Bayboro 04/08 Launch Report

Launch Report, April 26-27, 2008

I know that the price of gasoline has become prohibitive, I am aware that the ATFE regulations make it somewhat harder to acquire big High Power Motors, and I know that most of you have lives outside rockets, and might need to attend a wedding or mow the lawn, but if you didn’t make to it to Bayboro this weekend you simply blew it! We had one and one half days of absolutely perfect rocket weather on the best field east of the Mississippi. On Saturday, the temperatures were in the middle 70’s and a light wind blew out of the west, directing the rockets away from the wheat and out over almost 3 miles of empty, flat land. The clouds were light and VERY high, the air was clear and free of haze. It was a day so perfect that it was impossible to lose a rocket!

As a perfect example of what can be accomplished at Bayboro that never would have been possible at Whitakers : on Saturday, a level 3 certification flight was attempted, and, unfortunately, the rocket put out 2 large main chutes at apogee, which was 13,500 feet above the ground!!!. The rocket was in sight all of the way up and down and was recovered in the field!!

Seriously folks, I am really disappointed with the turnout lately. If you have any remaining interest in rocketry at any level, you owe it to yourself to make the trip to Bayboro and check this field out. You will be inspired! My friend Jim Livingston and I are making plans for some 2-stage flights this fall, that will explore the new 16,000 foot waiver to its edge.

The motor use summary:

Motor	Sat	Sun	Total
½ A	-	2	2
A	3	3	6
B	8	-	8
C	9	4	13
D	3	2	5
E	4	1	5
F	-	1	1
G	4	1	5
H	9	3	12
I	4	1	5
J	4		4
K	1		1
L	-
M	2		2
	51	18	69

There were several families on hand this weekend: In addition to the Harrells on Saturday and the Hashes who were present on Sunday, we had three families in attendance who had not been to a rocket launch since the Whitakers days. Fritz and Nathaniel Sprecher flew with us both days, Tanner Lovelace and his son Bram made 17 flights on Saturday, and Rik Faith and his daughters Rhiannon and Selena also joined us on Saturday.

On Saturday, David Cox made a magnificent flight with his Juggernaut on an Aerotech M1315W to 5100 feet and the venerable Magnum made it’s 36th flight on an Aerotech J540R to 2800 feet.

Jim Scarpine brought back his 4" diameter S.W.A.T and flew it on a J180 and the brand-new 6" diameter, beautifully finished 3.75x upscale S.W.A.T. which flew on a K1275R. Both of these flights were magnificent in the up part, but experienced some problems with the landing.

Eddie Haith got down to business both days and made 4 flights on Saturday and 4 flights on Sunday, with motors in the H through J range.

Many other interesting flights: Dave Morey’s Sinister29 on 3 G53FJ’s, 1 G64W, and then 3 E9’s. Two flights of Lionel Overton’s Gizmo on an I211W and an I366. Two Tilus Boosted Glider flights on A motors from Dave Morey.

We are exploring the possibility of one more launch this spring, the third weekend of May, and it will be a Saturday Sport launch and Sunday EX event. I will publicize it on all forums as soon as I know something.

Alan Whitmore

Prefect, Tripoli East NC

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