Launch Report for Sunday, October 31st, 1999

My friend Andrew was with me today to do some flying and he brought his Estes Asteroid Explorer, Marte MK-2, Comanche 3, Der Big Red Max, and Maxi Streak. We went to my usual launch site on the school grounds of Howard S. Billings Regional High School (the school I went to in the eighties) for around 10:00AM.

The flying conditions were the worst that I had ever launched in. The winds were quite gusty and at times, we had a bit of rain as well, but we were bound and determined to fly. Andrew had the launch rod on his Estes Big Foot launch pad set at between 15 and 20 degrees while I kept the angle on my Porta Pad 01 to a more conservative 12 degrees since I was concerned about losing rockets in a row of trees that was in our launch direction.

All motors used today were made by Estes except where specified otherwise. Landing distances from the launch pad that are specified may have a +/- 5% error.

Flight AC1, Andrew's 1st flight this year
Estes Asteroid Explorer on an Estes A8-3

Andrew's Asteroid Explorer was first up today on an A8-3 that I gave him since it was quite windy today and all he had were "C"'s. After two misfires on his Estes Big Foot pad, Asteroid Explorer took to the air and landed near the row of trees in shown in the fourth photo above. During ignition, there was a spray of burning embers that can be seen in the third photo above. This was Andrew's first flight in many years.

Flight 334, 209th flight this year
Estes Mini Cobra on an Estes 1/2A3-4T for its 2nd flight

My Mini Cobra was up next in single stage configuration on a 1/2A3-4T for its second flight. It went like a shot and Andrew was wondering if I had put a "C" in there and he was surprised when I told him that it was a 1/2A. Nice landing behind us and well away from the row of trees.

Flight 335, 210th flight this year
Estes Heatseeker on an Estes B4-4 for its 2nd flight

Next up was my new Heatseeker on a B4-4 for its second flight. The flight path was quite surprising since it veered sharply with the wind as can be seen in the third & fourth photos. I was expecting it to weathwercock into the wind, but it seemed that Heatseeker's more forward fin area caused the wind to push it along with the wind as opposed to being pushed into it. I consider myself lucky that I didn't end up with an unstable flight due to wind caused instability. As can be seen in the fifth photo, the nose cone popped off the payload section and was recovered about 100 feet away from the where the rest of the rocket landed which was measured at 454 feet.

Flight AC2, Andrew's 2nd flight this year
Estes Marte MK-2 on an Estes C6-5(?)

Andrew's Marte MK-2 was next on a C6-5 or C6-7. We're not sure which since the rocket had been stored loaded for over two years. After one misfire, Marte MK-2 shot into the air. The delay indicated that the motor was probably a C6-5. The parachute separated from the nose cone and drifted into Never Neverland while the rocket drifted back into the recovery area. Looks like the loss of the parachute was a good thing for this rocket today. There was no damage to the rocket other than the loss of the parachute. I want one of these!!

Flight 336, 211th flight this year
Estes Fireflash on an Estes B6-4 for its 1st flight

My Fireflash was up next on a B6-4 for its maiden flight and it turned in an impressive flight although it wobbled quite a bit as it slowed down towards apogee... expected in this kind of wind due to Fireflash's forward fins.

Flight AC3, Andrew's 3rd flight this year
Estes Maxi-Streak on an Estes D12-7

Andrew's third and last flight of the day was his Maxi Streak on a D12-7. I was convinced that we'd never get it back and it snapped into the wind the second it cleared the launch rod. It actually drifted back into the recovery area with its twin yellow streamers and Maxi Streak lived to fly another day after turning in the coolest flight of the day.

Flight 337, 212th flight this year
Estes Gnome 001 on an Estes 1/2A3-4T for its 5th flight

My Gnome 001 was next on a 1/2A3-4T for its fifth and unfortunately last flight. After a perfect boost, it drifted into the row of trees that I had tried so hard to avoid. It must have landed in the upper branches because we couldn't even see where it was after searching for a half hour. My name and phone number are on this rocket so if it ever does come down, hopefully it'll be returned.

Flight 338, 213th flight this year
Scratch built Pyramid on an Estes C5-3 for its 6th flight

My scratchbuilt Pyramid was up next on a C5-3 for its sixth flight. It turned in its usual spectacular smoke trail.

Flight 339, 214th flight this year
Estes Snitch on a Centuri C6-0 for its 3rd flight

Last for the day was my Snitch on a 1975 vintage Centuri C6-0 for its third flight.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Just to say Hi?

E-mail: kbedard@rocketryonline.com

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