Jan 25, 2023
SoAR’s next launch happens this Saturday at our Dawsonville/Ball Ground site from 11AM – 4PM.
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.
As of the 25th it looks like we’ll have a clear day for this launch, with temps rising through the mid 50s by launch’s end. The wind is forecasted to be favorable coming in from the west at less than 10 mph.
Jan 14, 2023
Cold and challenging winds were constant throughout the January 14th launch event at Mill Springs Academy, but sunny skies and some excellent flights made for a good start to a new year. There were sixty-nine total launches accomplished by eighteen bundled up participants. The strong winds made judging proper launch angles a bit of a lucky guess and recoveries sometimes difficult (either long walks or… well… sighs) but through it all there was much to enjoy on a winter day.
Grabbing everyone’s attention was a scratch-built pyramid style USPS rocket by Chris Lucas that was flown on an E16 and some Whirlybirds (Kevin Scholberg built) that were flown by Gavin Lucas on D12s. Three of these going up together made for a spectacular drag race. Jeff Fellman brought out some vintage models like his Estes Reliant, an Estes Tornado, and a Wac Corporal all flown on A8-3s. Terry Bliss got to fly his Estes Flutter-By which streaked skyward on a B6-2 but met with unfriendly winds at apogee where it separated (as designed) in to two pieces for a tumble recovery which drifted quickly into an adjacent field.
All in all, it was a fun afternoon of SoAR rocketry and a good start for the year’s launch events. Some pictures of the event [here].
Engine Ignition counts:
A – 36
B – 13
C – 11
D – 7
E – 2
Nov 12, 2022
Although the day was a bit dreary with overcast skies and occasional light rain, the turnout for the November 12th SoAR launch event was a whopper. Before the scheduled 11:00 event start time, multiple scout packs were invited to launch rockets in the morning pre-event hours; and launch they did! The day’s flight cards reaching a total count of 218 launches.
As one could imagine with the aforementioned onslaught of youthful enthusiasm, there was constant early action on the launchpads and in the air. Lots of successful flights with a variety of low-power rockets, creative designs, and interesting payloads (who would have thought to deliver tanks and infantry to the front lines via rockets).
By 11:00 the scouts had launched everything they had, and the rest of the event was at a more relaxed pace. As a cold front continued to move into the area, the winds picked up and by 1:30 the event came to an early close with Leaor keeping things exciting at the end with his Rocketarium Vortico launch attempt with a F15 CATO that sent up an impressive fire ball, and a great flight of his beautiful Fliskits Tesla with a C5-3 for power.
Other interesting launches included Kevin Scholberg’s scratch-built Double Header going up on an E30 and his BT80-18II powered by a D20. Ron Hender brought out his scratch-built Gemini Titan and launched it with a D20 then again with a C18-4 with good results, had a successful flight of his Estes Space Shuttle on a C5-3, launched his Estes Little Joe II with a D12, and launched his Estes Mercury Redstone off the 10/10 rail with a D12 and a C11. Let’s not overlook Chris with his Fliskits ‘Athletic Supporter’ powered by a C6-0 (tumble recovery) and the thunderous static test of a K motor.
A few event photos can be viewed [here].
Motor ignition counts:
A – 125
B – 26
C – 32
D – 8
E – 3
F – 1
K – 1 (static test)
Unspecified – 23 (likely A & B)
