April 14th Mill Springs Launch Report
For the April 14th Mill Spring launch event we had twenty-two participants launch seventy-six rockets, saucers, and a robot. Weather-wise we had pleasant temperatures but gusty winds coming in from the south creating a bit of a challenge. To overcome the challenge most adapted with streamers and lower altitudes with excellent results.
Herb Howe returned with his saucer invasion (another good windy day option) which included two awesome flights of his Art Applewhite Delta Saucer on a F15-0. We were also intrigued and amazed by a unique proof of concept design by Jose Morales, his ‘I got Gass’ launched with a D12-5. This was a gas-stabilized rocket with no fins (picture) that left the launch pad straight and true initially, then began to lose stability once vent holes began to burn through (well, that’s one theory).
David Cain launched his Semroc Little Joe II on a B6-4 which was quite successful, though a shorter delay would have avoided a few tense seconds. Also notable was the Estes A.R.V. Condor launched on a B6-4 by Marcus. The two parasitic gliders performed very well and received much applause at touchdown. Hunter successfully flew and recovered his Estes two-stage Solar Flare with a B6-0 booster and A10-3T sustainer. Many other great flights! Event Photos.
Motor Ignition counts:
- 1/2A – 3
- A – 29
- B – 24
- C – 14
- D – 6
- E – 1
- F – 2
The Dawsonville March 24th Launch Event started out with chilly temperatures and some light rain moving in and out of the area but ended up quite pleasant as the heavier clouds moved further north and the sun peeked out to warm up and moderate the winds. We had thirteen participants (including the rocketry group from Atlanta Classical Academy) accomplish thirty-two launches.
At the abbreviated March 10th Mill Springs launch event we had thirty-nine participants (including Scouts) who were able to quickly squeeze in eighty-five launches. Action was fast-paced and despite the shortened day we packed in more than enough excitement in the two-plus hours that would typically be found at any launch event.
On a record-breaking warm February afternoon at the Mill Springs launch event there were twenty-four participants who launched a total of seventy-eight rockets. Steady breezes from the south kept directing recoveries mostly down the length of the field, but as usual there were a few rockets that did not go home at the end of the day. Regardless of this challenge there were many great flights with successful recoveries that included two-stage and some mid-power launches.
Despite a weather forecast of afternoon rain, there were twelve eager participants who arrived at the launch site in Dawsonville to accomplish thirty-six launches. SoAR members were joined by a rocketry group from Atlanta Classical Academy who flew two-stage Dynastar AeroDactyl rockets on E16-0 / E16-6 combination with very impressive results. Other standouts included Kevin Scholberg’s scratch-built upscale Nike X powered by a two E12-4 cluster for a beautiful flight skyward and a salvaged Estes Photon Disruptor loaded with a D21-4T for a seemingly instantaneous apogee and then successfully recovered. Another multi-stage included Miles’ Estes Mini Comanche 3 on A10-0/A10-0/A10-3 and for impressive mid-power action Dan launched his LOC IRIS on a F37-6. Later in the afternoon, the increasing amount of precipitation falling from the sky (or was it the cows… it may have actually been the cows) brought the event to an early end.