Launch Reports

Those coming out to the June Mill Springs launch event found a bit of improvement in field conditions as the Mill Springs landscape service had cleared an area large enough to setup the prep table and tent, the launch control, and the launch pads. Parking and rocket recovery areas remained tall grass, but overall, the main areas where people gathered were much easier to navigate due to the shorter grass.

The June weather was very cooperative with mostly blue skies and mild winds in generally favorable direction to help avoid the trees (at least for the morning hours). There were forty-two participants launching 150 rockets, so indeed the pads remained very busy throughout the morning and tapered off in the early afternoon. Something becoming more common is the use of video cameras. Thirteen rockets took video cameras up with them during the event.

Some of the standouts during this event included Amy Srch’s beautifully finished Estes Space Twister named “The Joker” that was launched on an A8 and a B6 with a majestic spin during ascent. Brandon was impressive with his courage and skill at launching his Estes Doorknob twice on E12s with one flight taking up an altimeter. Leaor also took the risk of launching on E12s with his Estes Astron Explorer, QCC Explorer, and STM-012 – all recovered but with some repairable damage on the Astron.

This was a well-attended event with many family members coming out to support the participants. Thanks are due to Jorge Blanco and Chris Lucas in helping to recover more than a few rockets from tree limbs when possible. Some photos from the event [here].

Engine ignition counts:
A – 34
B – 37
C – 59
D – 15
E – 8
F – 3

At the May 14th Mill Springs launch event there were thirty-nine participants who came out on a beautiful day to launch 151 rockets. After some morning clouds departed, conditions became quite extraordinary with very light winds, popcorn skies, and tolerable temperatures. Although not every model was recovered, the number of successful recoveries was very good considering some of the higher altitudes obtained by many participants selecting C and D engines.

Throughout the day there was a variety of interesting models that included new scratch designs and some age-old classics of sport and scale rockets. Roy Green launched a Semroc Aerobee-Hi on a A8-3 that he indicated was the design of the first commercial model rocket kit. He also sent up a Semroc Carlisle Mark II that was like the first rocket G. Harry Stine ever flew back in 1957. Ron Hender had many scale models including a scratch-built Mercury Atlas he launched with a C18 for power and a scratch-built Gemini Titan that flew with a twin C16 cluster.

Keith Frazier announced a Cone Contest that challenged participants to come as close as possible to an orange cone approximately fifty yards down field. A few contestants were able to land their rocket within 50 feet of the cone. A final winner will be announced by Keith and contacted by email with a generous prize awarded for their astute calculations and skillful launch angle eyeballing.

All-in-all the day was very enjoyable. Some event pictures [here]

Engine ignition counts:
A – 19
B – 54
C – 45
D – 22
E – 7
F – 7

At the April 23rd launch event at Dawsonville there were nineteen participants who took advantage of a beautiful sunny Spring day to launch ninety-nine rockets, spools, leapers, and landers. Early arrivers were rewarded with calm winds and cool temperatures and mid-powered rockets were soon streaking skyward into a cloudless sky. By noon, the winds began picking up and this made assessing proper launch angles a bit more difficult and some recoveries more challenging.

Monica Helms was inspired by the science fiction series called The Expanse with her highly creative and detailed Razorback launched on a G67, then her Rocinante sent up on a F20, and the Pella powered by a G80. Other G-powered models included Chris Lucas’ Aerotech ArreauxBee-Hi with a G64, Ray Lecture’s scratch built and beautifully finished Der Black Max launched on a G78 as well as his LOC Goblin. David Cain launched his Mad Cow Cowabunga with a G77and Robert Harris sent up his LOC Cool Spool on a G79. These were all great spectator flights.

Also of interest were Kevin Scholberg’s Estes Outlander, a classic Excelsior Rocketry Bluebird Zero launched on a C6, his scratch-built Silver Surfer that went up majestically on a F67. Kip Laurie brought out some upscaled models including Estes Nike X (212% upscale) that was powered by a F42, an Estes Sasha (167%) lofted by a F20, and an Estes Low Boom SST (331%); all of these going up for the first time. There were many other exciting launches that kept most of the day busy and enjoyable to watch. Event photos by Kevin Boyd [here]. Some additional event pictures [here].

Motor Ignition Counts:
A – 15
B – 13
C – 18
D – 20
E – 14
F – 19
G – 8

Saturday turned out to be a very nice day for flying rockets.  The winds were totally in ignorance of the forecast and shifted around 270 degrees during the course of the launch. 

We had a number of very interesting projects including 7 two stage flights.  Jorge Blanco launched the most powerful two stager with an F15-0 staging to an F15-7.  Sadly, we got to watch that one sail into the horizon….gotta watch to parachute sizes!  Chris Lucas showed everyone how it’s done by flying a mini Comanche sporting A10-0 to A10-0 to A10-3  staging.  All three stages lit…but the first stage lift was to say the least….unhurried.

John Lawrence flew a 3 motor (B6-4) project.  Tom T. outmuscled John flying a rocket with a pair of D12-3 motors.

For Saturday’s Ouch we had Jorge Blanco leave a Dual Deploy Class 1 rocket 70 feet up in a tree.  He hopes to get the altimeter bay back at some point (should be ok).

Engine ignition counts:
1/2A – 2
A – 11
B – 15
C – 22
D – 20
E – 10
F – 9
G – 8

The February 12th launch event at Mill Springs brought out thirty participants to take advantage of a warm afternoon with sunny skies and light to moderate winds. There were many who elected to use streamer recovery to keep smaller rockets reaching higher altitudes landing closer on the field. By the end of the event there were 108 total launches with a good variety of rocket designs including vintage as well as many taking to the air for their first flights.

Some of those vintage rockets making it back out on the launch pad included Jeff Fellman’s Holverson Designs Tangent that was successfully powered by an equally vintage C5-3. David Cain had his classic Semroc Cherokee D that he sent up on a B6 and also an Estes design Astron X-Ray flown twice under A8 power. Kevin Boyd launched his Estes Executioner with a D12 and his Estes QCC Explorer on a C11. Jorge got to launch his scratch built Red Thing on a D12. Other interesting launches included Harrison Kiefert’s Odd’l Rockets Birdie and his Sputnik with A10 engines. Gabriel had fun with his Estes Port-a-pot shot which struggled to gain altitude on a B4 but for reasons he was quick to explain (it was full of “stuff”).

For a more thunderous thrill, Robert Harris sent up his LOC Cool Spool on a G79.

Event photos by Kevin Boyd here.

A few additional event pictures here.

Engine ignition counts:
A – 39
B – 42
C – 20
D – 6
E – 1
F – 0
G – 1

The cool temperatures and windy conditions were no match for the amount of enthusiasm that arrived at the November 13th Mill Springs launch event. Cub Scouts from three Packs came ready to load the pads at the 8:00 start time. For the next few hours, it was incredible nonstop action. There were plenty of A, B, and C engines taking rockets to various altitudes; many of these being recovered in the adjacent fields as the steady winds from the northwest keep recovery chances interesting no matter what the launch angle. Terry Bliss setup a prep and repair table that helped many first timers solve technical and safety issues prior to approaching the RSO for pad assignment. This support was extremely helpful as it allowed the flow of participants to move smoothly from RSO to the pads once their rockets were ready and finally checked for launch. Total launch count for this event was 244 (wow!)

Once the scouts were done by mid-morning the pace slowed down and a more typical launch event was underway. Leaor kept things exciting with his Rocketarium Vortico launch on a D9 then again (and finally) on a F39. He also got in a 3rd flight of the beautiful Fliskits Tesla with a C6 for power. Robert Harris tempted fate (and won) with his Dynastar Rising Star launched with a D12 and gave spectators a glorious (and loud) flight with his LOC Cool Spool on a F67.

A few photos from the event [here]

The October 9th Mill Springs launch event began with some morning fog parked across the field keeping visibility a bit limited, but soon after the event start time the mist moved along, and a beautiful Fall afternoon got underway. There were twenty participants who accomplished a total of ninety-four launches. Winds were absent for the morning hours allowing for straight up ascents and straight back down parachute descents.

Of special interest were flights by Tony Paridon which included a thunderous launch of his scratch-built Hi-Flier XXL on a F32, scratch-built Nike-X on a F42, and scratch-built Dr. Death flown on a E27. Kevin Boyd flew his Aerotech G-Force on a G40. Leaor had some spectacular flights with his Fliskits Duces Wild on a cluster of two B6s and then on C6s. Tom Lacock launched his Estes Executioner powered with an E12.

A drag race was held of three Estes Protostars by Kevin Boyd (color champagne) D12, Jorge Blanco (gold) C11, and Jeff Coons (silver) D12. So who won which aspect? (First off the pad, highest altitude, first down) Well, that was not the point, it was a sight to behold as all three Protostars came soaring up off the pads at once – and that was good enough (all recovered).

Wonderful Fall weather, rockets blasting skyward and drifting down silhouetted against a sunny blue sky – it was a very enjoyable launch event. Event photos by Kevin Boyd [here]. Some additional pictures from the event [here].

Engine Ignition Counts:
A – 10
B – 28
C – 36
D – 18
E – 3
F – 2
G – 1

Comfortable temperatures, low humidity, mild morning breeze – you could hardly ask for more perfect weather for the September 25th launch event at Dawsonville. Coming out to enjoy the big sky day and mountain scenery were twenty-two participants who accomplished seventy-seven launches.

With light winds in the morning there was little hesitation to bring out high-flying mid-power rockets and a good number of two stage models as well. Herb H. had four impressive G-power flights with his Pole Cat Goblin (4-inch), LOC V2 (4-inch), Binder Bat (29mm), and Pole Cat Spike. Mike E. launched his LOC Caliber ISP for the first time powered by a G76. Russell M. flew his North Coast Rocketry SA-14 Archer on a G77 with a successful dual deployment recovery. Well done.

For other scale models, Ron H. launched his Estes Saturn V (1/100 scale) twice with a F44 for lift, two flights of his Semroc Saturn 1B (1/72 scale) with E30 power, and a launch of his Estes Little Joe II on an E30. Tom T. launched a Gemini on a cluster of two D12s. Ash C. had three good flights of his Estes Saturn V on C6s.

It was a full day of excellent low and mid-powered flights. Event photos by Kevin Boyd [here]. Some additional photos from the event [here].

Engine Ignition Counts:
A – 7
B – 11
C – 13
D – 19
E – 15
F – 12
G – 6

Possibly owing to people observing the 20th anniversary of the 2001 terror attacks on the USA, turnout was low at the September Mill Springs launch despite nearly perfect weather. But there were still some new faces that were making their first attempts at model rocketry. There were twenty-two enthusiastic participants launching eighty-nine rockets, Gabe Perry and his family were a perfect example. Gabe made six flights with his Estes Journey (which seems to be a new popular beginners rocket) all successful, and the Perry’s left more enthusiastic than they came.

Joseph Barrett entertained us with a drag race between an Estes Snitch and a Quest UFO, an exciting Whirl & Hurl 3D printed rocket on an E20, and a flight from an Estes SLS 1/200 scale model.

And as always Kevin Scholberg kept the skies full of interesting rockets.

(the featured photo is of the Perrys. Gabe is in the middle)

Motor ignition counts:

A – 29
B – 24
C – 17
D – 11
E – 8