Jul 13, 2014
The Mill Springs July 12th launch event experienced calm to light winds and partly cloudy skies that provided a perfect backdrop for the 78 launches that were completed by 14 participants and their supporting family members. Herb launched a virtual saucer invasion with a dozen launches on B, C, and D engines. For others the calm wind enticed as many as 13 C6-5 launches with successful recoveries for all but a few. For top honors Steve B. brought out his EZI-65 which raced skyward on a G78-4G for an impressive flight and successful recovery. We also had a good number of 2 and 3 cluster motor launches with good results. Even a lucky (?) grasshopper was awarded a payload designation on one flight of a Quest Payloader by Lucas and an egg payload recovery was attempted by Herb with much less than perfect results… oh well. Spinning parachutes on Chevis’s scratch built rockets were very nice to watch against patches of blue sky. Boost gliders launched by Marcus performed really well and another interesting recovery option was done via “nose blow”… (OK, I’ll need Roy’s explanation for that one). Overall this was a fun and very successful launch event.
Jun 23, 2014
SoAR returns to the sod farm near Braselton today for a launch along with a Cub Scout group, but the public is welcome to attend. We’ll be able to fly up to the normal limit of G motors. Note: this is the same place we were at about a year ago, and the same field SoAR flew from back in 2003 (the attached photo is from a TARC qualification launch there in 2003).
Jun 22, 2014
A number of SoAR members made the trip to Manchester, TN for this year’s version of Southern Thunder. Jorge had the old club banner displayed prominently and had the big club tent set up as a common area. Members present included Jim Philips, David Tripp, Kevin Scholberg, Monica Helms, Mario Panebianco, and at least three or four others.
Jun 14, 2014
The June 14th launch at Mill Springs began with very light and favorable winds that held throughout the day and attributed to a very good turnout. There were at least 148 rockets launched by over 40 participants with many family and friends providing range support. The day saw 24 first flights with many interesting designs. There were only a few final flights as calm winds, a few updrafts, and a wind favoring the length of the field kept most recoveries only a short walk.
The most popular motor choice was the A8-3 while B6-4s and C6-5s were also frequently ignited. Remarkable launches included a Mega Der Red Max launched twice (G76W & G53F), some really good drag races throughout the day, an R/C boost glider piloted by David Fields who also launched a 3 cluster rocket, some really really old and rare rockets, some beautiful scale models, a Starbucks up cup, a Funky Chunky, and a workhorse of a rocket named Bob.
May 12, 2014
A Creekview High School (Canton, GA) team won the National Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) on Saturday and now is headed to international competition.
The winning team led by student Captain Amanda Semler is made up of Austin Bralick, Nick Dimos, Bailey Robertson and Andrew White. The students are part of Creekview High School’s Aeronautics Team program sponsored by teachers Todd Sharrock and Tim Smyrl.
In addition to the team’s cash prize of $10,500 plus $1,000 for the school, the team will travel to London in July as the guests of the Raytheon Company to compete against top students teams from the United Kingdom, France and Japan at the Farnborough Air Show — the biggest aerospace show and exhibition in the world.
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SoAR returns to the 