Launch Report for Saturday, May 29th, 1999

My father & I headed out to the schoolyard of Howard S. Billings Regional High School here in Chateauguay, Quebec, Canada at around 8:15AM with my Estes Omloid, Manta, Hawkeye, Solar Warrior, Multi-Roc, Athena, America, Maniac, Hijax, and my two Gold Strikes (designated Gold Strike 01 & Gold Strike 02).

The weather was great, visibility excellent, and there was a very slight breeze coming in from the west which is parallel to the length of the recovery area meaning that I could do some high altitude flights today.   Temperature was around 22 degrees Celsius.

I used my Estes Porta Pad that came with my Airwalker starter kit since there was a bit of wind and I needed a launch pad with a tilter to adjust the launch angle.   I also brought my new video camera along to record every flight.

Flight 162, 37th flight this year
Estes Athena on an Estes A8-3 for its 2nd flight

The first rocket to go up was my Estes Athena on an Estes A8-3 straight up to determine where I could expect my rockets to land and to see what kind of angle I should launch them on.   It didn't land too far away from the pad, so I decided to continue launching straight up. It actually flew somewhat higher than I expected it to, but oddly enough, it ended up with an "Estes dent" at the top of the airframe since the stock Estes shock cords are just too short.

Flight 163, 38th flight this year
Estes America on an Estes A8-3 for its 1st flight

Next up was my Estes America on the same motor for its first ever flight. America & Athena are exactly the same rocket with different decals and different color fin units & nose cones. Performance was the same as with the Athena except without the dent at the top of the airframe I assume because the shock cord on America is longer.

Flight 164, 39th flight this year
Estes Multi-Roc on an Estes A8-3 for its 1st flight

My Estes Multi-Roc flew for its first time since it was (nearly) completed in 1982. I flew it single stage on an A8-3 to get an idea of its performance. Very nice boost, but there was the old Estes dent problem again. There was also a very little bit of melting of the parachute.

Flight 165, 40th flight this year
Estes Multi-Roc on an Estes B6-4 for its 2nd flight

Multi-Roc went up again as a single stage rocket, this time on a B6-4. Again, a great boost.

Flight 166, 41st flight this year
Estes Multi-Roc on an Estes B6-0 staging to an Estes B6-6 for its 3rd flight

Multi-Roc went up yet again, this time with its booster attached with an Estes B6-0 staging to an Estes B6-6. A beautiful flight and it was my first two stage flight since 1982.

Flight 167, 42nd flight this year
Estes Multi-Roc on a Centuri C6-0 staging to an Estes B6-6 for its 4th flight

Multi-Roc went up for its last flight of the day on a 1975 vintage Centuri C6-0 in the booster staging to an Estes B6-6 in the upper stage. I was a little concerned about using a motor this old, but it worked perfectly and Multi-Roc sailed out of sight for quite awhile until we saw the tiny puff of smoke from the ejection charge. The booster landed only four feet away from where I was standing!

Flight 168, 43rd flight this year
Estes Maniac on an Estes C5-3 for its 1st flight

Going up for its maiden flight was my Estes Maniac on an Estes C5-3 in a homemade 24mm to 18mm adaptor. A great flight and it was my first use of a C5-3. It made a bit of a crackling noise on its way up.

Flight 169, 44th flight this year
Estes Maniac on an Estes D12-5 for its 1st flight

Maniac was up again, this time on an Estes D12-5. It sailed well out of sight, but it landed quite close to the pad since some the parachute shroud lines had become tangled. There was no damage to the rocket. I want to build another one of these and put a 29mm mount in it! :-)

Flight 170, 45th flight this year
Estes Hijax on an Estes B6-4 for its 1st flight

My Estes Hijax was up next for its first ever flight. It flew beautifully on an Estes B6-4.

Flight 171, 46th flight this year
Estes Solar Warrior on an Estes 1/2A3-2T for its 1st flight

My still unpainted Estes Solar Warrior was up next on an Estes 1/2A3-2T for its first flight. Great flight lasting only a little over seven seconds.

Flight 172, 47th flight this year
Estes Manta on an Estes A8-3 for its 1st flight

My Estes Manta flew on an Estes A8-3 for its first ever flight. I decided not to attach the glider since I made an error in construction that could cause the rocket to go unstable with the glider attached.

Flight 173, 48th flight this year
Estes Gold Strike 01 on an Estes B6-4 for its 1st flight
Flight 174, 49th flight this year
Estes Gold Strike 02 on an Estes B6-4 for its 1st flight

For my last flights, I set up an extra launch pad that came with one of my Estes Gold Strike Rockets and I sent up Gold Strike 01 & Gold Strike 02 simultaneously on Estes B6-4's. A spectacular flight with no damage to either rocket.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Just to say Hi?

E-mail: kbedard@rocketryonline.com

Back to Keith's Rocket Page