Jun 23, 2023
SoAR’s next launch happens this Saturday, June 24th at our Dawsonville/Ball Ground site from 9AM – 2PM.
This is our mid-power field, where rockets up to G power can be flown. It is very hilly, and cow-patties abound, hidden in the tall grass in the recovery area, so pick your shoes accordingly. Spectators are always welcome. If you’ve got a rocket, come fly it with us.
The latest forecast shows winds from the northwest and warm temperatures reaching mid 80s by the afternoon with mostly clear skies throughout the event. So come early and enjoy the most favorable conditions. Setup begins at 8:00 and help is greatly appreciated.
Jun 20, 2023
SoAR had special guests at the Mill Springs Academy launch on 06/10/2023!
Approximately 100 Scouts and their parents registered to come out and fly rockets with us…and they showed up in mass!
Four of us started the day at the Eggs Up diner that is near the field. When breakfast broke up we ambled over to the field and set up 28 pads to make sure there wouldn’t be any waiting. We kept up with the demand and I believe everyone had an Excellent time.
Terry Bliss set up the Triage Table to help Scouts whose rocket needed that extra fin or launch lug.
Flight operations were traded off throughout the day (quite successfully I might add). I believe all of the SoAR members got their fill of flying!
Our flight count for the day was 118 with the vast majority of the flights going on A8-3 with a smattering of D’s, E’s, and a couple of F’s.
This was excellent Outreach and more than a couple of the ‘Scout Flyers’ will be returning to fly with us!
Sincere THANK YOU to everyone who helped!
Jun 9, 2023
SoAR’s Mill Springs Academy launch event is this Saturday, June 10th. The weather forecast calls for favorable conditions with blue skies, comfortable humidity, very warm temps, mild winds, and no threat of afternoon showers. So, make plans to come out early and enjoy a day of rocketry where we will be launching from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. This is our low power launch, where we recommend altitudes no higher than 1000′ (usually no more than D power level).
This will be an “All Hands” event. SoAR will have enough equipment set up so that no one will wait, but we need Rocketeers who can provide a word of advice or a helping hand for upwards of 100 Scouts (both genders) and their parents who will be joining us at this event.
As always, the public is invited to watch, or join in!
May 20, 2023
Those arriving at the field early for setup found low clouds and moderate drizzle, but after a brief delay the morning began to brighten and by the event scheduled start time the conditions needed for a day of mid-power thrills were in play. Activity picked-up slowly as mild winds and very comfortable temperatures encouraged more rocketeers to arrive and more powerful rockets to be placed out on the pads. By midday the sun made a few appearances. For this event there were a total of sixteen participants launching 79 rockets.
Getting down to business with some great mid-powered flights was Tony Paridon with his scratch-built Miss Riley going up on a G78 and his scratch-built Cherokee powered with a G74. Tony used a Jolly Logic chute release set for 300’ on almost all his seven total mid-powered launches with good results. Nate got in an impressive flight with his Estes Leviathan on a G40 which was also recovered with the help of a chute release. Keeping things quite interesting were the four launches by Michael Bright with slow decent helicopter recoveries, his Estes Super Orbital Transport and its parasitic glider performing well and an Estes MIRV that launches on a B6-0 booster and then, while in flight, igniting three separate rockets each powered by A10s.
Some pictures from the event can be found [here]
Motor ignition counts:
A – 14
B – 10
C – 23
D – 20
E – 15
F – 4
G – 3
May 19, 2023
SoAR’s next launch happens this Saturday, May 20th at our Dawsonville/Ball Ground site from 9AM – 2PM.
This is our mid-power field, where rockets up to G power can be flown. It is very hilly, and cow-patties abound, hidden in the tall grass in the recovery area, so pick your shoes accordingly. Spectators are always welcome. If you’ve got a rocket, come fly it with us.
The latest forecast promises light winds and mild temperatures reaching upper 70s and partly cloudy. There is a chance of rain beginning in the early afternoon, so come early and enjoy the more favorable conditions.
