April 8th Mill Springs Launch Report
The April Mill Springs Launch event had a great turnout with thirty-nine participants launching a total of 144 rockets in to blue skies with a few wispy Cirrus clouds. It was picture perfect day of sun, mild temperatures and light to sometimes moderate winds at field level and light upper level winds. Rockets were launched at a steady pace throughout the afternoon providing lots of action and an excellent variety of rockets, saucers, and spools.
Steve Bellio and Glenn Harper gave the spectators great mid-power excitement with Glenn’s Mirage on a G74-6W and Steve’s LOC EZI-65 powered by a G77-4R plus the 9” Pyramid of Doom on a F27-4R. We also got to see Jim Cain having great success with his Semroc Mars Lander on a C6-5 and Jacob Schwartz ‘s flight on his Estes Shuttle Express on a C6-3 with twin gliders that perform very well as did his Estes STM-012 flown with a E9-4 on one of its three flights. Roy Green flew his Quest DC-Y Space Clipper on a C6-3 and Matthew Huggins successfully flew his Estes Mammoth for the first time on a F15-6 with awesome results, reloaded and sent it up again.
Coyote Rocketry gave away an Estes Nike Smoke and an Estes Nike X by drawing names from the flight cards. It was a very good turnout and a great day to enjoy rocketry. View photos from the event
Motor Ignition Counts:
1/2A – 2
A – 30
B – 32
C – 59
D – 17
E – 8
F – 3
G – 3
For the March Dawsonville launch we had twelve participants launch sixty-three rockets into partly cloudy skies. Once again we were challenged with winds that were gusting heavily later in the day, but during more moderate periods we saw many mid-power launches. Jeff Eshbaugh sent his LOC Viper III up on a cluster of three E9-6s and his Estes Argent skyward on a F15-6.
The March Mill Springs Launch event had thirty participants launch ninety-six rockets. The early afternoon hours provided the best time for launching as winds were light at both higher altitudes and at field level. Coyote Rocketry attended the event and provided rocket kits as giveaways to lucky participants whose flight cards were randomly drawn. The event saw some interesting motor clusters being tried by Jack Bentley with his Estes X Prize Starchaser Industries Thunderstar on two A8-3s, Jim Cain’s Semroc Defender on three B6-4s, Steve Bellio’s TMRK Aries attempted on four C11-3s although two of the motors appeared to have malfunctioned, and Kevin Scholberg’s LOC Starbright with a pair of D12-3s.
On a mild but cloudy and sometimes breezy February afternoon thirty-seven participants accomplished a total of 123 flights at the Mill Springs launch. With the wind direction holding steady down the length of the field many were not discouraged in attempting maximum low power altitudes even if it meant a bit of a walk to recover. Those who came to observe were not disappointed. Once again, Steve Bellio provided some mid-power excitement with his LOC EZI-65 authoritatively launched with a G74-6W and was also successful in launching his LOC Heavy Duty Beauty (mothership) with a cluster consisting of an E15-4 supplemented with six C11s (two staged) – it worked beautifully, but not sure how. The crowd applauded. Future aerospace tycoon Oliver Long sent his Estes Argent up on an E16-4 and Kevin Scholberg launched an Estes Nike Smoke on an E16-4 – a fun to watch scale model. There were many other excellent flights and breath-holding moments. The day of launches went smoothly and at a steady pace with many families providing encouragement and emotional support for the few rockets that will be staying behind at the field.
Despite the brisk January winds, we had fourteen participants launch twenty-seven rockets. It was a day well suited for streamers and tethered parachutes to help make recoveries less troublesome. And although all rockets were eventually retrieved the winds certainly carried a few that were riding down on parachutes far afield, especially for those who reached for higher altitudes. Still, there were some impressive flights like Tom Thurmond’s Estes Argent launched with a F42, Brody Patton’s Maxi Alpha on a F44-4W, Alan Luebs’ scratch-built Soft Iron lofted by a F15-7, and Frank Patton’s Aerotech Initiator on a F15-7. I was also amused by Jack Bentley’s Garbage Rocket (dishwashing soap bottle with fins?) on a C6-3. Due to the unrelenting winds, the event wrapped up early. A special note of appreciation to all of those who helped take down the launch equipment.