whit12.2004

December 2004 Launch Report

Although the weather is usually uncooperative this time of year, the sunny December skies brought quite a few flyers to our field. Saturday was clear with little to no wind and temps near 50º F. It was a perfect winter day for launching rockets. A number of certification flights took place this month and I'm happy to report that all were successful. More on that a little later in the report.

Let's take a look at this month's motor breakdown.

We had a number of clustered and or staged flights. The motor breakdown will reflect the total installed impulse per flight and is as follows:

Impulse	Saturday
A	3
B	4
C	4
D	2
E	2
F	1
G	3
H	4
I	5
J	5
K	1
L	0
M	1

Total Flights	35

As you may have noticed there is no listing for Sunday in the motor breakdown. The weather forecast was calling for cloudy skies, temp's in the mid 30s, 15-20mph winds with gusts to 35mph, showers in the afternoon with a chance of snow flurries later on. A few of our regular EX flyers were unable to attend and most of the others who were planning on staying for the Sunday launch changed their minds after hearing the weather radio. So, Sunday was canceled in deference to the weather and a small forecasted attendance.

Saturday's launch went like this...

Eddie Haith brought out a Thrustline kit called Mighty Mick with a cluster of three C6-5 motors. He later launched another Thrustline kit clustered with two A8-3 motors. The kit name isn't listed on the flight card, but I believe it was a Hank. Both flights were completely successful.
Probably the most anticipated flight of the day was David Cox performing his L3 attempt. The 7.5" diameter rocket was named Juggernaut and stood 11.5' and weighed in at 45 lbs. An Animal Works M1850GG was installed in the business end for this flight. After a couple of aborted countdowns due to insufficient battery amperage, a jump box was put in the loop providing the extra kick needed to get things going. The third time was the charm and the motor lifted the Juggernaut to victory with a successful L3 cert flight. It should also be noted that Davis was calm enough to give a little class to some spectators as he prepped the rocket for its maiden flight. Congratulations David!
Jeffery Jones also came out to attempt a cert flight with us this month. He used his beautifully built and finished Binder Design Velociraptor on an Aerotech J350. Very nice flight and recovery for a successful L2 cert flight. Congratulations Jeff! Job well done! He later launched a LOC Expediter on an Aerotech H180.
Dave Morey had some superb flights this month. The Sinister 29 was staged and clustered with a ground lit H210 staged to two H128 and then staged to two G40's. All motors ignited as planed and produced a wonderful flight. Dave also had two great flights with his Edmonds Aerospace RC boost glider named Arcie II. Both flights were boosted with a D12-3.
Jonathan Carter also joined us for some cert flights. He launched a Binder Design Excel Plus on a Loki I305 for a successful L1 cert flight. He later took the L2 exam and aced the test. Unfortunately, he ran short on time and was unable to perform the L2 cert flight. Congratulations are in order just the same and I'm sure we'll see him back in the very near future for his L2 cert flight.
Mike McBurnett pulled out a newly finished BSD Horizon 3 for its maiden flight. He launched it on a Cesaroni J285 to an altitude of 5602' and all was brought back home safely with the RRC2 altimeter.
Mike Harris has been tuning and upgrading the Hybrid launch system for the club and I would like to thank him for all he's done thus far. We now have a good reliable Hybrid launch system due to his efforts and I hope to see more people take advantage of this. We had three Hybrid flights and all of them left the pad as expected. Unfortunately, recovery seemed to be the issue with those three flights. Mike launched Periwinkle's Pride on a J140 for a nice straight flight. Separation at apogee failed and the rocketed turned over and headed in ballistic. The main chute came out at 600' but was quickly stripped off resulting in a very hard ground impact.
Mike later launched Ignorant Of My Destiny on a K240 for a perfect ascent but it suffered a total recovery failure.
Dennis Hill also attempted a Hybrid flight with Ten Forward loaded with a HyperTEK J145. It produced a nice straight ascent, separated at apogee but failed to put out the main. It landed horizontally in the soft peanut field across the street and I hope it isn't too badly damaged. The history on this rocket is that it was used for the first Hybrid flight made in NC on 10/8/95. It was part of Cory Kline's Beta test of the HyperTEK System. Hopefully it wasn't its last flight in NC.

The sun was sinking behind the trees as the last rocket was in the air. After deciding to cancel Sundays launch, we packed up the trailer and all headed home after the day's fun. I wish everyone a wonderful and safe holiday season and hope to see you out at the field in 2005.

Thanks to everyone who volunteered some time this month to the cause.

Submitted by Paul Hoetjes
Prefect, Tripoli North Carolina

	Eddie Haith brought out a Thrustline kit called Mighty Mick with a cluster of three C6-5 motors. He later launched another Thrustline kit clustered with two A8-3 motors. The kit name isn't listed on the flight card, but I believe it was a Hank. Both flights were completely successful.
	Probably the most anticipated flight of the day was David Cox performing his L3 attempt. The 7.5" diameter rocket was named Juggernaut and stood 11.5' and weighed in at 45 lbs. An Animal Works M1850GG was installed in the business end for this flight. After a couple of aborted countdowns due to insufficient battery amperage, a jump box was put in the loop providing the extra kick needed to get things going. The third time was the charm and the motor lifted the Juggernaut to victory with a successful L3 cert flight. It should also be noted that Davis was calm enough to give a little class to some spectators as he prepped the rocket for its maiden flight. Congratulations David!
	Jeffery Jones also came out to attempt a cert flight with us this month. He used his beautifully built and finished Binder Design Velociraptor on an Aerotech J350. Very nice flight and recovery for a successful L2 cert flight. Congratulations Jeff! Job well done! He later launched a LOC Expediter on an Aerotech H180.
	Dave Morey had some superb flights this month. The Sinister 29 was staged and clustered with a ground lit H210 staged to two H128 and then staged to two G40's. All motors ignited as planed and produced a wonderful flight. Dave also had two great flights with his Edmonds Aerospace RC boost glider named Arcie II. Both flights were boosted with a D12-3.
	Jonathan Carter also joined us for some cert flights. He launched a Binder Design Excel Plus on a Loki I305 for a successful L1 cert flight. He later took the L2 exam and aced the test. Unfortunately, he ran short on time and was unable to perform the L2 cert flight. Congratulations are in order just the same and I'm sure we'll see him back in the very near future for his L2 cert flight.
	Mike McBurnett pulled out a newly finished BSD Horizon 3 for its maiden flight. He launched it on a Cesaroni J285 to an altitude of 5602' and all was brought back home safely with the RRC2 altimeter.
	Mike Harris has been tuning and upgrading the Hybrid launch system for the club and I would like to thank him for all he's done thus far. We now have a good reliable Hybrid launch system due to his efforts and I hope to see more people take advantage of this. We had three Hybrid flights and all of them left the pad as expected. Unfortunately, recovery seemed to be the issue with those three flights. Mike launched Periwinkle's Pride on a J140 for a nice straight flight. Separation at apogee failed and the rocketed turned over and headed in ballistic. The main chute came out at 600' but was quickly stripped off resulting in a very hard ground impact. Mike later launched Ignorant Of My Destiny on a K240 for a perfect ascent but it suffered a total recovery failure.
	Dennis Hill also attempted a Hybrid flight with Ten Forward loaded with a HyperTEK J145. It produced a nice straight ascent, separated at apogee but failed to put out the main. It landed horizontally in the soft peanut field across the street and I hope it isn't too badly damaged. The history on this rocket is that it was used for the first Hybrid flight made in NC on 10/8/95. It was part of Cory Kline's Beta test of the HyperTEK System. Hopefully it wasn't its last flight in NC.