Whitakers Launch Report, December 15, 2002

            Apologies in advance:  this is going to be half a launch report - I missed Saturday and neglected to put adequate flight cards in the box, so I don't really know the details about Saturday.  Kelly tells me that a surprizing number of people showed up, considering the horrible weather forecast, and everybody had a pretty good time flying low stuff.  Apparently the wind was terrific, Birddog tells me people were flying rockets on D motors, putting out fully reefed 'chutes, and walking 1/4 mile to get their rockets back.

            The weather on Sunday was great!  Very little wind, temperatures in the 50's, and crystal clear skies.  The only problem was the water.  I have not seen that much standing water on the field since immediately after Hurricane Floyd.  It was difficult to drive the trailer out on the field, difficult to get it off, and impossible to find a dry place to set up the pads, everybody was soaked, I hope the hard core had dry shoes and socks for the trip home.

            Only 6 slight occurred on Sunday, but they were all noteworthy and exciting.  David Cox was the most prolific flyer, making 4 perfect flights on Experimental motors in one day!  Congratulations, David, very nice work.  David flew his Barracuda on a 29mm 3-grain H150 "Brilliant Red" propellant, his Mirage on a 38mm 4-grain I200 with mixed blue and red propellants, his Magnum made a fabulous flight on a 38mm 6-grain J500 made from CP1/200, and airstarting 2 Aerotech H180's.   Finally, David flew his Mirage again on a 3-grain 38mm I150 made from a mangenese dioxide-catalysed propellant.

            The high point of the day was clearly Jim Livingston's absolutely perfect flight of his 103 lb. Viper on a 115mm, 3-grain M3300.  The motor roared like Niagra Falls for at least 3 seconds, leaving a massive column of white smoke and boosting the Viper to 4800 feet.   Parachute deployment was perfect, rocket and nose cone recovered from the muddy field next to the graveyard.  Blaine Jeffreys made some fabulous "Dangercam" video sequences that we all need to see on a a big-screen TV with good audio!!

            Alan Whitmore flew his Flying Buttress on a 76mm 2-grain K900 cast up from a propellant called "BabyS**t3".   A sweet boost and perfect deployment, but the nose cone and Jim Scarpine's parachute are still wrapped around the power lines.

            The final flight of the day marked Phil Gerringer's entry into EX High Power.  He flew his elDiablo on a 54mm 5-grain K1300 motor that I made from a black iron oxide catalysed mixture called "GhettoBlaster3".  The flight was perfect and there were just enough parachutes to ensure a nice, soft landing.