The gnats. The gnats were perhaps the single imperfect thing about an altogether beautiful, fun and successful GRITS 2023 weekend launch.

The Nashville, GA blue skies featured the occasional cumulus cloud, and a light breeze blew, and overall it was perfect weather to fire off 214 flights Saturday November 18th, and 137 flights Sunday the 19th, for a total of 351 flights in 14.4 hours of open range – a SoAR record, we think!

Motors in play ranged from 1/2A to M, and while the young and the young at heart enjoyed flights all day on the low-power pads, many, many aspiring high-power rocketeers and plenty of Civil Air Patrol cadets flew 12 junior level one, 4 level one, 3 level two, and 1 level three certification flights. On the distant “away cell”, several experienced rocketeers launched “drive it out to the pad in the car”-sized projects.

Saturday evening, as darkness fell, the crowd was treated to a “jaw-dropping” fireworks display!

Keith Frazier and crew did a great job with the food, and our vendors Chris’ Rocket Supplies and JonRocket.com made sure everyone had what we needed in rocketry gear and propellant.

All told, this was perhaps the most successful GRITS launch SoAR has hosted to date, and we’re looking forward to seeing you there next year!