Launch Report – November 15-16, 2008

I need to apologize for taking so long to file this launch report, it has been almost a month since the launch took place. This computer has developed a serious problem and I can only gain sporadic access to the World Wide Web. The computer repair people are completely flummoxed and have no idea what is wrong with this machine. I have (I estimate) about ten minutes to send and receive a few pieces of email before this thing crashes again, so I need to be brief.

This will be easy, because almost nobody showed up this weekend! The weather forecasts were dire, but incorrect.

On Saturday, David Hash made two flights with his TARC entry, The Ever-Fragrant Perfume of Divinity, with 2 E9s and 2 C6s. The design parameter under investigation this weekend was the addition of spin tabs to the fins to add some predictable and reliable drag to the rocket for the up part of the flight.

On Sunday, Jim Livingston flew the Carbon High on a 4-grain 76mm L motor that came up a little slow, and adopted a diagonal flight path and barely gained 3000 feet. Then, Alan Whitmore flew Astro*Mollusk II on a 4-grain 54mm baby K motor to the 7900 foot region. Both motors were made from the Black Velvet formula.

Tommy Harrell then flew his 4" Test Bed on a G64W for a fine flight. Dave Morey then stepped up for the final two flights of the day, the first was his Callisto on an H268, which was just about perfect, and when he got that one collected he launched his Arreaux on a G76, for another excellent flight.

It was mostly sunny on Sunday, but the wind was almost beyond the limit. Rocket prep was a little difficult, even though we all set up in the lee of the largest truck on site, and everybody who launched anything had a long, long walk to bring it home.

We all should give a big thank-you to Dave Morey, who has donated a new PA amplifier to the club. This is a big improvement and should make announcements a lot easier and clearer. Thanks, Dave!! Thanks are also due to Ken Allen, who came down on Saturday and did some business with those who managed to show up.

Alan Whitmore

Prefect, Tripoli East NC

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