Launch Reports

At the September Mill Springs Launch event we had twenty-two participants launch a total of ninety-five rockets, saucers, and boost gliders. Although hot and humid the mild winds and partly cloudy skies provided an excellent day for rocketry.

Josh Finn of J&H Aerospace demonstrated numerous boost gliders. Some of these were guided by R/C and performed very well with long duration glides around the field before landing. Each boost glider exhibited remarkable engineering in the way the wing deployments were designed and in many details that kept each glider light and graceful in flight. [J&H Aerospace]

Other standouts were Leaor Schwartz’s Estes Juno-I Explorer I that was flown with a C6 with excellent results and Paul Doreika’s Super Big Bertha with a payload of three cameras looking out each 120 degrees and flown on an E20 (two times). David Cain used a Jolly Logic parachute tether set to release at 100 feet on his SpaceX Falcon 9 with a D13 for a very impressive flight and exciting recovery. [Event Photos] [Photos by Kevin Boyd]
Motor Ignition Counts:

• 1/4A – 1
• 1/2A – 3
• A – 15
• B – 28
• C – 34
• D – 11
• E – 3

Typical summertime temperatures and partly cloudy skies greeted thirty-two participants at the August 11th Mill Springs launch event. For the day we had a total of ninety-two launches. A mild cross-wind made recoveries after reaching higher altitudes a bit challenging at times.

Chris began the day’s action with his Fliskits “Nell” launched on a C6 with impressive results. Kevin filled his Estes “Dude” with air and launched it on a D12 to the delight of all spectators. More impressive flights by Kevin included his scratch-built saucers (DT-08, Black Web, and Safety Disk) on E6 and E7 motors with 7 and 6 second burn times – very fun to watch. Joseph launched his Madcow Phoenix on an E39 which streaked over the adjacent field with authority and David used a parachute tether (set to release at 100’) to get his Space X Falcon 9, launched on a E13, back to the field safely. Allen brought out his LOC IV and flew it with a G54 for very impressive flight.

Chris also made an outstanding presentation under the rocket prep tent of the OSIRIS-REx NASA mission that will travel to a near-Earth asteroid called Bennu and bring a small sample back to Earth for study. He demonstrated how the sample will be acquired. Fascinating! The mission launched Sept. 8, 2016. The spacecraft will reach Bennu in 2018 and return a sample to Earth in 2023.  [NASA Link]

[See Event Photos] [Lost & Found]

Motor ignition counts:

• 1/4A – 1
• 1/2A – 4
• A – 28
• B – 19
• C – 21
• D – 13
• E – 9
• G – 1

The July 14th Mills Springs launch event started with a thirty-minute delay as dreary skies and rain slowly cleared the area. Once the field was setup, the morning continued to improve and before long the launch pads became very busy. There were over thirty-two participants (and an assembly of cub scouts) who accomplished over 130 launches. Coyote Rocketry (Keith) also supported this event.

Roman sent up his Estes Goblin on a D12 into the lower troposphere to check the cloud deck and help determine that conditions were safe for the subsequent onslaught. Gabriel’s scratch-built Sputnik was launched on an A10 and made an impressive three-point landing. Joseph tried-out his 3D printed Whirl and Hurl on an E11 and had such success that it was followed by two more launches. Glenn flew his Aerotech Mirage on a G77 which really impressed the scouts to see such a large rocket leave the pad. Kevin also took advantage of the improved weather conditions with his LOC IV launched on a F50.

Bill provided a much-improved sound system for this event and spent most of the day at launch control. Thanks Bill! And much thanks to all of those who helped setup and take-down the equipment.  Pictures from the event.

Motor ignition counts (does not include some of the scout launches)
A – 25
B – 26
C – 21
D – 13
E – 9
F – 3
G – 1

The June 9th Mill Springs launch was fortunate to have very calm winds and partly cloudy skies throughout the entire event. Rockets were aimed straight skyward and most returned very near the pads, even those reaching higher altitudes had very little drift. This brought out more D12s than C11s for some truly spectacular flights. Overall, we had twenty-nine participants accomplish a total of eighty-two launches.

Standouts included Chris’s Estes Space Ship One flown with a B6-2 and his Estes Sky Dart II also powered off the pad by a B6-2 and gliding down gracefully. Wade Kovalik chose a D12-3 for the first flight of his Estes Cosmic Interceptor and launched a beautifully built and finished Semroc Laser-X for its first flight on a B6-4. Benjamin sent up a Rocketarium Mega Vortico on an E9-4 while Jacob went with a D12-5 for his Estes STM-012 and Estes QCC Explorer. [Event Photos] [Lost & Found]

Motor Ignition Counts:

• 1/2A – 3
• A – 7
• B – 52
• C – 15
• D – 7
• E – 1

The May Mill Springs launch event was held under blue skies, summer-time temperatures, and mild (finally) but variable winds. A late update regarding a shift in the event’s start time caused inconvenience to some (our apologies); but for those seventeen participants who were able to accommodate the afternoon start, there were good flying conditions to enjoy. We accomplished a total of seventy-one launches. Coyote Rocketry attended with needed rocket supplies and cold refreshments.

Of special interest was Jacob’s beautifully detailed Fliskits Borealis that was flown with a B6-2, then launched again on a C6-3. Kevin had two impressive flights with his 13mm Superoc on a A10-3T, and his 18mm Superoc on a A8-3, each ejecting the parachute at perfect apogee. Jim’s Semroc Sprite flown on A10-3T was also notable as was Katie’s Tiny Bob that was sitting on the launch pad with an A10-3T one moment and gone the next (see Lost & Found). Roman blasted his Estes Green Goblin off the pad with a D12-5, not once but twice.  See these pictures from the event.

Motor ignition counts:

A – 15
B – 16
C – 21
D – 11
E – 9
F – 3

At the April 28th Dawsonville Launch event we were welcomed with fair skies, pleasant temperatures, but still bothered at times by some challenging breezes from the northwest. Despite the wind-factor, the day provided sixteen participants with some great rocketry moments during the forty-seven launches that were accomplished.

Throughout the day there were many rockets placed out on the pads that exhibited great craftsmanship and creativity. Standouts were David Cain’s Madcow Rocketry Honest John that he modified with beautiful scale details (3D printed) and flown with a G64, and Allen Isdell’s Estes V2 with its striking Dr. Pepper paint scheme. There were also some unique models like Mike Huggins’ Quest Orion Recovery Vehicle and the return of Jose Morales scratch-built and gas stabilized ‘I Got Gas’ that had improved flight characteristics from his last attempt.

For other thrilling mid-power flights, we had Katie’s LOC Iris flown with a G61-W and Allen’s LOC-IV also powered by a G61-W.

Here are some photos from the event.

Motor Ignition counts:

• A – 6
• B – 9
• C – 10
• D – 6
• E – 8
• F – 5
• G – 4

For the April 14th Mill Spring launch event we had twenty-two participants launch seventy-six rockets, saucers, and a robot. Weather-wise we had pleasant  temperatures but gusty winds coming in from the south creating a bit of a challenge. To overcome the challenge most adapted with streamers and lower altitudes with excellent results.

Herb Howe returned with his saucer invasion (another good windy day option) which included two awesome flights of his Art Applewhite Delta Saucer on a F15-0. We were also intrigued and amazed by a unique proof of concept design by Jose Morales, his ‘I got Gass’ launched with a D12-5. This was a gas-stabilized rocket with no fins (picture) that left the launch pad straight and true initially, then began to lose stability once vent holes began to burn through (well, that’s one theory).

David Cain launched his Semroc Little Joe II on a B6-4 which was quite successful, though a shorter delay would have avoided a few tense seconds. Also notable was the Estes A.R.V. Condor launched on a B6-4 by Marcus. The two parasitic gliders performed very well and received much applause at touchdown. Hunter successfully flew and recovered his Estes two-stage Solar Flare with a B6-0 booster and A10-3T sustainer. Many other great flights! Event Photos.

Motor Ignition counts:

• 1/2A – 3
• A – 29
• B – 24
• C – 14
• D – 6
• E – 1
• F – 2

The Dawsonville March 24th Launch Event started out with chilly temperatures and some light rain moving in and out of the area but ended up quite pleasant as the heavier clouds moved further north and the sun peeked out to warm up and moderate the winds. We had thirteen participants (including the rocketry group from Atlanta Classical Academy) accomplish thirty-two launches.

Although the day included a good number of mishaps (of the usual variety) like Scot Hooper’s scratch-built (from eight toilet paper rolls) experimental “Number Two” which didn’t come out well and required some cleanup on the field (we had plenty of fun word-play with this one).

There were many more thrilling successful flights to applaud including successfully recovered payloads of Nicolas’ dinosaur and another with Tim’s goldfish (crackers). Scot also got to launch his Mega Der Red Max (Old No. 7), that we saw at the last club meeting, with a G80 which took it far afield but was recovered successfully while Dylan Hooper got to launch his Estes Nike Smoke (The Bat) twice on F15-6s. The ACA teams were launching their DynaStar (Apogee) AeroDactyl TS two stage rockets on E16-0/F15-6 or E16-0/E16-6 for some great spectator excitement. Event Photos

Engine Ignition Counts:
A – 4
B – 5
C – 3
D – 4
E – 15
F – 8
G – 2