Turnout was tremendous at the June 26th launch event held at SoAR’s Dawsonville mid-power field. There were fifty-nine participants plus a healthy number of spectators and family members who enjoyed favorable weather and wonderful scenery as rockets filled the sky. Flight cards totaled 164 launches – a really busy day on the launch pads especially from those who brought out their mid-powered fleet.

Prevailing winds from the east were favorable for recoveries along the large field dimensions and some rockets that veered easterly at apogee drifted back relatively close to the launch area. At the start of launch Kevin Scholberg sacrificed an Alpha by sending it up on a C6-7 to determine the upper-level wind direction and speed.

A variety of rocketry at this event included multistage and cluster motor arrangements. The most impressive of these was Dan Smith’s Apogee 4DF that launched spectacularly on four D12s with a F15 center motor (hence 4DF). Herb Howe also launched his two motor Fliskits Duces Wild on B6s and a Mercury Engineering RDR-II with a pair of D12s.

Great mid-powered flights included Chris’ LOC Green Goblin powered by a G64 and David Cain’s MadCow Cowabunga also sent up on a G64.

Other standouts included Ray Lecture’s thirty-two-year-old Estes Arrow launched with a B6, Kevin Scholberg’s stunning Moon Age Daydream he scratch-built that was sent up on a D12, Ron Hender’s Estes 1/100 scale Saturn V coming off the pad powered with a F44 – wow, and Gavin Lucas’ Apogee X-15 streaking skyward on a F67. Mark Bowen also came out with his Dynasoar Aurora Clipper radio-controlled boost glider for another amazing flight and gentle return to earth. Event photos by Kevin Boyd here. Some additional photos from the event here.

Motor ignition counts:
A – 23
B – 45
C – 32
D – 30
E – 17
F – 22
G – 3