June 2022 Launch Report
Once again, it was a great day for flying! Warm weather, light winds and plenty of summer sunshine. We had a decent crowd from far and wide, and lots of good flights (plus a few that were not so good, but entertaining).
Motor totals:
7 – ¼ and ½ A motors
9 – A motors
10 – B motors
17 – C motors
18 – D motors
5 – E motors
3 – F motors
Total of 68 flights.
Early in the day it seemed like Charlie was the target landing area, but he quickly learned to keep under his tent where it is safer. Kevin was experimenting with a pair of 3D Printed rockets made of different materials. They both flew very nicely. Once he works out the shock cord material, he should be ready to go into production. We had a repeat of the Lightsaber drag race between Eric’s Skywalker and Evan’s Kylo Ren lightsabers. It was very close, and they even made a little contact just after takeoff (rubbin’ is racin’). Later on, Charlie’s Death Star launched and almost made it to the Rebel base before exploding in it’s many (5) pieces. Maria launched a pair of writing implements (a Skywriter and a Crayon) but unfortunately the Skywriter’s chute was large and the wind a little too much. It was last seen across the street disappearing into the tall weeds. Donald and Brian C. launched a variety of unusual and colorful craft, sometimes with just enough power to get them in the air. Time to invest in some larger motors gents! Dan also flew a couple of gliders that performed quite nicely.
There was more than one rocket that didn’t stray far from the pad… or even get off the pad. All for different reasons: motor retainer hooked on the clothes pin, launch lugs jammed on the rod, insufficient lift, blown out engine nozzle (curse of the E12’s). Take this as a reminder to check all aspects of your rocket and launching arrangements. If a rod feels fouled, we usually have sandpaper to clean them up in a few moments.
The talk of the field was our new discovery in physics. A common axiom in rocketry is that one should never leave your rocket up in the air. Generally speaking, this never happens as all rockets make it to the ground eventually. (How many pieces and in what location is a different matter.) Dan somehow found a spot in the space/time continuum where the laws of physics as we know them ceased to exist. His competition style “Slow Snail” started off in a normal flight. Its 1/2A engine took it to the usual couple hundred feet or so. Then physics left the building. Under its large mylar parachute the rocket just kept going up, up, and away! It drifted across the entire field and the trees on the other side, increasing in altitude as it went out of sight.
All-in-all, it was a good day out on the field and a lot of entertaining rockets and flights. We hope everyone can join us for the next launch, currently scheduled for July 3rd. Could be a hot one, so bring your shade with you!
I've also posted a few pictures in the gallery from the launch. Please do post any good ones you may have from the launch too.