperated perfectly, taking the parachute and shockcord with it! Stunned, I watched as the body litterally tumbled vertically end over end, without chute, hoping if it hit the ground the damage would be more than splinters. The big fins seemed to keep the fall slowed and controlled which surprised me. It hit nose first, "whew, I can splice in another piece of body tube" I thought. I started the walk, then realized the nose cone must have landed too. I was so worried about the body tube, I forgot to see where the nosecone landed. Last time I saw it, the nosecone appeared to be hovering with the 36" orange chute at around 1000 feet. Well, with those wonderful "NO WIND" days, I saw it laying NEXT to the rocket, only about 12 feet away.
Well, I approached the Phoenix, and low and behold, NO DAMAGE!!! Gawd, ya gotta love fiberglass! I was the luckiest guy there today. The 1" thick elastic shock cord had snapped at ejection, so Kevlar will replace it. I lost my big Nomex heatshield, but that is an easy fix. After getting back we prepped the RAAM for it's debut flight in full length. It took to the skies on another H128W like it was on rails, straight up! Deployment was there and it landed safely. A great day for us!
In addition, we had 4 "M" class launches including one successful cert for L3! Many Redlines, J's K's and L's....lots of H and I's...I swear EVERYONE was getting their HPR fix! Magnificent launches on Baby M1315's, M1000, M1939 and more!!! One of the M's failed to eject at all , so we got to see it come in balistic at mach+ about 1000 yards away; it was whistling when it hit the ground and left one HUGE crater!
My friend Jim German debuted his 6" bird on a K700 with two air start H180's followed by 2 more H180's. It was a PERFECT launch for him...air starts hit about a second after the main K ran out, then another perfect start on the second set. He got 6400+ feet on that launch! I was really cheering him on; what fun!
Shane also had a good day as his RMS tri "cluster" performed well; it was a really cool launch!
So, it was a fantastic day, we took ALL of our rockets back home in one piece, thanks to the rocket godz, and had a blast! Considering we didn't start until nearly 1pm and the sun sets at 5:30pm, we did ok as there must have been over 200 launches Saturday! I know I was rubb'in you "southern" boys a bit (rib, rib) with our great windless weather, but I'm just trying to get you all up HERE for once!
In addition, I saw at least 5 guys go for their L2 written exam; very busy day! Hats off to our prefect Kreig Williams for his non-stop, tireless efforts to get everyone on a pad and tested!!! Oh yea, one other thing...
...we now have TWO TAP members here; they BOTH signed off on my Tripoli Cert form for the L3 build...YEEHAA, GAWD what a GREAT day!!!!!!!!!! I did watch them as they looked over my L3 dual deployment unit and smiled when one of em chuckled and said.."and I thought I OVERBUILT!!!"
Oh yes, of course there HAS to be pics, so here ya go:
One tired but happy rocketeer,
Carl
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1.jpg">Lindsey with Dad in background prepping the Amraam4<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1A.jpg">Future HPR Rocketeer and Corn Husker<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1B.jpg">Amraam4 Preped and Ready<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1C.jpg">My Amraam 4 on a J415W<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1D.jpg">Amraam4 Closeup<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1E.jpg"> After flight smile <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1F.jpg"> The Field <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1G.jpg"> Clearing the Line <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1H.jpg"> Awsome M!<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1I.jpg"> K1100 Flight <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1J.jpg"> More for the Pads <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1K.jpg"> Fiberglass Wild Thing <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1L.jpg"> M Trail <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1M.jpg"> M Post Ground-0<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1N.jpg"> Thomas 4th in Line with Shane behind him<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1O.jpg">L Flight<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1P.jpg">Jim German's K700 w/ 4 H180's, Is it straight?<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1Q.jpg">Contrail<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1R.jpg">Jim's K700 Flight<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1S.jpg">Ross Dunson of Magnum Rockets (Plaid Shirt and beard)<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1T.jpg">Thomas patiently waiting<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1U.jpg">How much longer?<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1V.jpg">The fliers left side<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1W.jpg">The fliers right side<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1X.jpg">J275W Launch<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1Y.jpg">YeeHaa its on the pad Dad<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/1Z.jpg">I love this place<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2.jpg">Flightline Prep<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2A.jpg">J350 Launch<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2B.jpg">Cool BlackJack<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2C.jpg">F Launch<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2D.jpg">H180 Launch<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2E.jpg">Blue Thunder Beautiful Trail<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2F.jpg">E Launch<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2G.jpg">Another Small one<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2H.jpg">Thomas Amraam 2 on an H128..just lighting<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2I.jpg">Time to fetch the A2<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2J.jpg">Happy boy!<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2K.jpg">Lindsey and I just finished setting up her new LOC Nomad(Great Photo and my favorite with the lighting. For an 8 year old, Thomas ought to be a Photo pro!<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2L.jpg">Lindseys Nomad with an H128W on the Pad<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2M.jpg">BlackJack Launch<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2N.jpg">Lindseys Nomad Launch on H128W<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2O.jpg"> Nomad on the Chute <br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2P.jpg">Dad and Lindsey in background fetching Nomad<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2Q.jpg">Another round for the pads<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2R.jpg">More Bigguns<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2S.jpg">Dads turn walking with Thoy Phoenix<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2T.jpg">Rods are full<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2U.jpg">A small Blue Thunder<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2V.jpg">My Thoy Phoenix Launch on a I161W<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2W.jpg">My Phoenix Launch Closeup<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2X.jpg">Someones bad luck<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2Y.jpg">K Landing<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/2Z.jpg">Our RAAM Launch on a H128W<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/3.jpg">Thomas said...Over 200 rockets in that Trailer!<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/3A.jpg">Tired Kids<br></a>
<a href="reviews/oh2001/3B.jpg">RAAM After flight rest<br></a>
