January 14th Mill Springs Launch Report
On a most incredibly warm and almost windless January afternoon forty participants and many supporting family members enjoyed a very active event where 108 rockets were launched. Throughout the day there was steady activity that included many first-time flights and first-time flyers. I particularly enjoyed a good number of scale models especially SpaceX Falcon 9 models by David Cain and Jose Morales – and on the same day that a full-scale SpaceX Falcon rocket successfully blasted off from California and successfully touched down on a platform in the Pacific Ocean. Our slightly less sophisticated versions came down by parachute. Tom Thurmond stuck a perfect landing with his Semroc Mars Lander Phoenix although there was immense drama as the parachute ejection delayed until the last possible split second (see the video below). There were also many other interesting flights such as Roy Green’s Quest DC-X and Steve Bellio’s Pyramid of Ugly, Pyramid of Gloom, and his 9” Pyramid flown with authority on a G75-4M. It was a beautiful day with a large turnout and with plenty of action for all of those who made it out.
Motor Ignition counts:
- 1/2A – 2
- A – 9
- B – 44
- C – 29
- D – 18
- E – 12
- F – 1
- G – 1
SoAR has made arrangements to participate in the December 3rd 
Two hundred and five rockets filled the skies at the Bert Adams Scout Reservation November 12th launch event where one hundred and ten participants and their families came out to enjoy a sunny and mild afternoon. A slow start quickly ramped up to a steady pace of launches where B6-4s and C6-5s ruled the day. Keith Frazier arrived to provide rocket supplies and refreshments. The spacious field helped ensure recoveries as did the high energy of those doing the retrieving. Joe Burley’s scratch built and innovative Laughing Cow (spool) saw its first flight on a C6-3 and Chris Frye flew a two-stage Quest UFO to a respectable altitude on a D12-0/C6-0 combination. Kevin Boyd brought out his Mega Mosquito boosted by a D12-3 and had an atypical CATO with his Solar Warrior with a C11-5. Ken Frye launched an interesting group of rockets with assorted cargos descending on their own parachutes. Even Jorge got in on the action with a couple of spools of different configurations and flight characteristics. A very busy but successful outing that brought a lot of excitement to many families.
On a windy and cloudless blue sky October morning twenty participants gathered at Herb Belins field near Dawsonville to launch sixty-nine rockets, cones, spinning saucers, and a cat. Yes, a cat named Fray Dee Cat on a D12-3, which was just one of Kevin Scholberg’s (who else?) Halloween themed creations. Did it fly well? Did it land on its feet? Did it survive? Well, that’s subjective. Kevin’s Black Web on a D12-0 and a large Spider on a C6-0 looked awesome. Also less scary but quite remarkable was David Cain’s Honest John launched on a G76-7 with a tether release set for 300’. David also launched a Mega Der Red Max on a G76-4 with a tether release as did Kevin Boyd with his Mega Blue Max on a G64-4 also set for 300’ chute deployment. Those tether releases kept recoveries much closer for less walking in windy situations. Kevin B. also launched his Cricket on a G80-4 and his Saturn V on a E20-4 while Steve Bellio brought out his 9” Pyramid of Doom with a G71-4R for boost. There were many great flights, and yes, some had to take a long walk, but the day and the view from the field was spectacular.
At the September 10th Mill Springs launch event we had twenty-one participants launch ninety-one rockets at a steady pace into the warm sunny sky. Moderate breezes were mostly favorable and did not complicate most recoveries although unfortunately, a few models remained at high perch. Some very talented craftsmen brought their sleek creations for first flight and we also saw some rockets that had been stored for many decades back out on the pads. A 1974 vintage Estes Vega was launched by Dave on a B6-4 and Roy Green brought an Estes Juno-1 / Jupiter-C (late 1980s vintage) and installed a C6-3 for flight. Jose Morales Jr. came with his beautiful scale models that were viewed at the last club meeting on Thursday and all flown on C and D engines. We also saw David Tripp fly his Century Hustler on a F27-4R and Kevin Boyd launched his Estes Leviathan with a E20-4. Also of profound interest was Kevin Scholberg’s “The Dude” (7.5′ tall and uses a balloon for the body) launched twice with D12-3s, and his steampunk styled “Pot Metal” also flown on a D12-3. For more action, I was wowed by Kevin Boyd’s drag race of two Baby Bertha’s streaking skyward on C6-5s and Keith Frazier’s Alphas on B6-6s. It was a fun day!