Launch Reports

The June 13, 2015 launch event was held on a typical summer day with blue skies and calm to moderate variable winds coming across the field. We had thirty-nine participants with a large turnout of family and friends providing support. There were one hundred and twenty one launches accomplished throughout the busy day. Many boost gliders were flown with fantastic results in the small thermals produced by the warming air. Motor selection favored the C6-5 with a total of thirty rockets streaking skyward to neck-craning altitudes and long descents, some finding the neighboring ball field to be recovered. Motor counts were as follows: 2-1/4A, 9-1/2A, 22-A, 23-B, 39-C, 12-D, 12-E, 5-F, and one G80-6T lifting Steve Bellio’s LOC Short EZI-65.

The day saw good variety of activity with the boost gliders, saucers, multi-stage, cluster motor configurations, and a pair of Estes Swifts sent out of sight by Nathaniel Smith, but actually recovered within minutes (good eyes!). I was amazed by Marcus’ scratch built Space Shuttle which performed realistically by launching the shuttle off of the boosters and which came down at an easy glide angle. David Fields brought out a Saturn V scale model that was attempted on an E20-4W but experienced a Bernoulli Lock Effect on the blast deflector and failed to accelerate up the launch rod while catching fire. I hope we can discuss this perplexing phenomenon at our next club meeting.

Although the trees claimed a few prized models, and we experienced a couple of motor failures with dramatic results, the majority of launches were impressive flights followed with smiles of success. Good crowd, busy day and a lot of fun!

Well, not exactly, yet. We still don’t have a text description of what went on, but we have photos, thanks to Kevin Boyd, and now, we have video from Monica Helms:

The April 11^th Launch Event at Mill Springs was held on a picture perfect day. Blue skies prevailed while the winds remained mostly light to calm, and what did come along was frequently down the length of the field. Many rockets landed very close to the launch pads, including some that were reaching well over 500 feet in altitude. All of this favorable weather led to a busy day with forty-two participants launching an impressive total of 152 rockets. Motor selections included one micro, one ¼ A, five ½ A, forty-three A, fifty-three B, twenty-nine C, nine D, fourteen E, two F, and one G40 by Glenn Harper on his Leviathan’s last spectacular voyage.

The most remarkable launch was of an Estes Condor by Matt Boyd that lofted twin gliders. One of the gliders circled down in a gentle downward spiral, but the second glider seem to defy gravity and appeared to keep a constant altitude as it circled down the field for what seemed like a few minutes, finally landing gently on the grass at the far end of the field. A really amazing flight. Also of note were the numerous mid-powered flights with almost all of these successfully recovered. Most impressive was a launch of a LOC Ariel by Steve Bellio on a cluster of three E16-4 motors. Wow. There were other low power cluster launches (B & D) and two low power two-stage launches (A & B). Best Triathlon contest 250 foot flight was by Joel Downs who reached 255 feet. Lots of variety and lots of action provided a thrilling day for all spectators who came out to enjoy the event.

The March 28th launch event at Mill Springs was held on a blue sky but cool and windy day. We had twenty-eight participants launching a total of eighty-seven rockets, saucers, cones, and spools. There were a good number of multi-stage and cluster engine configurations resulting in the follow total motor ignition count: One 1/4A, two 1/2A, nineteen A, thirty-six B, sixteen C, nine D, twelve E, and two F. The winds blowing cross-field proved to be a challenge throughout the day; however, the number of rockets failing to reach the ground was not significant considering the altitudes being obtained.

Herb Howe put up a generous assortment of oddities with thrilling power selections for boost. David Fields brought out his Mercury and Gemini scale subjects that flew very well, and also an amazingly indestructible (well almost) cone shaped thing he called F-14 that provided four heads-up flight performances. Steve Bellio got top billing with mid-power launches including an interesting E30-4T on center with two C11-5s on his Heavy Duty Beauty. A Radio Shack Flashlight was launched straight and true by Joel Downs, although its reintroduction to earth was a bit abrupt. Roy dug out an old B6-2 that he had for twenty-four years and launched in an Estes Black Diamond. The engine worked good as new. Glenn Harper won the A Super-Roc contest with a 76cm rocket reaching an altitude of 328 feet. Overall it was an active day with many participants and family enjoying the afternoon.

Despite an accurate forecast of steady winds with gusts up to twenty MPH we had twenty-six participants come out to accomplish a total of fifty-six launches. The winds gusting down the length of the field at Mill Springs helped to keep most recoveries a minimal concern; although sometimes a bit of a walk for those whose rockets were reaching higher altitudes. Motor selection included nine A series, twenty-four B, twelve C, eight D, and three E motors. Of special note we had Steve Bellio complete an impressive launch of a Nike Smoke on an E30-4T and Eva flew a beautifully finished new Estes Conquest on a D12-3. Kevin Boyd had a number of artfully finished rockets and he also took many photographs during the event. We saw many new faces that came out to enjoy the sunny day and moderate temperatures for this middle of winter event.

We did indeed have a launch at Mill Springs Academy on Saturday the 24th, with about a dozen people showing up to brave the temperature and the wind. The school that was going to be there did not come due to the wind, and we’ll reschedule them for a later launch, but those that did show up had a pretty decent day despite the wind.  By the time I left we had only one or two rockets that were lost due to wind, and one boost glider that splashed down in the drainage lake, but was retrieved.  Dan McMahill and family returned after being absent a year or so and flew a few odd rockets, including one that looked to me like Tom Servo from the old Mystery Science Theatre 3000 show.  We didn’t bother with flight cards or record keeping today, so I have no idea how many rockets were flown, but I’m thinking close to forty by the time I left at 3:30PM.

Next launch at Mill Springs is on Valentine’s Day.  Hope the weather starts to get warmer by then!

The January 10th launch event at Mill Springs was conducted under blue contrail crisscrossed skies with light and variable winds. There were twenty-five participants making a total of 69 launches. The motor selections were as follows: 1/2A – 4, A – 8, B – 31, C – 14, D – 5, E – 7. We saw many excellent flights including Gabriel’s Estes Astron Skydart II making two very nice flights, March Briner’s Applewhite saucer with great flight performance, and Oliver Long’s Estes Leviathan flown by Nathaniel on an E16-6 with impressive results. There were fifteen rockets being launched for their first flight. Steve Bellio hovered nearby with his new camera drone taking launch videos and snap shots with results to be viewed later (pictures must be copied from the memory card). All in all it was a beautiful day with lots of moments enjoyed by all participants and their family members who came along to support them.

Fair autumn skies saw ninety launches by twenty-two participants at the SoAR November Mill Springs Launch.  Moderate and sometime variable winds provided ample opportunity for many successful flights and recoveries with motors ranging from 1/4A to F32.  The favorite choice was the B6-4 which boosted fourteen rockets skyward while C6-5 saw eleven launches.  A three stage launch (A8-0/A8-0/A8-5) was successfully flown and recovered by Warren with his retro Farside.  Steve successfully launched and flew two remote control boosted gliders for four spectacular flights with motors ranging from E12 to F15.

Throughout the day we saw many parasitic gliders and space planes with some really good results.  A Space Shuttle scratch built by Marcus was remarkably realistic in its lift off, booster separation, and especially with how the Space Shuttle glided down back to earth with a very flat glide angle.

So all-in-all we had another good turnout of participants, many with family and all enjoying a variety of interesting launches on a beautiful autumn day.