A³maQ

Launch

Launch Report for Saturday, January 26th, 2002
(Salvo 1)

With a shortage of flying fields and thus flying time, our club has started holding launches in the wintertime.  The turnout for the launch on this cold, but calm day was surprisingly good.

Before heading out to the launch field with our rockets & gear, we had some coffee & donuts at the large and woodstove heated workshop belonging one of our members just across the street from our flying field.  After checking in our rockets with our RSO, we all headed out to the field with a few prepped rockets each and our gear just a little after noon.

Unfortunately, I didn't get any info on what motors these rockets flew on or even who they belonged to so most of the owners and motors listed here are best guesses, but I believe them to be accurate guesses for the most part.

Estes Gemini DC on a B motor

After an Estes Scorpion failed to light, this Estes Gemini DC went up, probably on a B6-4.  Nice boost, but the rear ejected chutes didn't open because of the cold.

Estes AIM-120 AMRAAM on a C motor

This Estes AMRAAM was up next on a C motor (probably a C6-5).  Again, the chute failed to open, but it landed softly in the snow.

LOC/Precision 4-29SS

After a number of motors that wouldn't light, this LOC 4-29SS took off.  This chute didn't open either!

Unknown Rocket on an Aerotech F25-9W

This scratch built design was made by one of our younger members who was hoping to break Mach 1 with this rocket.  Unfortunately, it was never seen again.

Unknown Rocket on an Aerotech F25

I was a little slow catching this liftoff on film and so I didn't get the name of this rocket, but it was a beautiful flight.  It sailed past apogee before the ejection charge fired, but the parachute opened and it landed a short walk away from the launch area.  This rocket appeared to be on an Aerotech F25 motor.

Quest Skydive on a C motor

This Quest Skydive RTF (Ready To Fly) rocket belongs to one of our younger fliers and it took to the air on what was probably a C6-5 although it acted like a C6-0 since the ejection charge fired immediately after motor burnout.  Prolonged exposure to the cold sometimes has this effect on black powder motors.  This was also another flight where the chute simply refused to open.

Estes Super Nova Payloader on an Estes E9-8

This Super Nova Payloader lofted on one of the new Estes E9 motors hanging out the back and it was a beautiful flight with deployment a bit past apogee.  As far as I know, this is the first club use of Estes E9 motor.

Marc Ouellette's Scratch Built Magali on an Aerotech G80

The Magali is a stretched Aerotech Strong Arm that went up on what was probably a G80 for an excellent flight.  This rocket crashed once before some time ago and this was its first flight since the crash.

Unknown Rocket on an Aerotech G80

This copper colored scratch built design went up on an Aerotech G80 for an excellent boost with deployment slightly past apogee and a landing close to the launch area.  Bon vol!!!

LOC/Precision Onyx (stretched) on an Aerotech G40

This stretched LOC Onyx was next up on an Aerotech G40 for a long and spectacular boost.  This poor rocket fell prey to the forest, unfortunately.

Marie-Claude's PML Endeavor on an Aerotech G40-7W

Marie-Claude's PML Endeavor was next to go up and the flight path was a bit shaky during the initial part of the boost and curiously, the motor left some black residue in the snow and none of the other White Lightning motors did this.  Yves did tell me that it was an older motor so perhaps the cold affected the motor more so than the others.

Estes Scorpion on an Estes B6-4

This little Estes Scorpion made quite a long duration flight on a B6-4 for a perfect flight and recovery.

Unknown Rocket on an Aerotech G80

This grey colored scratch built design is interesting in that the fins have a short root edge and the fins expand outward rather than taper off.  I believe that it was made from the contest kit that was issued by our club last year.  Up it went on a G80 for a gorgeous flight lasting almost a full minute.

Unknown Rocket on an Aerotech F50

This blue beauty had some recovery problem with the chute lines being tangled, but even so the flight lasted close to a minute and it landed close to the launch area.  Great flight!!

This long salvo was over and we all headed back to the large heated workshop to warm up and feast on some coffee & donuts!

Go to page: 1  2  3

Back to Launch Reports Index

Broken Links? Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Just to say Hi?

E-mail: kbedard@rocketryonline.com

Back to Keith's Rocket Page