Launch Reports

We had twenty flyers at Saturday’s launch in Lilly, with a total of 104 flights running the full gamut from A to K impulse.

A full report should be coming up soon.

 
 
 
 

We had twenty flyers at Saturday’s launch in Lilly, with a total of 104 flights running the full gamut from A to K impulse.

A full report should be coming up soon.

 
 
 
 

We had twenty flyers at Saturday’s launch in Lilly, with a total of 104 flights running the full gamut from A to K impulse.

A full report should be coming up soon.

 
 
 
 

We had twenty flyers at Saturday’s launch in Lilly, with a total of 104 flights running the full gamut from A to K impulse.

A full report should be coming up soon.

 
 
 
 

We had twenty flyers at Saturday’s launch in Lilly, with a total of 104 flights running the full gamut from A to K impulse.

A full report should be coming up soon.

 
 
 
 

We had twenty flyers at Saturday’s launch in Lilly, with a total of 104 flights running the full gamut from A to K impulse.

A full report should be coming up soon.

 
 
 
 

Jeff Coons brings us the launch report: “Although muggy and overcast at the start of the day, twenty-six participants completed ninety-eight launches with motors ranging from 1/4A3-3T on Tyler’s Estes Mini Mosquito up to an F16-6 used by Herb on his Art Applewhite 29mm Saucer. A8-3s were used for fourteen launches followed by eleven launches on B6-4s. C6-5s and D12-5 were frequently chosen (nine launches each). We also saw the launch and successful recovery of Oliver’s Estes Leviathan pushed skyward by an E20-7. Even with C6-5s launching smaller rockets we enjoyed very light winds during the morning hours and achieved many successful recoveries. Kevin Boyd brought many examples of nicely finished higher skill level models that entertained a good turnout with fifteen total launches from his collection. The day saw thirty-one First Flights.

William began a Marshmallow Eating Le Mans event that saw a half dozen competitors racing to the launch pads to launch a rocket carrying a marshmallow and then retrieving their rockets to race back to the starting point to consume the marshmallow. Best time was obtained by Glenn Harper who beat the second place contestant (Cole) by 5.5 seconds at a time of 1:02.14 using his Estes Sky Trax with an A8-3 (low altitude / close recovery strategy – a wise man). A special launch by Joel Downs of a D12-5 three-motor cluster on his Papa Joe 3X rocket celebrated the 67th birthday of his dad Joe. Throughout the day we had three two-stage launches – all successfully recovered I believe and one other cluster of three A8-5s on a Der Red Max by Glenn. Lots of visitors and lots of action made the day progress quickly with many comments being heard of those thoroughly enjoying their time at the field.

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.

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.