Launch Reports

The September 14th Mill Springs launch had a great turnout of thirty-six participants who accomplished 121 launches throughout the event.  Mild winds from the east helped guide recoveries down the length of the field but variations in wind direction did prove challenging at times.

The day saw many Turbo Vorticos, Whirl & Hurls, saucers, cones, and even something called Bad Egg Salad by Kevin Scholberg that flew (whirled) on an E12, then a F15.  Joseph Barrett launched his Estes D Region Tomahawk on a E12.  We saw a spectacular flight of Tim Callahan’s Estes Blackbird on a C6. Chris Lucas launched a Lego Gus Grissom onboard an Estes Mercury Redstone with a C6.  Roy Green sent up his Estes Jupiter C / Juno I on a C6.  Jorge got to fly his beautifully finished Estes Protostar and Estes Expedition each on C11s.  Glenn Harper successfully ignited all three A8s (cluster) in his Estes Der Triple Max for an impressive flight and Herb had an awesome flight with his FlisKits Deuces Wild on a two-cluster of B6s.  [Photos from the event]

Motor Ignition counts:

•  1/2A to A – 36
• B – 36
• C – 31
• D – 9
• E – 6
• F – 5
• G – 1

Rockets filled the sky at the August 10th Mill Springs launch event where thirty-eight participants launched 149 rockets at a steady pace throughout the day. Although Georgia summer heat and humidity were in full force, mild winds from the west allowed many to push their low and mid powered rockets to higher altitudes. Most of these were successfully recovered downfield or in the adjacent ball field.

Coyote Rocketry was in attendance with supplies and cold-water refreshment for those wishing to keep launching.

[Event Photos]

Motor ignition counts:

• 1/4A to A – 39
• B – 45
• C – 34
• D – 18
• E – 8
• F – 9

There was an excellent turnout for the July 20th Apollo 11 celebration launch at Dawsonville.  Although quite hot and humid and with rain just a few miles away at times, the event drew thirty-one participants and many additional spectators who got to enjoy ninety-five launches.  In recognition of the Apollo 11 50th anniversary we had six spectacular Saturn V launches by Gavin Lucas, Kevin Scholberg (2), Tom Thurmond, Ashli, and Andrew Robinson.  Additionally, we also had Ray Lecture’s scratch-built Skinny Cat launched on a G77 and Allen Isdell’s LOC Amraam Prototype with a G61.  These were all thrilling flights.  [Event Photos]

Motor Ignition Counts:

• 1/2A to A – 19
• B – 36
• C – 19
• D – 8
• E – 13
• G – 2

After previous months of back-to-back rainouts for SoAR’s Mill Springs venue we finally got a break for the July 13th Launch Event which was held under partly cloudy skies and with a mild breeze from the west blowing favorably down field.  A pent-up demand brought out forty participants who accomplished 115 launches before the threat of rain finally brought the event to an hour early end.

Some of the many interesting launches included Leaor’s Semroc Orbital Transport with glider, Gabriel’s Holverson Design Zoomie and Jack Bentley’s Estes Starchaser Thunderstar (X Prize) launched with a two-engine cluster of A8-3s.

A special thank-you! for those who helped hurriedly load equipment back into the SoAR trailer to beat the rain (which arrived just as the trailer door was being closed).  [Photos from the event]

Engine Ignition Counts:

• 1/4A to A – 32
• B – 57
• C – 17
• D – 5
• E – 3
• F – 2
• G – 1

The June 22^nd Dawsonville Launch event was held on a partly cloudy hot and humid day with light to moderate winds from the west/southwest. Thankfully the early afternoon rain threat never materialized. The event drew twenty-two participants who launched a total of sixty-seven rockets.

There were many standout scale and sport rockets in both low to mid power. David Cain launched his excellently finished Estes Little Joe II for its first thrilling flight on an E30 and he also earned spectator points with his MadCow Bomarc powered by a G64. Kevin Scholberg flew his scratch-built Double Header on an E30 – twice, a PML Calisto with a G80, and many other outstanding models. Herb Howe had a Binder Design Dragonfly launched with G power and Polecat Goblin with a G76. Joseph also flew his Binder Design Jackhammer three times (G66, G79, G80). Katie launched her pink LOC Goblin with a G61 supporting breast cancer awareness and Ashli sent up her PML Purple Motor Eater on G54. There was even more mid powered action throughout the event. View some event photos [click here]

Motor ignition counts:

• A – 4
• B – 10
• C – 17
• D – 12
• E – 16
• F – 1
• G – 12

At the (rescheduled) June 1st Dawsonville Launch Event, there were ninety-one launches by twenty-one participants.  A partly cloudy sky and not-too-troublesome winds provided for a great day to enjoy rocketry.  The launch pads stayed very active up to the final minutes with some spectacular flights.

Standouts included Leaor’s Estes Mercury Atlas powered by a D12 that provided a tinge of full-scale excitement as it lifted-off the pad.  He also launched a Rocketarium Turbo Vortico with a G74 (wow).  Herb Howe sent up some beautiful Semroc models (Explorer, Skyhook, Jaguar SLS) on D12s reaching impressive altitudes and an upscale Fat Boy with a G40.  From a craftsman perspective, we were also amazed by Mark’s Apogee Flying Machine that made a spectacular flight on a cluster of an E12 with two strap-on boosters with C6s.  There was so much more – some captured here in photos.

Engine ignition counts:

• A – 14
• B – 15
• C – 27
• D – 17
• E – 12
• F – 3
• G – 6

It was a gorgeous day for rocketry at the April Dawsonville Launch event where sixteen participants performed seventy-one launches into a cloudless azure sky.  Winds were barely a factor for the morning and first part of the afternoon.  Many took advantage of these ideal conditions for their mid-powered rockets.

Ray Lecture flew his impressive new LOC Goblin on a F67 then again on a G77.  Joseph Barrett launched his North Coast Rocketry Archer XL on a G64 and his Binder Jackhammer with a G80.  Katie Isdell had an excellent flight with her LOC Magnum on a G54 and launched “Fred” on a G61.  Mark Bowen sent up his Aerotech Mirage on a F50 and David Tripp launched his Mad Cow Solar Express on a F67.

Tom Thurmond launched his well-crafted Estes Outlander on a D12-3, had another excellent flight of his Estes Shuttle boosted by a D12, and launched a beautiful Estes Interceptor E on an E9.  Kevin Scholberg provided some thrilling flights with his boosted glider on multiple flights.  Jose Morales flight tested his Roswell Rockets Hawk MIM-23 and Patriot Missile on numerous flights.  [Event Photos]

Motor Ignition Counts:

• 1/2A – 7
• A – 7
• B – 12
• C – 9
• D – 18
• E – 11
• F – 6
• G – 5

At the April 13th Mill Springs launch we had twenty-five participants accomplish 114 launches.  The event began with very light winds which provided excellent conditions for boosted gliders and seeing many parachute recoveries return close to the launch pads.  Winds from the south picked up in the afternoon and made the day a little more challenging for those wanting to reach higher altitudes.

Marcus had excellent success with an Estes A.R.V. Condor powered by a B6 with its twin gliders performing lazy circles as they glided down, and he also launched an Estes Sky Dart II with a B6 then a C6 that took the glider far down field.  Kevin Scholberg also had great success with his scratch built NLR flown on an E30 with a parasitic foam glider that after a few test flights and adjustments made some outstanding flights with long duration glides.  Allen Isdell came out with a LOC Phoenix that thundered off the pad with an E30 and was successfully recovered.  Another standout was the scratch-built Micro Scud by Jose Morales that was launched multiple times with A8 motors.

The entire day maintained a steady pace of activity and provided spectators many thrilling flights.  Coyote Rocketry was in attendance to provide supplies and refreshments.

[Event Photos]

Motor ignition counts:

• A – 19
• B – 42
• C – 40
• D – 6
• E – 10
• G – 1

The March 24^th launch event at the Creekside Firing Range in Taylorsville had over thirty-four participants and 138 total launches.  Good field dimensions and very agreeable weather encouraged many participants to get the most performance from their low to mid-powered rockets.  Up until early afternoon the recovery walks were fairly short, but as winds picked up later in the day, some recoveries involved a bit more effort.  The overall consensus was that the field provides ample room for minimum high power consideration.

The large number of mid-power launches (and a few low H) was certainly the highlight of the event.  Applauses were also provided for Tom Thurmond’s successful Estes Shuttle launched on a D12 with a spectacular glide return and Leaor Schwartz’s Saturn V launched thrillingly on an E30 with perfect parachute deployments.  There were many other craftsman standouts that compelled a photo like Leaor’s detailed Mercury Atlas, Kevin Scholberg’s Pot Metal and Spaceship X (with rear ejection).

For making this event possible, a special thanks to Allen Isdell (who is now a LOC Distributor) and all of those who helped with setting-up, running the event, and getting everything back in the trailer.

[Event Photos] [Photos by Kevin Boyd]

Motor Ignition counts:

• 1/4A to A – 10
• B – 23
• C – 27
• D – 25
• E – 23
• F – 27
• G – 12
• H – 3

At the February Mill Springs launch event there were 110 launches accomplished by twenty-three participants. Very light winds, cool temperature, and slightly overcast skies encouraged a steady pace of activity out on the pads throughout the afternoon.

Mike Nehez launched his unique Apogee Long March CZ-2E and Long March Three (scale models of China’s satellite launch vehicles) and an impressive scratch built Little John. John Lawrence brought out some very distinctive models including a Squirrel Works sci-fi classic Spacecruiser FFE and an Excelsior Gooney Bird Zero each flown on B6-4s.

Kevin Scholberg conducted drag race comparisons of Estes C6 versus Q-Jet C12 motors to determine characteristics that may be suitable for his many unique launch vehicles (a full report expected at the upcoming Rocket Talk meeting).  [Event Photos]

Motor Ignition Counts:

• 1/2A – 1
• A – 26
• B – 46
• C – 25
• D – 6
• E – 6
• F – 2