Launch Reports

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.

Motor ignition counts:

• A – 2
• B – 4
• C – 8
• D – 7
• E – 2
• F – 4

Additional Event Photos

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

Additional Event Photos

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.

Motor Ignition Counts:

• 1/4A – 2
• 1/2A – 5
• A – 44
• B – 82
• C – 63
• D – 9
• E – 2

Photos provided by Kevin Boyd

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.
Today’s motor ignition counts:

• A – 4
• B – 16
• C – 34
• D – 10
• E – 5
• F – 2
• G – 5

Event photos provided by Kevin Boyd

We managed to eek out fifty flights Saturday at Mill Springs Academy, despite all the wind from the back-side of Hurricane Matthew.

A scout troop came out early before the winds really got started, and they provided the majority of the flights for the day, flying a lot of Estes CrossFires and Estes Comet Chasers on a variety of motors from A to C, and got most of them back, by jumping the trees to the south and using that field as the recovery area.

The launch was notable in that almost all flyers were newbies (to our launches, at least), though David Sleeman and son Michael stopped by to make a couple of flights. William Bercini drove up from Macon to help Roy out with running the launch.  Lee Childers was one of the first timers, though he’s obviously got some building skills as he showed off a nice Mercury Redstone with detail wrap from Accur8.com (Understandably, Lee wasn’t willing to fly that beautiful model in yesterday’s wind!), and flew a couple of rockets decorated for his daughter including a Der Pink Max decorated with a Hello Kitty skull and crossbones!

Gabriel brought out a box of odd-rocs including a Sputnik, a Dare To Be Square, and a Vortico or two, and Lee Miller flew his Applewhite Priority Stealth.  Just the types of rockets to fly in higher winds for assured recovery.

Here are the motor counts:

• 1/2A – 2
• A – 14
• B – 18
• C – 13
• D – 1
• E – 2

Join us in two weeks for a launch at the Ball Ground field, where hopefully the winds will be less and we’ll be able to get some high altitudes.

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!
Motor ignition counts were as follows:
1/2A – 4
A – 7
B – 27
C – 34
D – 14
E – 6
F – 1

Event photos provided by Kevin Boyd: https://www.flickr.com/photos/boyd2000/albums/72157672615061451

The August 13 Launch Event at Mill Springs saw twenty participants launch a total of 107 rockets.  Activity picked up quickly with a varying moderate summer breeze and partly cloudy skies that provided some initial launch angle challenges, but as the day progressed the winds were fairly consistent directing recoveries down the length of the field.  The B6-4 provided most of the early-day boosting, but by afternoon there were many reaching for higher altitudes with C6-5s and D12-5s.  Of note there were a couple of Sputniks launching that were always fun to watch; simple design and easy recovery.  Jose Morales Jr. brought out his Redstone, his new nicely detailed Quest Future Launch Vehicle and a V2-like rocket with forward fins (see picture) that flew well but experienced a parachute ejection issue causing light damage.  Spectators also enjoyed Alex Swift’s Aerotech Initiator powered with an F15 and Herb Howe’s Art Applewhite Delta Saucer roaring off the pad on an F15-0.

Total motor ignition counts were as follows:

• 1/4A – 1
• 1/2A – 5
• A – 26
• B – 35
• C – 24
• D – 8
• E – 10
• F – 2

Special thanks to Keith Frazier who once again provided cool beverages and rocket supplies and Roy Green who provided LCO support and expert commentary throughout the hot afternoon.

Although the threat of rain and the rumble of thunder cut the event a few hours short, those who came out early enjoyed some great launches at the July 23rd Dawsonville Launch Event.  There were twenty-two participants who blasted-off a total of sixty-five rockets.  Spectators enjoyed a great variety of mid-powered rockets, cluster configurations, some well performing boost gliders, and unique helicopter recovery creations.  Remarkable mid-power flights included Kevin Boyd’s LOC IV on a G125-5 with a parachute deployment delay set for 400’ and his drag race of a Mega Red Max versus Mega Blue Max both powered by G53-5s.  Bob Nowak brought out his impressive Sirius Interrogator G and flew it on a G40-7W and Steve Bellio flew his Heavy Duty Beauty on a five cluster of one E30-7T, two D12-7s, and two C11-7s.  Kevin Scholberg launched scratch-built Whirl-A-While, Roto Crock, and Roto Moto for some very unique spinning recovery dynamics and performed two launches of his Edmunds Geminee Thunder twin boost gliders with very impressive long flights.  I also enjoyed John Chatham’s scratch-built Raven boost glider and the flight of Darrell Ritchie’s Shuttle.

Motor ignition counts were as follows:

• 1/2A – 1
• A – 5
• B – 14
• C – 21
• D – 13
• E – 10
• F – 3
• G – 6

Event Photos by Kevin Boyd: https://www.flickr.com/photos/boyd2000/albums/72157668524035514/page1/