Launch Report for Thursday, July 26th, 2001

Total Impulse Today:  31.25 N-s

Launch Location:  Chateauguay, Quebec, Canada

My father & I went out to our new flying field here in Chateauguay, Quebec, Canada to fly a few early this morning at a little after eight.

I brought my NCR Command Control launch controller, Estes Porta Pad 03 launch pad, and an invasion of some large & small rockets as well as tons of motors ranging in power from 1/4A to F.  As usual, I also brought my camcorder to record every flight.

Winds were coming in out of the north at least 15km/h and the temperature was about 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees F) with clear skies.  The winds were a little gusty but not so bad that I couldn't work with it if I kept my altitudes low.

All the motors I used today were made by Estes unless otherwise specified.

Let's git it onnn!!!...

Flight 542, 61st flight this year
Estes Alpha III 02 on a Centuri A4-4M for its 14th flight

First to go up today was my second Estes Alpha III on a 1973 vintage Centuri A4-4M long mini.  This old motor seemed to have a lot of tracking smoke although it didn't seem to have as much "oomph" as a newer A since this rocket usually gets significantly more altitude on an A3-4T.  Alpha III arced over well past apogee and even the stiff wind couldn't blow it back into the recovery area and so it landed just across the fence.  It was easy enough to recover though.

Flight 543, 62nd flight this year
Estes Hijax on an Estes B4-4 for its 7th flight

Hijax made a nice flight on an Estes B4-4 for its 7th flight, but it landed over the fence again and this time, it was in the thick brush.  I had to dig through thistle, seven foot tall weeds, small trees, and maybe even a little poison ivy before I got this rocket back.

Flight 544, 63rd flight this year
Estes Der Big Red Max on an Estes C6-3 for its 8th flight

I changed my launch angle to zero degrees since I was NOT going to dig through that brush again and my seventies vintage Estes Der Big Red Max went up on a C6-3 for its 8th flight.  This was a great flight as always and it drifted quite far even on a 12 inch chute.  One of the fin tips was a bit mashed from a landing on an asphalt walkway.

Flight 545, 64th flight this year
Custom Serval on an Estes B4-4 for its 12th flight

My Custom Serval was up next on a B4-4 for its 12th flight.  As usual, a great boost and recovery although it was another fairly long walk to get this one back.  I used a 12 inch chute to recover this one since the streamer that came with the kit has been wrecked from previous flights.

Flight 546, 65th flight this year
Estes Thunderhawk on an Estes B6-4 for its 16th flight

Estes Thunderhawk was up next on a B6-4 for its 16th flight.  As always, a great flight and I increased the launch angle to about 15 degrees since I knew that this one was going to drift pretty far on a 12 inch chute... and drift it did.  Thunderhawk landed on the opposite side of the launch area at 368 feet south southwest of the pad.  This was the longest drift of the day.

Flight 547, 66th flight this year
Estes Mach 12 on an Estes B6-4 for its 3rd flight

Last flight of the day was my Estes Mach 12 on a B6-4 for only its third flight.  Again, I used a twelve inch chute for this rocket instead of the 18 incher that came with the kit because of the winds.  The drift was not bad at all with Mach 12 landing on the asphalt track only 137 feet south of the pad.

I was about to fly my Estes Shadow next on a D12-3 when kids started showing up on the field because of some kind of huge picnic that the city had planned.  We had to pack up after only six flights which wasn't so bad since I couldn't get any real altitude today anyway with these winds.  There was certainly no way I could use my E's or F's!  The plan is for us to come back tomorrow morning a bit earlier to beat the crowds and also to beat the winds. :)

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