Launch Report, Fall WELD, Oct. 11-13, 2002

            Fall WELD began with the worst possible rocketry weather ever seen at Whitakers!  Tropical Storm Kyle blundered ashore Friday morning dropping 4 to 6 inches of rain over most of eastern North Carolina.  I carried the trailer to Whitakers Friday afternoon for reasons that escape me at the moment.  I crossed a bridge near Kelly Mercer's house under about 6 inches of hard-running water, picked up the trailer, and drove down route 64 with so much rain coming down that my truck and the trailer had no more than 3 tires actually touching the road at any one time.  Absolute idiocy, but I was listening to a great book on tape at the time and I didn't dwell on my peril, and the time passed quickly.

            Saturday was a great day for rocketry.  The weather was mild, the winds were calm and Walter's cow pasture had drained very well.  The low ceiling was a problem for most of the day, but most flyers just swallowed their reluctance, and punched a hole in the clouds.  It worked out OK, thanks to the calm winds and the uncanny eyesight and "sense of place" exhibited by our good friend John "Bird Dog" Hamill, no-one lost a rocket.

            Jeff Taylor is still working hard to empty his magazine before moving North in November.  He did 2 static tests of his White Lightning clone, flew his 38mm Booster section on a 3-grain 38mm motor, his Boston Terrier on a star-grain 54mm full J producing astonishing acceleration, and the Boston Terrier flew again on another 54mm J motor, this time with the standard Bates grain.  All 3 motors used Jeff's tried and true standard propellant, "yellow No. 4".  Two other flyers benefitted from Jeff's generosity.  Alan Whitmore flew his Flying Buttress on a 3 grain 3" motor constructed from Jeff's "Smoky 2" propellant.   The Buttress was still trailing black smoke when it disappeared into the clouds at about 2000 to 2500 feet.  The maximum altitude was recorded at 5400 feet.  Thomas Finsand flew one of Jeff's 8-grain J motors in his Pavo.  The formula was "Amarillo Blue" and everyone's neck was thoroughly snapped.  His main chute came out at apogee and Thomas and Bird Dog had a long walk indeed.

            Thomas Finsand also flew his new 5.5" diameter rocket, the Blackjack, on a 3-grain 3" L motor made by Alan Whitmore.   There were a few minor recovery problems with this flight, the motor and it's adaptor were blown out the back at apogee by the hefty black powder charge.  The main charge blew off the nose cone but did not push out the parachute.  However, since the motor had left the package, the rocket floated down very softly and was recovered intact.  Once again, Bird Dog saved Thomas's bacon and recovered the motor and the adaptor.

            David Cox also had a fine day, flying his  heavily reinforced Mirage on an I150 and his Magnum on a J400.   The propellant formulas were not recorded.   Deployment and recovery for both flights were flawless.

            Dave Muesing had an on-the-money flight with his Proto VII using a 4-grain I motor cast up from Jim Mitchell's "Diamondback" formula, and Bill Shamblin would have had a great flight of his Black Brant X, if the motor maker had remembered to install the aft snap-ring.  Sorry, Bill, I owe you one!!

            Sunday morning was clear at 7:00 AM, but by the time the waiver opened at 10:00 we were socked in with some heavy fog.  The fog was lifting slowly all morning but the weather forecast was calling for some heavy thunderstorm activity, so almost no-one showed up.  Alan Whitmore flew his Astro*Mollusc on a 6 grain 38mm motor made from "Black Velvet", and Thomas Finsand flew his Athena on a 5 grain 54mm motor also made from "Black Velvet".  Both flights were in the clouds but were recovered safely.

Alan Whitmore